Winchester Model 70 push feed feed rail dimensions

[JLDavid]

I need to know if the feed rails on a push feed Model 70 30-06 the same as the rails on a 300 Win Mag or 7mm Remington Mag? The reason I am asking is that I have a Model 70 push feed that began life as a 30-06 but would like to build a magnum on it. I may need a different magazine box as the magnum box has straight lips while the 06 box has lips that are angled in slightly. Any help is appreciated. If you happen to have an '06 and a magnum in your safe and have the time to compare them, that would be great. Have a great weekend.

David

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have a magnum i can get pics to compare if thatll help you

 

[riflewoman]

IIRC, (and bear with me it's been a long time), the receivers are identical with the exception of the 223 and maybe a few others. This was to simplify manufacture. The difference was in the mag box. Magnum boxes were marked MAG and others were given alphabet codes. Up until the mid 1980s all Winchesters were long actions and the bolt stop was changed.

In theory this meant that you could rechamber your pet 30-06 to 30-338 and only have to swap mag boxes and it would function ok. There may have been different followers, but I can't remember those details.

 

[Toolbreaker]

I just compared two that I own, and the rails are slightly different. The -06 action looks to be relieved about .020" per side 1.5" back from the front ring. The feed ramp is also slightly steeper on the -06 action, along with the rails being relieved more on either side of the ramp (~.040"/side?). I ran an empty 300 WM case through my mag action to check cycle timing, then did the same with the -06 action. Cycle timing looked pretty close between the two on an empty. The followers are noticeably different, though. Looking at it, I'd think that it should work. If anything, the follower may need to be changed. I can snap a few not-so-spectacular phone pics if you'd like .

 

[shortgrass]

I'd think it would probably be an easier task than converting a Mauser '98 to a belted mag. Thousands of those have been done and many, done by a someone who has a good understanding of the feed cycle, feed like they were made that way at the factory. Many were done without changing a whole bunch of parts 'back in the day', before 'drop-in'.