Model 70 Classic, Safari Express

[mikedb]

does anyone own or have any expericence with this firearm? how durable is it? has anyone ever heard of the stock splitting?how much did you pay for the rifle?how bad is the recoil?  
thank you.

[Lawdog]

does anyone own or have any expericence with this firearm? how durable is it? has anyone ever heard of the stock splitting?how much did you pay for the rifle?how bad is the recoil?  
thank you.

An excellent rifle no matter what caliber you get one in.  About as solid as you can get.  No problems with the stock, feeding problems or fit/finish.  Well worth the money.  As far as recoil goes the three chambering that the Classic, Safari Express comes in(.375 H&H, .416 Remington and .458 Winchester Magnum) isn't all that bad.  Big bores are usually described as big pushers when it comes to recoil.  My wife shoots a .375 H&H so they aren't all that bad.  Lawdog
 

[Jimi]

I hate to sound like Dittohead... but what the Lawdog said.

It is a time proven set up. I can't remember what I paid for mine... no, wait, I think I traded for that one. But unless you like the fancy wood you should be into it for less than a grand.

[Ramrod]

Great gun. Not a hard kicker in .375 H&H. There is alot of weight in the barrel. Mine was tagged $950.00 at Gander Mountain. The front bead was broken off, and there was a small ding in the stock finish. The salesman knocked it down 10% when I pointed it out. For $855.00 I didn't hesitate, the darned credit card jumped out of my wallet all by itself.

[mikedb]

what caliber would you take .375 H&H or .458 win and whats the recoil diffrence between the two.

[Dana C]

I would stick with the .375 H&H because of its versatility.  It will work as a 300 yard plains rifle as well as Lion medicine.  It works great on antelope and big bears as well.
I have a 458 Lott as well as a Rem. custom shop .375.  Recoil on both is a matter of how you handle it, how you hold the rifle etc.  I don't don't think that they differ much in that respect.
Dana

[Lawdog]

what caliber would you take .375 H&H or .458 win and whats the recoil diffrence between the two.

Depending on the load the following will put you in the ballpark as far as recoil is concerned.

Cartridge              Bullet gr./fps.             Rifle lbs.         lbs. of free recoil
.375 H&H Mag.        (235 at 2700)            9.0                    29.8
.375 H&H Mag.        (270 at 2690)            9.0                    39.8
.375 H&H Mag.        (300 at 2530)            9.0                    44.0
458 Win. Mag.         (350 at 2470)           10.0                   45.2
.458 Win. Mag.        (400 at 2380)            9.25                  57.9
.458 Win. Mag.        (500 at 2050)            10.5                  55.8

As ‘Dana C’ stated, go with the .375 H&H due to it’s greater versatility.  Don’ worry about the recoil.  If it’s unpleasant you can always add a mercury recoil insert in the butt stock without changing the way the rifle looks and in most cases it balances out the rifle.  Also the mercury insert doesn’t add any ‘db’ to the muzzle blast while cutting down on the felt recoil.  Lawdog
 

[coltnavy36]

The .375 will work reasonably most of the time, and it is preferrable over the .458 winnie.
If you must own a .458, you may wish to ream it to the .458 LOTT, depending on the rifle and or action.
The two .458 winnies, I have worked with were OK, but one of them was not worth the trouble.
Sometimes they are good, sometimes not.
That is the .458.
I imagine the .375 will not be a problem at all.
I have heard of splitting stocks, but I think they have dealt with this issue a good time back, as they were doing this repeatedly in the 60's.
They should be better now from the factory.
The same time, during the 60's, is when the damn winchester .458 ammo was horribly bad off.
They, I am sure have upgraded the quality control.
Both on the rifles and ammo.
Especially Hornady ammo, which is wonderful now.
As for the rifle, the most you should have to deal with is the feed ramp, loading, ejection, etc., as to make it smoother, but this is with all of them.
Recoil will not be bad with the .375 at all.
The .458 is a bit more, but tolerable, if you don't have to repeatedly shoot. Which you won't anyway.
They are both small cartridges, compared to what CAN be had.
There is no harm in either, although, I would opt for the .375 first and foremost, due to versatility, and the 300 grn. solid being able to drive deep enough in most cases that you might encounter if the shot is placed correctly.
---coltnavy36---

[crow_feather]

Instead of looking at the power of one and the recoil of the other, just take the 416 and have both.  You can shoot the 300 grain like the 375 aor  shoot the 400 grain and have more energy than the 458.  
Imagine that, one caliber that can do the work of two.

C F

[Ramrod]

Whatever cartridge one chooses, there is always another one out there, or one on the way that is more powerful. Doesn't mean it's needed. The .375 has it all over the .416 in popularity, and practicality.

[crow_feather]

Sputter, sputter, explative, groan, mild curse, rapid thought process, and finally an answer to the above foul reply to my brillant observation.

OH Yeah!

[oso45-70]

Whatever cartridge one chooses, there is always another one out there, or one on the way that is more powerful. Doesn't mean it's needed. The .375 has it all over the .416 in popularity, and practicality.

Ramrod

                                     Say What !!!!!

[Ramrod]

Well, I don't care for your guns, but at least, I like you guys. :lol:

[armymp71]

I just put mine on gunbroker.com, it is a great gun that feeds like nothing I have ever shot. I am switching to the Blaser 416 which breaks down for easy shipping. I am letting the high bidder take it home which is kinda risky but what the heck. It has a leupold scope on it and a pachmayer recoil pad that helps ten fold on the recoil. I have killed several bears with it, all were one shot kills. Search for my auctions, my id is armymp71, I also listed a 45/70, but it is not even in the same league.