I've finally managed to get a load developed for my M70 (post-64) in 7mm Rem Mag. I'm exceedingly happy with the range results but it has exposed a serious flaw in the current combination.

So the load data (because everyone loves to harangue a handloader):

Norma cases, 154gn Hornady SST, 68.1gn H-1000, Federal MLRP, 2.485 TTL. Bullets seated to the front of the cannulure, no crimp.

I haven't gotten velocity data from it yet as I've just been shooting for group size while trying to stay up near the top of the charge spectrum. At 68.4gn I started to see the first sign of high pressure in the form of very slight primer cratering which was consistent across 5 rounds so I backed down 3 steps. The velocity difference from three tenths of a grain shouldn't be enough to say grace over.

Group sizes:
Winchester: .65", .11", .43". First group was a clean barrel, no fouling shots. 2nd group was after a 1-hour cool down. Third group was fired after a 20 minute cool-down. I fired a couple more sets but I shot those at rocks and debris while testing the scope tracking and mil-dot subtends.

So, while I was shooting I noticed that the stock was flatly uncomfortable as it's way too thin in the cheek rest (or lack thereof) and in the fore-end. That made it very difficult to keep a consistent cheek weld and would have ruined any effort to go out to 1000+yards which is the destiny of the gun.

I'm looking around for a proper stock for it and thought I'd seek some advice from the wrecking crew. Something affordable (so no 1800 dollar chassis systems with tacti-cool sounding names), high quality, nice looking and physically proportioned to deal with very long range shooting from bipod and bench. It'll need to have a good wide fore-end and a cheek rest intended for a scope that's slightly higher up than a typical hunting scope/rifle combo.

What I've seen: B&C, McMillan, HS Precision, Boyds, Richards and junk. I like Richards stocks and will probably end up trading my time for their lower cost of entry. I don't mind a 500 dollar stock but the value for the cash has to be there. I don't need all the tacti-cool whiz-bang stuff. If I can end up with something resembling an M40A3 stock then that'll do just right but if it looks more like a M24 SWS then that's fine.

there's also the option of making a kydex cheek piece which would allow for it to be (ick) adjustable. I usually prefer non-adjustable things that are fitted to me. I could just as easily make a kydex fore-end piece that's wider than the factory stock.

For those that care the combo is: M70 long action, Bushnell ET1040 10x mil-dot scope, factory stock, 26" Shilen heavy magnum taper barrel, EGW 20MOA base, Burris signature series Zee rings w/ 25MOA in the rings. The scope sits 28 MOA off the bottom as it sits but I'll probably pull the 5MOA ring insert and replace it with a 20MOA insert so I can have the other 15MOA of elevation. As it sits without doing that I have in theory enough up left to go out to 1500yrds which I consider the maximum range of this setup so I'm just as likely to leave the optics and mounts and rings as they sit.

Welcome to the Winchester Owners Forum r3dn3ck !!