Model 70 upgrades

[goodoleboy]

Last week, I just started my first gunsmithing class. I have to bring in a bolt gun to work on and the only one in my collection that is bone stock is my Winchester model 70 featherweight classic. I am thinking about a trigger upgrade, bedding/free-floating job, etc. I am not changing the barrel out, but I may blueprint the action, it just depends on how much time I have. All my custom guns (left to me by my gunsmith grandfather who died in 1986, I was 6 at the time) have Timney triggers in them. Are they still one of the better ones on the market, or are they obsolete?

If you were upgrading your deer rifle to shoot sub moa, what trigger and bedding technique would you recommend?

[Ridgerunner665]

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc137/Ridgerunner665/2012-11-16_14-47-36_692.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc137/Ridgerunner665/2012-11-14_20-33-23_954.jpg

I bedded mine in MarineTex, McMillan stock by the way, and bedded the first 1.5" under the barrel...some say that's best, others disagree, I figured if it didn't shoot right with it there it would be easier to sand it down than it would to add it later....mine shoots great, consistently.

I did not replace the trigger, I did adjust the factory one, but its the new version (MOA trigger)

[Ridgerunner665]

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc137/Ridgerunner665/photobucket-3154-1349794648260.jpg

This was the first load (hand load) I tried in the rifle after bedding it...

I don't have pics, but have since tweaked it a bit...changed the seating depth, sizing brass to fit the chamber better, etc...the group above was at 100 yards...after getting the seating depth adjusted it shoots groups like that at 200 yards.

At 100 yards...its basically 1 hole.


This was my first Winchester rifle...after shooting it....I sold all of my Remington's...including 3 professionally built custom rifles on 700 actions...more people should build model 70 actions, they are superior.

Also...it shoots any load plenty good enough for hunting...the worst hand load I've tried in it shot just under MOA.

[Ridgerunner665]

I should add...this was the first time I had ever bedded a rifle...and the job has some cosmetic imperfections, nothing bad at all...I just didn't get the seams between the stock and the action as smooth as I'd like...overall though, I'm pleased with the result.

It was a nerve wrecking experience, lol...I was so afraid I was gonna lock the action in the stock.

Which reminds me...

Release agent...I used Kiwi shoe polish (neutral color), it worked just fine.