Currently available way to get a 4 round magazine Winchester 70 375 H&H

[Ontario Hunter]

Do you have a Pre-64 made Model 70, or a post 1994 Model 70?

The Sunny Hill model 640 is for the Models 70s built prior to 1964, and the bottom metal, as pictured, is one piece magazine box and floorplate, a la Mauser 98.

The post 1994 made guns (marked "Classic" on the barrel), utilize a separate magazine box from the floorplate.

The Sunny Hill model 740 is correct for this. Personally, I prefer the classic look of the Oberndorf floorplate release. I have a Williams made floorplate on my M70 Classic 30-06, Oberndorf release and have had no problems.

Personally, I would not just change the follower and magazine spring to get a 4th round. The geometry of the follower, spring and mag box are designed to insure proper feeding. Not a chance I am willing to take.

I bought a recent production, used M70 Alaskan, 375 H&H for an (almost) too good to be true price on GB. It would not feed the 2nd and 3rd round worth a damn. I removed the bottom metal and found that the magazine spring was slightly kinked, out of alignment. A new spring from Winchester, of proper dimension, and it feeds perfectly.

You are incorrect. The Sunny Hill Model 640 is not one piece bottom metal and floorplate. The hinge pin through the trigger guard for Oberndorf floorplate release is clearly visible in the photographs. Also, Model 98 Mauser has two piece floorplate and bottom metal. But the floorplate release is recessed push button ahead of the trigger guard and floorplate is not hinged on 98 Mauser. It can be released and removed.

I also had problems with magazine spring when I built my 404J. New 416 Rem bottom metal was of course substantially longer than original 98 Mauser 8mm. Many doing this build simply use the 8mm follower in the longer box. I guess it works. But New England Custom Gun sells longer magnum followers for 98 Mauser so I bought one. The shorter follower would be unsightly, allow dirt etc to fall past the end of follower (admittedly not a big deal for hinged floorplate magazine), and possibly poor feeding/jamming due to tipping of narrower/shorter follower inside larger mag box. Longer and wider NECG follower allows for custom fit side to side. Tabs front and back on left side can be trimmed as needed. And of course length can be cut back if needed. I had to trim the forward tab and just a bit from the corners to make it work consistently in my build. Easier than removing more metal from feeding port in receiver. But I was still having issues with the follower becoming fouled in the box. Problem was military 8mm Mauser follower spring is tapered down in width at the end that locks into follower. NECG follower is designed with spring slot and keepers for spring that is not tapered in width. The spring kept slipping cockeyed on the follower causing it to tilt and catch on magazine walls. Magnum Mauser springs are apparently full width throughout but no one sells them anymore (except maybe Mauser = $$$$!). I tried reversing the spring so full width end snapped into follower. That just shifted the problem to floorplate. Solution: carefully squeeze both sides of the follower in a vice at the point where the spring keepers are located. Hey, if it didn't work, I could always fall back on the military keeper. But it did work. And the deformity is barely noticeable (although the deformity from carving into follower to adjust for proper feeding of second round in magazine is quite visible - but who cares, it works!). The squeezed point is visible on the lip of follower about 2/3 way to front. This photo was taken before final polishing. The carved out portion is now not so obscene.