Advice Needed: 30GOVT'06 Winchester Pre-64 Model 70

I got my hands on a Winchester Pre-64 Model 70 barreled receiver in 30GOVT'06 for $50.00. She's missing the extractor, extractor pin, and spring (which I have on order) and the bolt assembly, I might have one lined up. At some point in its life, someone drilled and tapped some holes in her that I will need to fix. But that about it, her bore is great.

I wanted to ask y'all who are knowledgable, what I should be looking for price wise for a complete bolt. I'm just building a hunter/shooter, not going for a full matching and correct rifle. I'm new to the Winchester world so a bit skittish on the prices since I have no clue about the value of the parts.

Thanks in advance

Bill

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Originally Posted by usabaker

I got my hands on a Winchester Pre-64 Model 70 barreled receiver in 30GOVT'06 for $50.00. She's missing the extractor, extractor pin, and spring (which I have on order) and the bolt assembly, I might have one lined up. At some point in its life, someone drilled and tapped some holes in her that I will need to fix. But that about it, her bore is great.

I wanted to ask y'all who are knowledgable, what I should be looking for price wise for a complete bolt. I'm just building a hunter/shooter, not going for a full matching and correct rifle. I'm new to the Winchester world so a bit skittish on the prices since I have no clue about the value of the parts.

Thanks in advance

Bill

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Complete bolt $200-$300 unless you ran across a deal. If you dont have it already bottom metal will put you back about the same. Modified stocks can be had for $100 or less if you dont mind poorly fitted recoil pads and refinishing. An untouched stock $250 up. Be sure any stock you get is cut for the cloverleaf tang.
What's the 1st digit of the s/n? Cant quite make it out in the photo.

Check under the barrel for a date: example 42 would be 1942 and of course the caliber will be marked.

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Originally Posted by vintage hunter

Complete bolt $200-$300 ...
What's the 1st digit of the s/n? Cant quite make it out in the photo.

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That’s the price range I’ve been seeing them in. I haven’t gotten to the point of figuring out what I want to do about a stock. I know it won’t be synthetic. What I can’t figure out is why these rifle get parted in the first place. The serial number is 30195.
Thank you for your help

Bill

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Originally Posted by RCS

barrel for a date: example 42 would be 1942 and of course, the caliber will be marked

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RCS, It looks pretty messed up, all I can make out is 1906 ans a 40 or 4something. The seller said it was a 1940.

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Thanks Bill

What does the marking "30GOVT'06 " indicate? I mean, I know it is chambered for .30-06.......but what is the significance of the "gov't"?

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Originally Posted by 82Trooper

What does the marking "30GOVT'06 " indicate? I mean, I know it is chambered for .30-06.......but what is the significance of the "gov't"?

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As I recall and I could be full of it, it’s US Government 30 caliber Adopted 1906. There were a number of 30 caliber cartridges for the military to identify them they were listed by year adopted.

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Originally Posted by usabaker

As I recall and I could be full of it, it’s US Government 30 caliber Adopted 1906. There were a number of 30 caliber cartridges for the military to identify them they were listed by year adopted.

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so it does not denote any affiliation between the specific Model 70 marked that way with any government service....it simply identifies the proper .30 cartridge to use...?

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Originally Posted by 82Trooper

so it does not denote any affiliation between the specific Model 70 marked that way with any government service....it simply identifies the proper .30 cartridge to use...?

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30GOVT'-06 is nothing more than Winchesters pre-war designation for the 30-06 Springfield cartridge and has no government/military connections. The Winchester Model 1895 lever action was chambered for 3 cartridges used by the military, the 30GOVT'-06(30-06), 30GOVT'-03(30-03 and 30 U.S./ 30 ARMY (30'40 Krag). Its a Winchester thing...

That early bolt with the early safety is going to be difficult to find. Looks like 1940 dated barrel ? The US was buying M70 rifles in 30 Govt at the start of WW2

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Originally Posted by RCS

That early bolt with the early safety is going to be difficult to find. Looks like 1940 dated barrel? The US was buying M70 rifles in 30 Govt at the start of WW2

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Yup 1940, I found one that will fit but the safety was cut down for a scope. I'm in no rush which is a plus and I'm not restoring the rifle it will be a hunter/shooter so that gives me a little flexibility.

Here is a photo on my M70 target from around 1947 which I believe is the second variation bolt safety. Caliber 30 GovtAttachment 101705Attachment 101706

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Originally Posted by RCS

Here is a photo on my M70 target from around 1947 which I believe is the second variation bolt safety. Caliber 30 Govt

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Wow beautiful! The one I found so far has a spatulate thumb piece type safety, like in this picture but was cut down, I was guessing for a modern scope or maybe just so you could see past it. Who knows why people do such things.

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Originally Posted by RCS

Here is a photo on my M70 target from around 1947 which I believe is the second variation bolt safety. Caliber 30 GovtAttachment 101705Attachment 101706

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You have a type II-2 safety. There is a type II- 1 safety also that looks like a cut down type I with grasping grooves milled in the end.

Does anyone know the size of the ejector pin? Part Number 25 in this drawing?

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Should measure .10 diameter and just under .310 long.

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Originally Posted by wjw

Should measure .10 diameter and just under .310 long.

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Thank you for the help! I’ve been looking for one and this will help.

When the M70 was introduced, the scope sight was not in wide use and those that were in use were mounted high so the M70 safety was not a problem. As scope mounts became lower, using the original safety was hard. Several companies offered replacement safeties such as Tilden. See the illustration below. Bolt handle alteration to accommodate the low scopes became common place. It was not until after WWII that Winchester offered the low bolt
An ad from the American Rilfeman magazine in December 1940

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Here are pictures from the American Rifleman magazine for November 1936 on the introduction of the M70:

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This shows the original safety and bolt.

This is how my pre-war M70 target rifle is configured.
I have a pre-war sporter, but someone has had a late model safety and bolt plug installed.
The early Lyman 48 sights required a cutout in the stock for mounting
For RCS:
Your rifle is configured for the last model safety though I believe that it is an early post-WWII rifle. It has the "clover leaf" top tang so may be pre-WWII. My sporter has the same type of safety.
Here is another commercial safety for the M70 by Pachmayr. Looks as if Winchester may have copied this one.
This picture also shows the early bolt. From the December 1937 American Rifleman.


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FWIW

Here are some more pictures showing various versions. Sorry about the fold but my scanner does not allow too much of a fold on the book. They show some variation of the M70 over time and may aid you in your restoration effort. Early parts may be hard to find as not too many M70's were sold pre-war period. The bolt in the lowere left has the bolt stop extension for the .243..308 rifles .


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Sight on left is early Lyman 48 and requires stock cut. Sight on left is post WWII and does not require stock cut. Both are labeled 48 WJS and both have 1/4 minute clicks

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Second picture shows post war sight marked 48 WJS, sight on right is pre wr Lyman 48a
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Originally Posted by Cosine26

Sight on left is early Lyman 48 and requires stock cut. Sight on left is post WWII and does not require stock cut. Both are labeled 48 WJS and both have 1/4 minute clicks

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Is this what the tapped holes were for on the receiver I have? The holes are drilled on the right side of the receiver and I was trying to figure out what they were for.

No. The Lyman 48 and all standard receiver sights mount on the left side of the 70. Redfield & Vaver receiver sights all mount on left side of M70. There were many different scope sight bases designed after WWII. Those holes may be for one of those. I do not recognize the hole pattern.

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Originally Posted by Cosine26

No. The Lyman 48 and all standard receiver sights mount on the left side of the 70. Redfield & Vaver receiver sights all mount on left side of M70. There were many different scope sight bases designed after WWII. Those holes may be for one of those. I do not recognize the hole pattern.

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Thank you

I found a bolt for the barreled receiver and I held my breath when I check the headspace. :dancingbanana: Boy was I happy when it passed. Its a perfect match for my rifle and from looking online looks to be the correct bolt for my 1940. I cycles perfectly in the action as well.

Thanks for the help everyone, made looking for the bolt a lot easier.

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