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

[usabaker]

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

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.

[RCS]

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

[usabaker]

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

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.

[vintage hunter]

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

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.

[usabaker]

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

[wjw]

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

[usabaker]

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

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

[Cosine26]

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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[Cosine26]

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

[Cosine26]

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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