Gunsmithing Pre 64 M70 .264wm

[coldboremiracle]

My Grandfather passed earlier this year, and his guns have all been passed down via lottery to interested decendants, I got a post 64 M70 30-06, my dad got an oldie.

Its a pre 64 M70 in .264 wm, at least I think so (im no historian) its a nice gun but has seen many days in a scabbard on a horse. The stock finish is ruined, but the bore and action seem to be in quite good shape. Dad wants to fix it up for an up comming antelope hunt in WY, me being the centerfile that I am, I've decided to go for it. Here is the question;

On this particular rifle, it has a band a couple inches in front of the action, with a third mounting hole "dovetailed" into the bottom of the band. I would like to freefloat, and bed the action, and I want to know if it is nessesary to use this additional hole. Could I just knock it out and ignore it? Or should I use it, and if so, glass bed up to the barrel band? Or just to the recoil lug as normal?

Before anything, Im gonna load up some ammo for it and see how she shoots, then refinish gun and stock with a few upgrades, with a little luck, she'll turn out purty.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

If it were me I would remove the bottom escutcheon from the dovetail and then bed action and free float the barrel.

However I have seen some of these older rifles in about any make shoot almost unbelievable as is. Would test before I would modify! Had an all original pre64 in 270 that would easily shoot .75moa with factory ammo so there is a chance yours may have acceptable accuracy as is. Now if I put it into an aftermarket stock I would bed it irregardless just to get all I can get from it. The pre 64's in 264 are hard to find no matter what condition and there are still alot of die hards that would rather have an unmoleted rifle that shot moa than 1 glassed and wood removed etc that only shoots moa. If that makes sense? lol

 

[RTH1800]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

You can just back the screw off and eliminate tension. Most of them shoot very well. Beware, bores on those .264's went very fast and I would really clean and bore scope it prior to doing much work. Many of them coppered fast and after sitting for 40-50 years the metal under the copper is very pitted. I have removed much copper and then wondered the best way to put it back! Is the barrel Stainless? Many of them were, but not all. The stainless ones look 'dull' in finish about like the receiver, but not exactly. The CM barrels will be more like the floorplate, if it has finish on it. Nice rifle.

 

[264highlandhunter]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

Please don't alter this barreled action. It's a true classic. Get a new-used take off stock to put it in if you must, but don't alter the metal, especially if the bore is good.

 

[Bill Larson]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

Take it out and shoot it..... don`t mess with classics.....
OMHO
bill larson

 

[blksno]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

I would shoot it as is and see how it performs. If it doesn't...don't hesitate to yank that barrel and build the caliber of your choice.

I got a Pre64 action, with no barrel...and I'm glad I did, because I would have just pulled it anyway.

IMO, its useless if it won't shoot, regardless if it's a classic or a family heirloom. (Unless you plan on NEVER shooting it)
The fact that it was in the family is good enough, build it back into a work of art and keep sending it down the line.

I've got the first M70 I ever shot, and it's getting rebuilt. I hope that I shoot it often enough to burn it up, so that my kids can enjoy rebuilding it again, and again and again.

 

[treebasher]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 264HH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Please don't alter this barreled action. It's a true classic. Get a new-used take off stock to put it in if you must, but don't alter the metal, especially if the bore is good.</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bill Larson</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Take it out and shoot it..... don`t mess with classics.....</div></div>

What these guys said. You have a family heirloom with honest wear that should be treasured for generations to come.

Go and shoot her, you will probably be surprised. (and be in love...)

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

Well the bore looks pretty good, and the boltface together tell me its not been shot as much as I had thought. My intensions are to leave it as is, except for some beautification. Unless of course it doesn't shoot.

I'm thinking of just knocking out the screwhole and bedding it like any other, then wipe the tird off of it with some fresh paint, and accessories.

It'll probably be mine someday, or my brother's, in which case it'll surely need to be rebarreled in something fancy

 

[Field]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

God please leave it as is and go buy one that some moron has taken apart off gun broker to play with.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

Ok, so to answer the question; do I forget the front screw and bed as normal? Or keep the screw and bed up to the band?

Id really like some advise from our seasoned gunsmith's as to what they think will give the best accuracy.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

Well, I don't know if I have enough experience to comment as a "seasoned gunsmith" and all rifles are different but I would bed receiver and 1.5-2" ahead of receiver just like anything else. If it doesn't shoot that way there is a slim chance it would shoot better bedded up to the screw IMO! But then I have only bed 100 or so rifles so my .02 cents may not be worth much!

 

[Edds]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

If it was mine I would get a McMillan hunter stock for it and would not use the front screw.

 

[WhiteCliffsOfDover]

Re: Pre 64 M70 .264wm

I'd leave it alone. It is what it is. Classic.

Shoot the rifle as is and see how it groups. You might be surprised....or not.


All to often I look over guns that have been butchered by some bubba, I just shake my head in disgust. But hey, do what you choose. Those rifle's altered from original condition by some amateur just make mine go up in value.