Gunsmithing Rebarreling a Winchester Model 70 - questions

[glock24]

An old-timer at the club asked me about rebarreling his Model 70. It's time for a new barrel, and he'd also like it threaded for a brake. It's a 300WM, and I'm sure it's tough to shoot without one.

I have a few questions for the 'Hide;

1. Any 'smiths out there who specialize in Model 70s? I know they are a little more interesting because of the required extractor cut.

2. Can we assume he can just get a new a barrel, and avoid the need to true the action?

3. Thoughts on bluing? Any reasonable chance the new barrel will match the receiver, or is it just better to go with a bead-blasted stainless?


Any insight would be appreciated.

Thank you

 

[birddogsx3]

Long Rifles Inc does Winny work but about any good name smith can handle that job. Bluing would be tough to match.

 

[Garyc]

Most smiths can rebarrel M70's but few can really true them up if that's what he's looking for. I'm sure LRI can as mentioned. A couple of top notch M70 gunsmiths are Mark Penrod in North Manchester, IN, and Randy Gregory at Accuracy Unlimited in Medford WI.

 

[LRI]

5 axis cnc machined is our only practice for receiver accurizing.

As for a Winny. It's and involved process:

1. Bottom of the receiver is machined flat. No more moguls.
2. Receiver ring is punched to 1-1/16-18 threads
3. Front of recoil lug is set back and a 2* draft angle is added
4. *Not available yet, but something I am working on: Surface machining the "hips" on the back of the receiver where it transitions off the radius to the trigger well area. Vintage M70's are rough here. Surfacing them to improve the finish quality prior to bedding.


FWIW: I have a deep affection for these goofy things. Always have since watching Middleton Tompkins stomp the guts out of the X ring at the 92' Black Canyon Regionals with one. It was my Tyro year in NRA Highpower shooting for the MCB Camp Pen, 1st FSSG Team.. Mid/Nancy/The girls have been close friends since that day.

If you need a Winny worked on, I have the resources to do the work for you and we'd be happy to.

C.


https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/rifle-build-gun-porn.525794/

 

[cav has been]

Do you see a great difference between the pre 64 and the later crf actions Chad? Specifically if one or the other has advantages build wise. Thanks, S.

 

[LRI]

Legacy M70's with a claw extractor have the antibind or "anti overclock" feature built into the bolt body. That's kind of nice. It's basically a plain bearing setup so the increase in length is a good thing as it spreads any load over a broad surface. Helps with fluid bolt work.

I love the clover tangs on the early stuff. I own several in the #### digit SN category. Just feels good to work and hold something made to the level they were made at almost a century ago. Pretty cool imo.

They ALL need work. As good as they are, to make one exceptional you are going to have to dive in. These need more work than a Remington by far. "Truing" in the academic sense just gets the party started. Anyone who's ever bedded an M70 well will tell you they are a real bitch to peel out of a stock. The work on the bottom is just as important as all the fancy stuff on the front ring and bolt. In my case I have no choice. I am forced to machine the entire bottom side. My fixture for accurizing the action depends on a qualified bottom surface. My fixtures for receiver work leave the front ring completely unbiased. We don't even hold onto them anymore by that feature. The advantage is we are distortion free so I don't end up with tapered threads, etc. The rub is a little more work up front, but in the case of the Winny it helps as the bedding work later just presents a whole lot nicer.

 

[SquarePizza]

Well poop, I wish I knew Long Rifles Inc did winchester rebarreling when I did mine. Shit, I would have left it with you guys when I did a class with you. Oh well, maybe for the next one.