Model 70 I’m stumped

[igotta40]

So Gunny Lee repaired my stock and my rifle is back together and I had it out at the 100 yard line last week and I’m having the same issue as before- the second round falls out of the rifle when I operate the bolt to eject the first spent casing. It happens every single time.

It’s a Supergrade .243 Win with a hinged floor plate. The manual says the capacity is 5. I can get 3 loaded, and a fourth if I force it down, but the the bolt won’t close at all. So with 3 rounds in the magazine, close the bolt, fire, eject, and the next round falls out. I put it back in, cycle, fire, cycle, fire the third round, no problem.

I thought maybe the follower spring might be weak. I opened it a bit but that didn’t help.

I’ve had a number of bolt action rifles but this is a new one to me. What gives?

 

[jmr40]

Make sure the follower isn't in backwards. It is possible it was assembled wrong at the factory. And it might have the wrong follower. The follower for the WSM cartridges will fit a short action, but they are shaped differently.

I had a 300 WSM for a time as well as my 308. The 300 WSM had older steel 2 piece bottom metal that I replaced with lighter aluminum 1 piece bottom metal when I bought a new stock for the 300 WSM. The new bottom metal did not come with spring or follower and I had to be careful getting everything assembled right when I moved the old spring and follower to the new floorplate.

That is just a guess, but is the best I have.

 

[igotta40]

Thanks, I’ll have a look. I was wondering if this is a known/common issue. I’ve never heard of it before.

 

[igotta40]

Well the follower goes in only one way, however I noticed it’s angled down in front a bit, like there isn’t enough spring force keeping it in place. It’s gotta be something simple. Maybe I can find a new spring from Numrich.

 

[BBBBill]

Does the follower move freely all the way from top to bottom in the mag?

 

[Slamfire]

I have a USRA Model 70 that also has the similar problem. I think it is due to a manufacturing defect on the rail cut. You can try to bend or play with the magazine box feed lips to see if that makes a difference.

 

[igotta40]

The follower does move freely up and down in the box, however not smartly as I think it should.

 

[usaral63]

I recently gfted my 1947 model in '06 to a favorite nephew.........but.....knowing that I could not long be without a bolt gun I picked up a minty USRA featherweight in the same caliber..........it too would tip cartridges. I swapped the follower from the old to the new and lo they both work as intended!

Try adjusting that follower on it's spring........it outta move a substantial ;distance forward and rearward...........why it's not loading to capacity ...dunno unless you have a follower not to spec..

 

[jak67429]

If the follower slops down in front the spring may be backwards. I had a rem come from the factory that way had all kinds of feed issues until I found the issue.

 

[jmr40]

Some pics of my Winchester EW in 308 showing the correct follower and spring orientation. The spring just slides into the grove in the floorplate. It is possible to put it in backwards.

 

[H&R Glock]

Does the M70 still have the Mauser extractor? Isn't the extractor supposed to catch the round from the mag? Just my thoughts.....

 

[shell70634]

I have a push feed 375 H&H that did the same thing. Replaced the magazine spring and now works great.

 

[igotta40]

I ordered a new magazine spring from Numrich. I also shaved the edges of the follower a tiny bit with a file. I’ll see how this all goes pretty soon.

 

[Seedy Character]

Does the M70 still have the Mauser extractor? Isn't the extractor supposed to catch the round from the mag? Just my thoughts.....

Pre-64 is Mauser type
Newer are push feed

 

[Bwana John]

Pre-64 is Mauser type
Newer are push feed

And the latest offering of the M70 ("Classic") is controlled round feed again.

 

[Seedy Character]

And the latest offering of the M70 ("Classic") is controlled round feed again.

Yes, it is

I didn't see a mention of "Classic". It didn't cross my mind.

 

[igotta40]

I replaced my magazine spring this morning with a copy from Numrich. I cycled cartridges through it a few times in the shop and so far, so good, they aren’t popping out like before. We’ll see what happens this week at the range.

 

[igotta40]

We are back in business! First time since I bought this rifle it ran flawlessly. No more cartridges falling out. Now I have a keeper. The second group was after a minor scope adjustment, shooting cheap Monarch 100 grain soft points. That’s about 1 1/8” grouping. The rifle has a 1/10 twist, so maybe if I back off to a lighter bullet it can do better.

 

[jmr40]

Pre-64 is Mauser type
Newer are push feed

All Winchesters 1964 to 1993 were Pushfeed. They brought back CRF actions in 1993 in their top end rifles and continued making Pushfeed in their budget line until Winchester went out of business in 2006. When FN brought them back in 2008 all model 70's have been CRF. They do make a budget rifle, the XPR, which is Pushfeed.

 

[RainDodger]

I bought an early 90s vintage M70 in .223. It had all sorts of feeding problems, all fixed with a new magazine spring.

 

[Coyote3855]

Not usually a fan of light colored stocks, but that is a very pretty rifle.

 

[Orion Jim]

Not usually a fan of light colored stocks, but that is a very pretty rifle.

I feel the same about light wood but this particular rifle is extraordinarily pretty. It would be an honor to own this example.

 

[Blue68f100]

The dark checkering highlights the lighter wood. Pretty stock.

 

[Show Me]

So Gunny Lee repaired my stock and my rifle is back together and I had it out at the 100 yard line last week and I’m having the same issue as before- the second round falls out of the rifle when I operate the bolt to eject the first spent casing. It happens every single time.

It’s a Supergrade .243 Win View attachment 1046334 with a hinged floor plate. The manual says the capacity is 5. I can get 3 loaded, and a fourth if I force it down, but the the bolt won’t close at all. So with 3 rounds in the magazine, close the bolt, fire, eject, and the next round falls out. I put it back in, cycle, fire, cycle, fire the third round, no problem.

I thought maybe the follower spring might be weak. I opened it a bit but that didn’t help.

I’ve had a number of bolt action rifles but this is a new one to me. What gives?

Sweet picture

 

[usaral63]

Glad to hear it worked out for you..........danged niddling little things can easily make a great difference!!!!.........I'd never used a push feed 70 prior to the featherweight I picket up as a replacement as I mention in my earlier post.....always heard they were picky feeders.......maybe so for some, but after the follower change I did mine will punch 'em home from ANY position...even upside down....tho I have difficulty ,imagining why I'd need that!
Singular gripe I have is that my FW will beat you to death from a bench....course it ain't a BR piece anyway, still a keeper plus.