Pre-64 vs post-64 Winchester M70 drilled and tapped location

[Southmountain]

See attached picture for a comparison, post-64 1980's 223 rem Featherweight. at the top, pre-64 (pre-war type 1) 30-06 standard at the bottom. The left side of the receiver for both is tapped for a rear peep sight. However, the post-64 one sits lower on the receiver. A Lyman 48 WJS sight fits into the pre-64's factory-drilled holes, but does not fit on the post-64.

I'm new to the world of aperture sights, having only used scopes before. I thought the locations of drilled and tapped holes should be standard? For example, if you buy a Lyman 57 sight these days, it seems like the assumption is that it will fit on all Win. Model 70's, Rem. Model 700's, etc. But this is evidently not the case here with the post-64 model.

Perhaps post-64 Winchesters were not factory drilled and tapped on the side, and these holes were made afterwards in a poor location?

 

[Laphroaig]

I'm not an expert on all things M70, but my 1964 is D&T'd and my sons 2015 vintage isn't. So they stopped somewhere in between those dates.

One observation, the stock on the 1980's version seems to sit higher than it should, as it is partially obscuring the Winchester logo. Is that part of the problem?

 

[jmr40]

I'm thinking the stocks are different, the holes may, or may not be in a different location.

 

[troy fairweather]

Same spot, stock line is different.

 

[Southmountain]

Very insightful. I just pulled out a current production M70 bought last month and unfired/unaltered for comparison. The stock is higher as well and wouldn’t accept the Lyman 48 WJS sight.

See pic below to recap: the post-64 (top) and current production Winchester M70 (bottom) have a higher stock line.

The pre-war 64 (middle) has a lower stock line.

This is interesting and never noticed it before.

Assuming current production Lyman 57 sights are made for the post-64 and current production Model 70’s with the higher stock line, then they probably won’t fit on a pre-64.

Looks like things are not interchangeable after all.

 

[herrwalther]

It makes sense that the holes would be in different places. Comparing the holes based on the height of the receiver wall instead of the stock line or Winchester logo. Pre64 M7 Winchesters are controlled feed, Mauser type actions and the post 64s aren't and push feed instead.

 

[Mike J]

My post 64 push feed model 70 was bought in '89. It doesn't have those holes at all, but it does have a folding rear sight on the barrel. Of course it is the Ranger model which I think was the cheap of the line.

 

[.45Coltguy]

My 1991 Mod 70 XTR does not have thoe side holes. Push feed.