Restocking a post Win Model 70

[Texan6G]

Hello all,
New to this forum so go easy on my first post. I just inherited a Win Model 70 in 30-06 with a 3x9 Leupold scope(not Chinese). What I want to do won't make economic sense and I don't sell guns anway(well hardly ever) but I would like to restock the rifle doing the finishing work myself. Problem is as configured it is a blind magazine and I want (or think I want) an Oberndorf one piece bottom metal.

Any potential issues? This will be a hunting rifle, I already like the trigger and have not even adjusted it yet and the bolt is smooth as butter. I know it is not CRF and don't plan on shooting dangerous game with this rifle anyhow, I just want to make it look nice.

I hate to spend $350 on bottom metal, just wondering if I found pre-64 bottom metal if it would fit without major work.

Thanks for your ideas and suggestions.
Molon Labe

 

[BBBBill]

Welcome aboard. Sounds like a neat project. I have no clue whether pre64 bottom metal will fit your action, but I'm sure someone will be along who does know.

 

[sage5907]

If you would provide a serial number (put xxx in the last three digets) I will attempt to tell you what year it was made and the year of manufacturer could help identify a stock that would fit. If I were you I would look at eBay for a post 64 stock for the right time period. I don't think the pre 64 bottom metal will work because there were 50 metal changes on the rifles from the pre 64 to the post 64 rifles, and that was just at the beginning. Various other changes to the metal and wood occurred from year to year. Good luck with your research.

 

[Texan6G]

Thank you Sage. From what I have been able to ascertain, my rifle was built in 1972, SN G1039xxx. It does have the 3 position safety, high polish blued bolt barrel and action. Like I said, the trigger is nice, a little heavy but no creep and no overtravel. I plan to get a smith to take it to 2.5 or 3# and go from there.

 

[sage5907]

Texan6g, the serial number range for 1971 was 1,008,437 to 1,041,884. Here are some attributes of a 1971 rifle:
1. The free floated barrel which had created so much criticism was finally dropped in 1967. Look for a stock with a tight fitting barrel channel.
2. The magazine cover and hinge plate were changed to steel and given a high gloss black chrome plating in 1968.
3. The trigger bow was retained as an aluminum die casting, but was given a black chrome finish in 1968.
4. On August 25, 1971 the serial number was given a "'G" prefix, so your rifle was made relatively close to August 1971.
5. In August 1972 they started putting a forend tip and pistol grip cap with white line spacers. Recoil pads were changed from red to black. So if you are looking for a 1971 stock look for one that requires bottom metal, without a pistol grip cap and forend tip, and without whiteline spacers, and with a red recoil pad.

 

[Jim K]

FWIW, I think it very unlikely that you will find a Mauser or any other bottom metal that will fit (or can be made to fit) that Winchester. You can probably find the correct bottom metal, but I have no idea what the cost would be. Of course the stock would be no problem since you plan to restock the rifle anyway, so you would just order the stock made for the magazine floor plate.

I guess I am one of the few who like the looks of the blind magazine rifles; emptying the magazine by working the bolt is not a problem.

Jim

 

[Texan6G]

Sage,
Thank you for your response. This rifle has neither a white line spacer or a floor plate.This restock is for aesthetic purposes and again doesn't make economic sense, but then again, I just love guns with soul and I have something special in mind with this one.

 

[Texan6G]

Jim K, I agree with your comments, however, this is more of a vanity project. Having seen a Sterling Davenport with an Oberndorf bottom and french walnut stock, I just can't get it out of my head. So much soul. By the way, my pistols are 1911's, no plastic guns for me(not that there is anything wrong with plastic guns )

 

[sage5907]

Texan6g, as to pure functionality and looks you can't beat the original Winchester 70 bottom metal. The reason I went into detail about the original 1971 bottom metal is that I was thinking that you could go on eBay and find original 1971 parts in top condition that would work with the changes you have in mind. I just check the listings on eBay every week or so and the parts show up. Winchester did such a good job designing the safety, trigger and bottom metal that you probably won't be able to find anything that works better. I once fell into the custom Mauser spell but nothing on them worked as well as the original Winchester design. I've never seen a Mauser type floorplate latch that worked as well as the Winchester. On a Winchester, if the latch is to hard to open, just pull the pin, and cut a coil off the spring until the adjustment is correct.

 

[Hopkins]

PTG(Pacific Tool&Gauge) has new Oberndorf style one piece bottom metal for Model 70's. Check under Winchester performance page. Well under $350.

 

[Texan6G]

Thanks Hopkins. I did talk to PTG about their Oberndorf and they actually told me a number of their customers had issues with the floorplate coming open on recoil. I'm surprised they admitted that, but can't help but wonder if the problem isn't more of a glove finger bumping the release.

Anyone else out there have this issue with Oberndorf type bottom metal?

 

[sage5907]

I know you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink! But, just in case you've changed your mind, there's a Model 70 floorplate and trigger guard on eBay that's correct for your rifle. The trigger guard is aluminum and the floorplate is steel and are being sold as a set. If you want a professional finish on the floorplate just have a gunsmith polish and re-blue. The items are located in Lebanon, TN being sold by bubbadlg28 and the eBay item number is 161317855696. The current bid is $10 and the items end on June 2nd, 12 pm PDT.

 

[jmr40]

CDNN has stocks

http://www.cdnnsports.com/sporter-short-gii-blem-fw.html#.U4eU159OXIU

I have PT&G bottom metal on a couple of rifles, 1 of each style. No problems with either style.

https://shop.pacifictoolandgauge.co...ducts_id=583&zenid=vbc1rt0bu0vcubtf171v0oud90

You may need a mag spring too. That would be the more difficult part to find. The one made for the blind mag may, or may not work with the floorplate.

You also need to be certain of the stock. Winchesters made prior to 2008 used 2 piece bottom metal. If you get an older stock, you'll either need to modify the stock to work with 1 piece bottom metal. Or find some 2 piece bottom metal to fit the stock. Most aftermarket stocks being made today are designed for the newer 2 piece bottom metal.

Pre-64's are another animal all together. Stocks and bottom metal are different and won't fit without major modification.

Personally, I'd leave it as a blind mag. You have a $300 rifle. Throwing $300 worth of parts at it will still leave you with a $300 rifle. There are lots of advantages to blind magazines and I'd just as soon have one.

 

[Texan6G]

Thanks guys for your comments. I wont go into details, but many, many years ago I had a bad experience with a rifle with a blind mag that I thought I had unloaded by working the bolt, yes, you can guess the rest. So, I insist on a floorplate. I won't sell this gun, it was given to me, I just want to make it like I want it, so economics are out the window.

 

[toiville2feathers]

It sounds like you have a model 670, rather than a mod 70. Back when that rifle was made they were designated as model 70 if they hand a floor plate that would open. The rifles with a blind magazine were designated model 670.
Very similar to Remingtons ADL and BDL models.
So what is the deal with the 670, as of late in gun shops and gun lists they call them model 70's.
I must admit I have never owned or shot one with a blind magazine. If I am wrong about the 670, would some please correct me? I'm trying to learn something here.

 

[jmr40]

It might be a 670, hadn't thought of that. There were more differences than the floorplate. The 670 has a Remington type safety instead of the wing type on the 70. But it sounds like one of the 1990's model 70 Rangers with a cheap birch stock to me. At different times they offered some with blind mags, others had a floorplate. Depended on the year made.

Found a photo of a 670. Notice the different safety. Also, they also apparently offered some early versions with walnut.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...982E42F9CE1297821759F22FEB7DC&selectedIndex=0

Some photos of 70 Rangers. Some with floorplates, others without

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...CA316CCD7F207231C7DC8C4B2EDB&selectedIndex=13

 

[Texan6G]

Pretty sure it is not a 670. It has a true wing type, 3-position safety, walnut stock with cut checkering, not stamped, fully jeweled bolt, black vented recoil pad and rear cross bolt with ebony plug. At any rate, I am now the proud owner of a nice chunk of Claro Walnut with beautiful marble and figure and am about to ship it to Jim Bisio for inletting to 98%. He suggested some custom bottom metal a friend of his made a few and his pattern is set up to duplicate. I was able to obtain a nice chunk of ebony for a forearm tip and plan to do some nice 20 or 22 lpi checkering with a skeleton grip cap and an original red solid Winchester recoil pad. Also trying to resist the urge to add an island type barrel swivel. Some days when there is no game moving, at least you can enjoy looking at a beautiful rifle.