Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing M70 barrel fitting question

Would it be feasible to fit a take off Winchester M70 barrel with the new 1.062"-28 thread to an M70 Classic left hand action with the 1"-16 thread? The minor diameter of the 1.062"-28 barrel shank is large enough to turn to 1.000" and re-thread. But since the extractor cut is on the opposite side (I would like the barrel markings indexed up) would the barrel have to be set back to remove it or leave it and just cut another? The reason is I have a couple left hand M70 .300 Win mags and would like to turn one into a .264 Win mag. I found an Extreme Weather .264 take off barrel and thought it would be nice to have a Win 70 marked barrel on my Winchester action. Is it worth the trouble?

As you suggest, the 1.062 dia threads could be cleaned up and the tenon re-threaded to 1"-16. However, if it were me, I'd set the barrel back, remove the extractor cut for the RH action, re-thread, re-chamber, and cut the extractor slot for the LH action. In doing so, I think you'd be happier, more confident, and not be looking over your shoulder, so to say, wishing you done it in the first place. JMHO and YMMV

as Wifowler stated I would set it back and do it right the first time.

I have seen pre 64 Win 70's with multiple extractor cuts. It could possibly be done using the existing chamber; it is gonna cost some money to do this unless you are doing it and already have the reamer and gauges.

If you are going to have it done by someone else and really even if you do it yourself, you may as well set it back, cut a new cone breech, new chamber, with a single properly sized extractor cut. It will run nearly as much as a new barrel, but it boils down to what those Win markings are worth to you.

I won't be doing it myself, don't have the equipment. That's the other part of the equation, finding someone who's able and willing to do it.

PM Redneck on the forum

"Can" it be done? Sure. Is it worth it? That's a question only you can answer..

An extra extractor groove isn't going to hurt anything. The process, though, of remachining the barrel to fit the NH action, plus most likely having to adjust headspace since the lettering needs to be indexed is going to run about the same cost as a new barrel install..