Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Plugging holes

I have a 1937 Model 70 action with side mount holes through the Winchester script. Can these be welded and the left receiver rail reground? I assume I would lose the script, but doing something with this action would be worth it to me.

Mule Deer, I'd do it in a minute. That's a highly sought after action and will make a wonderful rifle. I would seek out someone w/that kind of experience. Good luck w/it. powdr

I would plug the holes with screws, peen them over and drawfile to match the receiver's contour. A good engraver could restore the Winchester logo and you will have saved a vintage M/70.

Google micro tig. There are people in Mi. and I think Ak. that do this.
Some work is done under magnification, and guns are a common part
if their work. No personal experience but the 1911 guys do this all the
time.

I know a wedding ring doesn't plug a hole.

I disagree, sure seem to have plugged one in this house.







Guess it might be better plugged, than open like the doors at Wal-Mart.

It's like the talk I would hear when I was younger about sex not being as good after 10 years of marriage. I too never found that to be the case as the best sex I've ever had was with married women..

If the holes are to be tigged, make sure the welds are done with plain mild steel filler rod, otherwise they will show up after hot bluing. It is safer to use plug screws, peened and filed smooth.

RAN

Bubba sure made a fine mess there, if you decide to go the Tig weld route it might no be a bad idea to fill in what's left of the Winchester logo file smooth and reblue. That way you'd not need to remove as much metal as grinding would.

What is ashamed is that otherwise it is a really nice, clean rifle with original rust blue.

Tig weld for sure, done this before, like gunswizard stated have them fill in the winchester logo and draw file and reblue, won't be collector value but will make a good serviceable shooter

If the holes are to be tigged, make sure the welds are done with plain mild steel filler rod, otherwise they will show up after hot bluing. It is safer to use plug screws, peened and filed smooth.

RAN

Get a Clue!

The copper plating on welding wire to prevent corrosion is the reason not wire type.

Remove the copper from steel filler wire & the color match will be perfect once TIG welded.

No,I do not need the work of a bastardized Win 70.

I'm with Dans40x either do I

What are the holes for? If they're for a missing Griffin&Howe QD side mount or Noske side mount why not scare one up and use it? That was the hot setup back when the gun was new, and remains an elegant solid option today. If the holes are for a Weaver, Pachmayr, Echo, etc. mount, then fill 'em.

I'm not a huge fan of sidemounts but on some rifles they just look right.



On the subject of going through the effort, sometimes despite the economics, you just have to. I have a pre-64 given to me by a good friend that has since moved on to the happy hunting grounds. It had some pitting on the left side rail. I fixed it and had someone chase the affected Winchester logo and it was worth it to me.

A guy in CO (Warpath) does some restorations. I don't know if he does Winchester or not. I don't know if he has a website. PM me if you want his #.