Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors 1946 Model 70 drilled and tapped?

Would it be drilled and tapped from the factory?

Chambering and first two of sn?

The short answer is if it’s below serial number ~ 60,500 the rear bridge will not be d&t. If it’s above ~60,500 and NOT an h&h, national match, bull gun etc it *should* be … if it’s h&h they weren’t routinely d&t on rear bridge until much later … sn well above 100,000 (Nov 1950 per Rule).

Front bridge will be d&t.

+1^^^^^

Additionally, if the bridge has the squiggly stamped lines and a stripper clip cutout it *most likely* will not be factory d&t.
Both touch and simple visual inspection can also help a lot as factory d&t holes were counterbored and when running one’s finger over the hole it should feel smooth, not ‘cratered’ like non-factory d&t holes often are.

I was near a Cabela's for work. I checked out the gun room, they had a 1946 250 Savage. I believe it was a 66,000 serial number. I was just wondering when they started tapping them.

This one would be getting up close to the end of period when the rear bridge was not drilled and tapped. I can't figure out what to do with it but I will NOT have it altered.
Phil

So, was it drilled?

What were they asking?

Yeah it was


The tag said 5k, looked pretty nice.

Do you recall if the rear bridge was smooth or clip slotted?

Sounds like a decent price.

Didnt one just sell on GI for 7500?

Yes; and quickly. It was in fantastic condition.

I'm pretty positive there was no clip slot.


It looked to be in nice shape. I'm far from an expert, so there could have been another reason as to why it's not original. That's why I was asking when they started tapping them.

Any idea what serial the pre64 375h&h were drilled and tapped?

Also does the squiggly lines rule also apply the h&h?

I don’t have Rule in front of me, but my recollection is it was well into the 100,000 range before they were consistently drilled and tapped on the H&Hs.

Thanks. I’ve always wanted a pre 64 model 70 but being left handed have not bought one. So, thinking I need to scratch that itch and get a mid 50s 375 and check a couple of boxes.

This got me thinking, I too am left handed, went to my rifle cabinet and “discovered” I only have one LH rifle out of a zillion +/-

I did confer with Rule last night. Well into 1950 before all the H&H actions were drilled and tapped. Some prior, obviously, but transition not complete until sometime in 1950.

Thanks AK.
I am left eye dominant and started with shotguns so always shot left handed even though right handed. Now I’m thinking life would have been much cheaper to have switched to right handed on rifles.

If I wanted to be reasonably certain that I was buying a factory d&t H&H, I would look for a gun with a S/N above 172,000.
As always, there are exceptions to the rule.

Thanks Pocono