Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing M70 "feel"

Here's a question:

Two days ago I was in the local Cabela's and in the cabinet sat a M70 in 270 which had been done at some point by Gene Simillion. I asked to take it down to have a closer look. Two things jumped out at me and I'm hoping the folks here with more knowledge than I will be happy to accomodate me with some answers:

First, the stock itself; factory stocks on Classic I have owned feel slightly chunky in my hand while this one felt more up and down if that makes sense. In other words, it felt quite trim like there was more stock vertically than horizontally in the hand. And it pointed quite well I might add!

Second, the action. When worked, the action felt like it was on ball bearings but it had a "click" to it when it was worked. I apologize if my descriptions are vague or difficult to decipher but I am very curious to learn what steps are taken to make the action feel so different from the factory version.

Thanks!

Jeff

Well, first off I'd bet this was a CM action, not SS. It's mainly paying attention to little details like any possible remaining burrs or sharp edges.. Those are stoned or sanded off. Bolt lugs are most likely lapped to ensure full and even contact. Cocking ramps polished and lubed. Firing pin cocking nose angle altered to match the bolt's ramp. Safety cam and matching recess on firing pin polished and lubed. Possibly a new FP spring.. Bolt guides polished to 600 grit or better. Matching lug surfaces polished also. Magazine follower should be steel and leading engagement edge and top of cartridge guide polished to 600 or better. Magazine spring tension must be even- front to back..

Little things.. A bunch of 'em.. But add 'em up and a dead man can feel the difference..

Gene is a Master at "smooth"....with wood and metal!

that much seems evident. it was a very nice rifle.

You just got a chance to cycle the bolt of a well-tuned M70 CF......


You think that's good, wait until you get the chance to cycle with rounds in the mag.........


I mean, I'll stick with my M700's for other reasons, but a tuned M70 sure is nice......



Casey

Lee, how much $$ we talking? Just curious.....

If you want a slick action try a Krag.
Good luck!

Depending on what the action truly needs, it could be as little as $100 or as much as $250...

Won't know until it's in my hot little hands..

Or one could step in a dog turd barefoot to get the same M70 feeling.

But then if you have a 700 you already are familiar with that feeling, so no need to.

Amazing to get that old and yet be so uneducated.. Sad, really...

Purchased a brand new Win Mod. 70 7mm-08 last year. Looked great, got it home. Looked down the barrel with a mag. glass, looked like 40 miles of rutted road.
Sent it back to Win. they sent me another one, same thing, after several calls to Win. speaking with shop manager. They confessed that the barrels are proof tested only and the inside of the bore is not inspected at all. After 5 months of this they finally sent me a Browning. The inside of the barrel was immaculate.

WHAT?? You say them spankin' new BACO Winnies from SC aren't top notch?? SACRILEGE!!!

Curious - how did you get inside that bore with a magnifying glass? Or do you have a borescope? In any case - I've said from the start of these new BACOs that they should have left the trigger alone and put the money into a quality barrel instead..

So are you saying Browning inspects all their barrels or they ran a patch down it prior to selling it?

Did you ever try shooting the SC 70?

I have not 'scoped mine (270 Win 2008 FW) but it has been sub-MOA with 110 TSX, 150 Partitions, and 150 Horns. https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth..._Somebody_stop_me_I_m_about_#Post4725234

The thing is so smooth you have to double-take to convince yourself you didn't close the bolt on an empty chamber.

Would you believe I picked up another pre 64 Lee? Same place as the last one (ez pawn). Only this time the metal looks great but the stock has a crack. It's a featherweight by the way in 308. I havent decided what exactly im gonna do with this one, but I wouldn't trade any of my Wins for any A bolt.

Dammitall, I'm gonna have to phone that place and put my name on a list..

Good snag.. The crack should be an easy fix - specially if you glass bed at the same time..

Good to hear from you again.. Stay safe.

An old gunsmith trick. Take a light source at the breech end of the barrel, take a magnifing glass hold tight against the muzzle and look down it. You will be suprised at the detail that you can see. What you may think is a perfect bore with the naked eye, let just say it is the next best thing shy a bore scope.
And 1+ to left the trigger alone and have spent the money on a quality barrel.For sure.

Yes, I tried shooting it. It grouped right around 2 inches with one load which I do not believe was indicative of how the gun would shoot. According to the shop mananger who had tested both guns with numerous loads. He told me that the barrels had a twist for a heavier bullet, bascally they were the same barrels they were putting on the 7 mags. I beleive I could have got the gun to shoot sub moa even with the barrel looking the way it was with a heavier bullet. My thinking was down the road with several rounds through it and the build up of gilded metal in the pits would have been a nightmare to clean.
As it is the browning which has the same twist, shot lighter conventional bullets crappy too. Went with a Horn, GMX, which has a longer bearing surface, which must have done something,she is shooting right at .75 inches 5 shot groups at 100 yds.
Which kinda bears out with the results that you got ie (Heavier conventional bullets, lighter mono bullets.)

Wether they inspect them or not, I do not know. Both guns were cleaned before I inspected them.