Winchester model 70 problem

Bennett

Bennett

New member
I am coming to the experts for advice. I have searched the Internet and visited a gunsmith and still do not have a solution to my problem. I have a Winchester model 70 that I bought brand new about 6 years ago. It is a .270 and I have taken elk, deer, antelope, coyotes, and a mess of rock chucks with it. My wife took her first deer with it. A couple of young men who do not have a father to take them hunting also took their first deer with it. To say that I am attached to this rifle is an understatement. It shoots great and has approximately 600 rounds through it.

To the problem. The bolt is smooth as silk when the 3 position safety is in the middle position; however once it is in the fire position it is stiff. (With or without a case in the chamber) Also when I eject a shell there is a series of scratches on the case. I took it in to a gunsmith and he took a quick look at the chamber and said that a good polish would clear up my problem. He said there was a little rust in the chamber. This is quite logical in consideration of some of the weather that I have hunted in despite my attempts to keep her clean. Well I got my baby back early this week and was excited to run some rounds through her. I was disappointed to find that it still has the same problem. I will not go back to the same gunsmith as I feel that he did not listen to what I had to say. Has anyone ever had a problem or hear of a problem like this? I will not shoot it again until I get this resolved. Nearly every round that has been shot through this gun has been reloaded and I have thought of getting some factory ammo to see if it is just my reloads?
 
Hi Bennett,
I am not a gun smith but am a fellow 70 lover, I haven't
had this problem but regarding the stiff action, have you
tried looking for a little rust inside the bolt? The
fireing pin does not move with safety in middle position
but it does move in and out with the safety in the fire. if
you put the safety in center and remove the bolt you can
depress the button at the back of the bolt and unscrew the
fireing pin. If there is rust that could be the source of
the stiff action(make sure the safety is in center position
before you unscrew fireing pin as this traps the spring in
place) Also check the ramp just before the chamber if rust
is there that could also scratch the cases. let me know how
it goes.
 
Thanks for the heads up. I will definatly give this a try and PM you and let you know how it goes. Welcome to the board by the way.
 
My model 70 270wsm does the same exact thing. I have checked for rust and there is none. I have only had reloads through mine as well. It wouldnt be a super shadow would it? Thats what mine is and I have a friend with 3 super shadows in 270wsm, 243 wssm and 7mm wsm and every one of them does that, he only shoot factory loads so that isnt the problem. I think it may be the cheap action but I dont know. I have just about given up figuring it out as the gun shoots excellent.
 
Quote:
"... To the problem. The bolt is smooth as silk when the 3 position safety is in the middle position; however once it is in the fire position it is stiff. (With or without a case in the chamber)



This is normal. When the safety is on in the M70, the pin is lifted off of the sear, so there is no tension on the bolt... when ready to fire, the pin is sitting on the sear, and that causes the stiffness.

Quote:
Also when I eject a shell there is a series of scratches on the case.



It would help (a LOT) if you told whether you hasve a controled feed (claw extractor) or a push feed (spring loaded extractor and spring ejector)... and where on the case are the scratches, and how far they go... they may not be from the chamber. And I would tell the smith that you want your money back.

Quote:
I took it in to a gunsmith and he took a quick look at the chamber and said that a good polish would clear up my problem. He said there was a little rust in the chamber.



That may be BS.

Quote:
This is quite logical in consideration of some of the weather that I have hunted in despite my attempts to keep her clean. Well I got my baby back early this week and was excited to run some rounds through her. I was disappointed to find that it still has the same problem. I will not go back to the same gunsmith as I feel that he did not listen to what I had to say. Has anyone ever had a problem or hear of a problem like this? I will not shoot it again until I get this resolved. Nearly every round that has been shot through this gun has been reloaded and I have thought of getting some factory ammo to see if it is just my reloads?



Many rifles have scratching patterns, caused by the case hitting parts of the barrel or action.

For example, a streak of scratches on the bottom of the case from the shoulder to within 1/2" of the rear of the case, means that the edge of the chamber is sharp, and hadn't been properly finished... most scratches tell you where they are coming from.


.
 
when you have the safety in the fire position you have the tension from the firing pin pulling the locking lugs into their seats. Check to make sure the lug seats and recesses are clean in the action, use a small amount of lube on the lugs when you clean, and you may want to see how smooth the lugs and seats are. You may benefit from lapping the lugs as this will increase the amount of contact between the luggs and seats and it will smooth them up at the same time. This all being said the action will never run as smooth in the fire position as it will in the middle position because you have more forces you are trying to overcome when you cycle the action.
 
Thanks for taking the time to reply folks. It probably is a Black Shadow but not a Super Shadow. It is a synthetic stock blued barrel rifle that is marked just as a model 70.
Catshooter-It is a controlled feed and the scratches on the case are actually right where you mentioned in your example. Quote:
For example, a streak of scratches on the bottom of the case from the shoulder to within 1/2" of the rear of the case,



Like your situation newshooter this rifle shoots good, it just aggravates me. Thanks again for the comments folks, there is a wealth of knowledge here on this board.
 
Quote:
"... Catshooter-It is a controlled feed and the scratches on the case are actually right where you mentioned in your example. Quote:
For example, a streak of scratches on the bottom of the case from the shoulder to within 1/2" of the rear of the case..."





Bennet...

That can be taken care of.

The lower edge of the chamber need to be polished and the edge rounded with very fine silly-cone paper - #600 or #800, with light oil on it.

It is not hard to do and any gunsmith (even the one you went to) can do it... hell, you can do it.

Drop me a PM and I will explain how to do it.

Meow /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif


.
 
Quote:
To the problem. The bolt is smooth as silk when the 3 position safety is in the middle position; however once it is in the fire position it is stiff. (With or without a case in the chamber)



Does the stiffness occur on the upstroke of the bolt handle? If so, perhaps you need a bit of lube on the acme threads on your cocking piece and also on the vee shaped cam surface that cocks the firing pin as the bolt is lifted. When the safety is in center position, the firing pin is cocked but once the firning pin drops, the cam must overcome the firing pin spring. Any roughness on the cam surface and/or dry cam surface or dry threads can result in substantial stiffness. A dab of good grease, such as Tetra Gun on these surfaces will do wonders, if that is the "stiffness" you are experiencing.

Regards,
hm
 


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