Model 70 .223 build

[p_ham]

This nice Model 70 was sent in for a rebuild.
It's getting a Brux 1:8 barrel, refinished stock,
Pillar bedded, and some minor trigger work.



This is typical for this vintage of Winchester "bedding" I think it was some type of hot melt. Unfortunately they never bothered to center the barrels in the channels.


The teardown



Cleaning up the receiver: the face and lugs weren't too bad, the threads were off center and crooked.



Bolt work:



The receiver had all kinds of off kilter contact points in the stock. I opened up the inletting enough to allow a good bedding job. The shiny spots you see are contact points. You could actually rock the action in the stock.



I opened the barrel channel a very small amount to fit the new barrel nicely.

 

[FairWeather]

That stock is gorgeous

 

[p_ham]

FINALLY got all the plastic finish scraped off. I'm excited to see this with some oil on it. Really nice stock.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Wow, that stock is going to clean up nice. Great looking piece of wood.

 

[p_ham]

Wow, that stock is going to clean up nice. Great looking piece of wood.

That urethane finish was hiding a lot of nice figure!

 

[longbow51]

I have Coopers that aren't that nice.

 

[Jbotto]

Just curious, is the .223 a shorter action on a M70? It looks like it’s scaled down. I know next to nothing about M70’s but i always figured it was one action length for all cartridges. Puzzling when you think about the fact that it was chambered in everything from the .22 Hornet to the big African magnums.

 

[p_ham]

Just curious, is the .223 a shorter action on a M70? It looks like it’s scaled down. I know next to nothing about M70’s but i always figured it was one action length for all cartridges. Puzzling when you think about the fact that it was chambered in everything from the .22 Hornet to the big African magnums.

It's a regular short action. It has a shortened follower, a longer bolt stop, and a block in the magazine.

 

[6mm Remington]

Dang you do nice work!!

 

[EKYHunter]

Can’t hide talent!!!!! Outstanding.

 

[Paisano]

Love this thread! Can’t wait to see how it turns out! I’m assuming it didn’t shoot good groups before???

 

[p_ham]

Love this thread! Can’t wait to see how it turns out! I’m assuming it didn’t shoot good groups before???

Client said they opened up pretty bad.

 

[HuntTalk Freak]

I hope you talked him into letting you re jewel the bolt! That’s going to be an even more beautiful rifle when you’re done.

 

[p_ham]

I hope you talked him into letting you re jewel the bolt! That’s going to be an even more beautiful rifle when you’re done.

It wouldn't be complete without some new bling!

 

[Caseknife]

That stock is going to be spectacular.

 

[stk]

I’m interested in this one.

 

[Four22]

FINALLY got all the plastic finish scraped off. I'm excited to see this with some oil on it. Really nice stock.

View attachment 304258View attachment 304259

What oil you use on this one?

 

[kiwi hunter]

I’m interested in this one.

Me too. I have one back in nz, fired one shot in anger for a red deer. Can't say I like the poly either. Keep up the good work.

 

[p_ham]

What oil you use on this one?

I haven't yet. That's just bare wood with mineral spirits on it.

I'll use a Danish oil blend on it.

 

[std7mag]

Updates???