what to do with Model 70 with no bolt

Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
7,967
Reaction score
55,451
Location
RI/ Savannah, GA
I have a complete 1954( I believe ) model 70 in 270 Win except for it has no bolt. It has surface rust, and I am not sure of the bore condition. I tried all over to get a bolt. All sling hardware, trigger assembly , floor plate etc is there. The walnut stock has no gouges, and would refinish beautifully.

I just do not know what to due. I do not want to send it to Numrich Arms.

Suggestions??
 
Register to hide this ad
Keep in mind that you need a pre-64 bolt with the external Mauser type extractor. The .30-06 and .270 are the most common chamberings for these and either might work. The safeties were changed after WWII and I have no idea if pre-war bolts are compatible with post-war guns.

When you find a bolt, the headspace will need to be checked and it will probably need to be fitted.
 
Thanks for the info. I do not know much about the model 70. I just happened upon this for free, and thought if i could restore it for a reasonable amount, I might do it. Otherwise I would part it out
 
Stripped bolt bodys for a pre64 M70 are usually priced around $200,,complete bolt assemblys at $400. Depending on condition and the caliber that can vary.
That's the price from most parts dealers and rebuild gunsmithing outfits that specialize in the M70.
You may be able to snag one off an auction for less, but descriptions are often vague as to exactly what they came from.


A replacement may drop right in and in fact most will. But a check of the headspace is most certainly in order. Sitting right behind a 270 and it's 50K psi with your only 2 eyes and face, it's really important to check stuff like that.
A couple full powder rounds touched off remotely and a very careful check of the bolt and rifle afterwards is a good thing too.
The history of both rifle and bolt is unkn. Sometimes they end up orphaned parts for no other reason than separating them to prevent the kids from playing with them.
Sometimes other things have happened to the missing part(s).

Just be safe.
Sometimes it pays better to part a gun out,,as much as I hate doing that myself.

If all goes really well in finding and fitting a bolt, you'll probably have a minimum of around $500 in your free rifle.
Not bad at all,,but a mismatched bolt 270 pre-64 M70 w/some rust and use marks is probably about that on the used gun market.

Unless I had a bolt stashed away I have to think I'd probably send that one away in parts and take the cash and buy something else to shoot,,or ammo for something I already have.
Sorry, I don't have a pre-64 M70 bolt assembly,,

Just some thoughts,,,
 
IF (big if) you find a bolt, odds are the headspace won't be too far off. Headspace has to be very excessive (more than most believe) before there is a safety problem. And even if it is a little sloppy, reloading using only neck sizing rather than FL will solve that problem. It's actually worse if you have negative headspace as in that case you will not be able to close the bolt on a round and the only solution is cutting the chamber a little deeper.

Nonetheless, it is a good idea to check the headspace with go-no go gauges before you fire it, if that's possible.
 
I hate to see a classic being broken up, but in this case that would make the most sense. A 270 in fair with rust condition is about $600 tops. A complete bolt would be at least $400 unless lucky. The one you need would be the easiest one to find however any .473 cartridge head bolt would work. There are no long, short, or medium Pre-64 bolts they are all the same but the bolt face. The parts have value, depending on the condition I would think at least $500. The barrel being the least desirable.
 
My thought is "Run the serial number".

Somebody, somewhere, has a 22-250 Parker-Hale, with no bolt.
It disappeared from my household goods shipment to Germany
in the mid-eighties...
 
Check Ahlman’s in Morristown MN. I’ve found parts there that no other parts seller seems to have. Also, they have their own in-house gun smith services. They don’t list all of their parts stock on their website, you’ll have to call them. I’ve found it’s worth the call. I suspect M70s are pretty common in the Northwoods- or at least they were a while ago.
 
I hate to see a classic being broken up, but in this case that would make the most sense. A 270 in fair with rust condition is about $600 tops. A complete bolt would be at least $400 unless lucky. The one you need would be the easiest one to find however any .473 cartridge head bolt would work. There are no long, short, or medium Pre-64 bolts they are all the same but the bolt face. The parts have value, depending on the condition I would think at least $500. The barrel being the least desirable.

Me too. I would really like to fix this. I will look at the bore when I get home. Vacation now.

I really want to refinish that heavy dense quality walnut stock
 
Shouldn't be hard to find a bolt! Numrich should have them. Why would you send the gun to them?
 
I have a complete 1954( I believe ) model 70 in 270 Win except for it has no bolt. It has surface rust, and I am not sure of the bore condition. I tried all over to get a bolt. All sling hardware, trigger assembly , floor plate etc is there. The walnut stock has no gouges, and would refinish beautifully.

I just do not know what to due. I do not want to send it to Numrich Arms.

Suggestions??
I suspect that a M1903 or 03A3 bolt may fit once an ejector slot is machined into it. If either fits, you would still probably require alteration or replacement of bolt handle. One nice thing is that finding a rifle from which to try a bolt for fit or to take dimensions for comparison with raceway and bolt lug seats will be relatively easy to find locally. These bolts should also be relatively affordable.

Hope this helps.
 
I suspect that a M1903 or 03A3 bolt may fit once an ejector slot is machined into it. If either fits, you would still probably require alteration or replacement of bolt handle. One nice thing is that finding a rifle from which to try a bolt for fit or to take dimensions for comparison with raceway and bolt lug seats will be relatively easy to find locally. These bolts should also be relatively affordable.

Hope this helps.
Narragansett:
Were you able to solve your missing bolt problem? Since Winchester based its Model 54 action closely on that of the M1903, and their Model 70 being "bug fix" of their Model 54, I thought it a good bet that a Model 1903 bolt would fit a stripped Model 70 receiver were 1903's safety lug ground off. And then once a slot were machined on bolt face and frontal bolt body to allow the Model 70's ejector to function while using a Model 1903 bolt, your Model 70 becomes usable. Although dimensions were wartime sloppy compared with Model 1903s, an inexpensive 1903A3 bolt might be found - especially were you to be able to root through a bunch of them.

FYI: There is a superb book that may be available for digital download, U.S. Rifles and Machineguns, by Colvin and Viel (???) that identifies dimensions of every part of the Model 1903 Rifle. These dimensions are machinist's inspection drawings. You could determine whether a slightly altered bolt would fit your Model 70's receiver "by the numbers" without being forced to buy "a pig in a poke."
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top