Model 70 Target scope mounting advice|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Hi kellswater-

That would depend on the dimensions on the scope you plan to install (OAL, objective diameter, where the fat part of the objective falls relative to the scope block on the barrel, whether you plan to remove the original blocks to attach a top mount to the receiver, etc.).

I can tell you that the factory-installed scope blocks on a pre-64 M70 target rifle barrel were a 0.360″ tall barrel block and a 0.185″ tall block on the front receiver ring.  They were “Lyman type””, i.e. coved on top to facilitate use of a receiver sight, not “Unertl type”, i.e. flat on top, and usually had both Unertl “crescents” on the right and Winchester “dimples” on the left side of the block.  I’ll attach a picture of a typical early 1950s 220 SWIFT Target Model to illustrate what I’m talking about.  These are the factory style scope blocks.

If the blocks on your rifle aren’t like the ones shown then they aren’t the factory blocks and you might as well remove them and give yourself more scope clearance.  In any event you’re going to have to remove the receiver block if using any sort of top mount.  I suspect that with the barrel block removed and any reasonable scope (short of the Hubble telescope type of optics found today) you can get away with medium height rings.  

One thing I’ll add is that the Marksman stock has a higher comb (less drop) than Winchester’s standard M70 stock, and was designed to be comfortable for prone shooting with the long target style Uhertl/Lyman/Fecker/etc. scopes.  Those scopes sit quite high, probably about the equivalent of “high” rings, so high rings might be more comfortable for you, regardless of the scope dimensions, depending on your intended shooting position(s). 

Hope this helps,

Lou

Bruce-

If you are going with a period target type scope installed using the factory scope blocks you don’t have any choice about the height of the rings b/c those “micrometer adjustable”  mounts only came in one height.  

For 1946, good choices are the Lyman Super Targetspot (up to 25X) or a Unertl (up to the 1 3/4-inch objective).  Both are excellent optics. I’d guess that for 100 to 200 yard bench shooting anything 15X and up would be great.

The only M70 Target rifle that I currently have scoped is my Van Orden Sniper.  It has a 20X Lyman STS installed b/c that’s the scope the USMC preferred on their Marksmanship Team rifles for use up to 1000 yards.  Here’s a picture of the VO Sniper that I’m posting just to show what the scope looks like installed in factory blocks.  The barreled action on these was the same as a standard G7044C (30-06 Target Rifle), only the special dimension stock was a special order…  With this type scope there’s plenty of clearance for the “flag” type pre-war safety.

I do have a 1946 vintage 220 SWIFT Target rifle (s/n 64932). This one is a (type II-1) “transition” M70 with cloverleaf tang, smooth factory D&T bridge, and “rabbit’s foot” safety.  But no scope on it currently…

Good Luck!!!

Lou