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Hi everyone, I recently picked up a Pre-64 Model 70 dated 1940 in 30GOVT’06 and it is missing the rear and front sights and was wondering if anyone can tell me what are the correct OEM sights I should be looking for.
If it helps the serial number for this rifle is 80195
Thanks in advance,
Bill
I don’t have my book with me but Luis will probably be able to answer your question.
Welcome to the board, it can be a bit slow, but you’ll get the help you are seeking.
KingCobb said
I don’t have my book with me but Luis will probably be able to answer your question.
Welcome to the board, it can be a bit slow, but you’ll get the help you are seeking.
KC, Thank you. My buddies over at MILSURPS pointed me your way. I’ve just purchased two model 70’s in the past 5 months, this PRE64 and a Post64 Heavy Barrel Varnmenter. Both had/have issues but I hope to get them workout soon. Beside an old .22 single-shot Model 1904 I think these are the only Winchesters I own.
Thanks for the welcome and assist
Bill
Based on your serial number, your rifle was manufactured in 1948.
In regards, to correct sights, it is necessary to know what variation of model 70 you have, Target or Sporting rifle.
Steve
seewin said
In regards, to correct sights, it is necessary to know what variation of model 70 you have, Target or Sporting rifle.
Steve
Hi Steve, The rifle is a Sporting rifle with the textured front sight ramp that is formed as part of the barrel, not screwed in place. The front sight dovetail is .355~ at the base and .315 at the top. The rear is .375~ at the base and .304~ at the narrowest point
The bottom markings on the barrel are 1906 and I’m guessing 48 or 40 the “8” is or “0” has a machine mark horizontally right through the center so it looks to be an incomplete or damaged stamp.
Thank you for the help in advance
November 5, 2014
Online
Hi Bill-
The M70 standard rifle of 1948 would have a straight comb stock (Monte Carlos were not cataloged until about 1952) and an integral front sight ramp (soldered on ramps didn’t appear until the Featherweight was introduced in 1952, but eventually replaced the integral ramps on all barrels that had ramps).
If this sounds like your gun, then I would say: FRONT SIGHT: Winchester 103C front sight, silver bead, 0.310″ tall from the bottom of the dovetail. BARREL SIGHT: Winchester 22G with a four-step 3C elevator.
For some help with identification, I “borrowed” the photos below from pre64win.com. NOTE, however, that they didn’t have a photo of the correct FOUR-step 3C elevator. The pre-64 one you need looks like this but with only four steps.
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Louis Luttrell said
NOTE, however, that they didn’t have a photo of the correct FOUR-step 3C elevator. The pre-64 one you need looks like this but with only four steps.
There’s some choice 19th Century thinking for you: fiddling with the elevator, when the company should have been making a deal with one of the popular scope-mount manufacturers, like Redfield or Weaver, to sell M70s pre-fitted with scope mounts, or even designing their own mounts; analogous to an improvement in buggy-whips after automobiles became ubiquitous.
November 5, 2014
Online
Hi Bill-
Digging around in my parts chest, I think these are the correct sights for a 1948 M70 standard grade rifle:
Hope this helps!!!
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Louis Luttrell said
Hi Bill-Digging around in my parts chest, I think these are the correct sights for a 1948 M70 standard grade rifle:
Hope this helps!!!
Lou
Lou, Sorry for the late replay I was on a camping trip with the family. That’s exactly the information I was looking for. Your pictures are a bonus! Now I know exactly what I need to start looking for.
Thank you for all of your
Bill
November 5, 2014
Online
Bill-
Let me add a couple more photos…
For 1948, the correct sight is a 22G. However later on, the factory made a 22K (in two heights – one for 1954-57 low comb standard rifles and one for 1954-57 low comb FWTs). These 22K sights often show up on eBay misidentified as 22G. The low height 22K, according to Seewins’s factory blue prints, were IDENTICAL to the 22G EXCEPT for the sheet metal slide insert that was flatter across the top to provide a higher line of sight.
This is real trivia stuff and may be more than you’d care about. But if you want to be “correct”, the sight on the left in both photos is the one you want. The taller one on the right is the taller 22K that is correct for a M70 FWT. But there is a 22K that is exactly the same height as the 22G, differing only in the shape of the slide insert:
FWIW, the 3C elevator you need is on the left in both photos. The one on the far right is a 1C elevator, which sometimes shows up on pre-war M70s. Not relevant to 1948, however.
Hope this helps…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Louis Luttrell said
Bill-Let me add a couple more photos…
For 1948, the correct sight is a 22G. However later on, the factory made a 22K (in two heights – one for 1954-57 low comb standard rifles and one for 1954-57 low comb FWTs). These 22K sights often show up on eBay misidentified as 22G.
FWIW, the 3C elevator you need is on the left in both photos. The one on the far right is a 1C elevator, which sometimes shows up on pre-war M70s. Not relevant to 1948, however.
Lou, Even though the rifle is far from a collector rifle, someone at sometime drilled and tapped hold on the right rear section of the receiver, I still like to have firearms as close to their original configuration as possible. With all its wear and tare I would still choose this old Model 70 I found over a new rifle. For me it the craftmanship of days past that makes me fall in love with these old rifles.
Thank you again
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