Model 70 safety

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Hpw easy is it to upgrade the model 70 safety to a more quality mechanism?

 

[RedTag]

Impossible. Nothing better exists.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Impossible. Nothing better exists.

Well, I have had a chance to try a whole bunch of safeties that are similar to the Model 70. My brand new model 70's safety was originally almost impossible to move. It isn't crisp in it's positions and isn't remotely like other safeties of the same design. Not crisp "clicks" and the back.position isn't solid at all.

 

[Ray B]

The safety lever pivots on a shaft. The positions involve detents in the round portion of the lever into which a spring activated pin is pushed. the safety mid position involves engaging the firing pin and the full safe position pushes a pin forward that prevents the bolt from rotating. These should operate smoothly and easily. If not, dismantle the bolt sleeve and see if there is a burr or some such imperfection that is causing the problem. A polishing should resolve the issue.

 

[RedTag]

Well, I have had a chance to try a whole bunch of safeties that are similar to the Model 70. My brand new model 70's safety was originally almost impossible to move. It isn't crisp in it's positions and isn't remotely like other safeties of the same design. Not crisp "clicks" and the back.position isn't solid at all.

The newer ones are certainly hit or miss in terms of quality, but the principle of design is sound. I had a M70 extreme weather made in SC that had kind of a 4-position safety, with something funky going on between the proper safety positions. A good polishing may resolve the issue, as suggested by Ray B. My example had other problems to include drill chatter marks in the bore so it was traded away for the mere value of the action (which was otherwise decent) but, again, in principle the M70 design leaves nothing to be desired. The pre-‘64 guns command a premium for very good reason; the men who built those rifles truly cared about what they were doing.

 

[dgr416]

I hate that safety cost me many big bucks and bears .Its loud and not easy to get the safety off .I am a tang safety kinda guy like Elmer Keith was also .I now have three model 70s and will never like that safety .My kimber hunter model was worked on and smoothed way out but still dont like those safetys either !