Well I was kidding. I don't have Facebook. I thought someone would think it was funny though.I was thinking bust his fingers, but I can't keep up with you kids
The fate, or future, of an heirloom M70
- Thread starter Outfitter540
- Start date
- Status
redneck2
Member
As for brass life, you might consider a Lee Collet Die. They resize the neck only around a mandrel. Most likely also improve accuracy as the brass is already fire formed to your chamber
jim in Anchorage
Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,849
I figured you didn't. And yeah I got a laugh out of it for sure. Just busting chops here
By the way, I never broke anyones fingers
Last edited:
JT-AR-MG42
Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2010
- Messages
- 871
hey outfitter540
I'll measure the distance between the rear hole on the receiver ring and the single hole in the
rear bridge on my pre-war that has a Redfield Jr. one piece on it next weekend and report back.
The info can't hurt.
Work has me camping in the sticks away from both internet and cell service.
I have a bunch of loading gear up the hill for stuff to do after work, including my calipers.
Since you are a re-loader, you already know the saying 'speed costs money', how fast do you want to go'.
The Hornet is no exception. Pushing it hard does cause brass to stretch faster
and Hornet primer pocket/case web is not real strong to begin with.
I'll stand by my suggestion to pick up a Forster or Redding neck die if you decide to play with it again.
As to barrel diameters, I believe Winchester stuck with the .223 diameter right up till about 1949.
The Hornet was never the hot seller Winchester envisioned. When the M54 production ceased to start the M70,
the only stock left in inventory were Hornet rifles.
My 1949 hornet shoots 45 gr. .223 Sierras slightly more accurately more accurately than the .224s.
Shooting .224s in your rifle is fine regardless, but you might try both diameters for fun.
I shoot 11.7 grs. of H4227 with Remington 7-1/2s.
JT
I'll measure the distance between the rear hole on the receiver ring and the single hole in the
rear bridge on my pre-war that has a Redfield Jr. one piece on it next weekend and report back.
The info can't hurt.
Work has me camping in the sticks away from both internet and cell service.
I have a bunch of loading gear up the hill for stuff to do after work, including my calipers.
Since you are a re-loader, you already know the saying 'speed costs money', how fast do you want to go'.
The Hornet is no exception. Pushing it hard does cause brass to stretch faster
and Hornet primer pocket/case web is not real strong to begin with.
I'll stand by my suggestion to pick up a Forster or Redding neck die if you decide to play with it again.
As to barrel diameters, I believe Winchester stuck with the .223 diameter right up till about 1949.
The Hornet was never the hot seller Winchester envisioned. When the M54 production ceased to start the M70,
the only stock left in inventory were Hornet rifles.
My 1949 hornet shoots 45 gr. .223 Sierras slightly more accurately more accurately than the .224s.
Shooting .224s in your rifle is fine regardless, but you might try both diameters for fun.
I shoot 11.7 grs. of H4227 with Remington 7-1/2s.
JT
Last edited:
jim in Anchorage
Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,849
I don't know if a pre war mM70 would be 223 or 224. I would bet on 224 though. But who cares, it's 1 thousands of Inch.
Your Redfield one piece is long obsolete but I have owned one and the issue was after screwing it to the ring the front most hole (on the bridge) would line up, but the rear most was actually beyond the base. Unfixable. But on a hornet 3 screws should be plenty.
Outfitter540
Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2017
- Messages
- 4
No it sure wouldn't. I actually won an auction for some vintage redfield SR70 2-piece bases for a pre war. I know the rear base screw spacing is different, but the shape should fit the pre-war bridge. I will take a look at it and see if i cant drill a hole in the base to match the rifle. If not, like suggested, I will only use 1 screw.
Yeah I know that saying
I need to get a couple different bullets and shoot a couple ladders to see what works. Hell I haven't even shot a group with any factory ammo...
Let's see what I can put together and I''l get it out to the range and do a report for you guys.
-Nick
JT-AR-MG42
Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2010
- Messages
- 871
OK Outfitter540,
Brought the calipers home.
Distance between the rearmost hole on the ring and the
single hole in the bridge is 4.080".
The rifle is a '41 barreled .270 with a serial of 52,0xx - dates to '42 by serial.
The Redfield Jr. base for the pre-war guns was marked as made for
use with M70s with a serial under 66,000 on the box IIRC.
The 'lug' milled on the bottom rear of the three hole base (that fits into the rear bridge recess)
makes it un-useable on a post war receiver.
I am not really up on two piece PW mounts.
Hope the measurement helps.
If your hole spacing matches up, you could keep an eye out for a one piece mount on e-bay or GB.
I am not a collector of M70s, but do own quite a few.
It is generally accepted that any PW M70 receiver with any holes in the bridge (not counting target rifles and bull guns)
was done outside the factory barring a factory work order copy or receipt for a rifle
that had been sent back to Winchester for a D&T job (regardless of what the M70 seller will try to tell you).
I have had several PWs that had not been D&Ted, but always moved them on,
as I could not bring myself to do it.
It is also accepted that all M70s set up for the three hole one piece Redfield Jr. mount
were done post war.
It was a simple matter for a gunsmith to attach the mount to the ring with the two
screws and then center and D&T the rear hole.
My M70 Hornet wears a Weaver K-12.
It is interesting when other experienced (not flinchers) shooters try the gun/caliber for the first time.
The recoil is not enough to make you blink (involuntary as recoil on heavier calibers sends the ocular eyepiece toward your eye),
so the scope goes slightly out of focus during recoil and then back into focus
as the bullet arrives at ranges much over 100 yds.
JT
Brought the calipers home.
Distance between the rearmost hole on the ring and the
single hole in the bridge is 4.080".
The rifle is a '41 barreled .270 with a serial of 52,0xx - dates to '42 by serial.
The Redfield Jr. base for the pre-war guns was marked as made for
use with M70s with a serial under 66,000 on the box IIRC.
The 'lug' milled on the bottom rear of the three hole base (that fits into the rear bridge recess)
makes it un-useable on a post war receiver.
I am not really up on two piece PW mounts.
Hope the measurement helps.
If your hole spacing matches up, you could keep an eye out for a one piece mount on e-bay or GB.
I am not a collector of M70s, but do own quite a few.
It is generally accepted that any PW M70 receiver with any holes in the bridge (not counting target rifles and bull guns)
was done outside the factory barring a factory work order copy or receipt for a rifle
that had been sent back to Winchester for a D&T job (regardless of what the M70 seller will try to tell you).
I have had several PWs that had not been D&Ted, but always moved them on,
as I could not bring myself to do it.
It is also accepted that all M70s set up for the three hole one piece Redfield Jr. mount
were done post war.
It was a simple matter for a gunsmith to attach the mount to the ring with the two
screws and then center and D&T the rear hole.
My M70 Hornet wears a Weaver K-12.
It is interesting when other experienced (not flinchers) shooters try the gun/caliber for the first time.
The recoil is not enough to make you blink (involuntary as recoil on heavier calibers sends the ocular eyepiece toward your eye),
so the scope goes slightly out of focus during recoil and then back into focus
as the bullet arrives at ranges much over 100 yds.
JT
- Status
Similar threads
