Win Model 70 Stuck Safety

[bhhoyer]

Hi All,

The Safety on my post 64 Model 70 was stuck in the fire position. I removed the bolt and according to the manual attempted to disassemble the bolt.

After pressing the release, the rear end rotated a quarter turn CCW and then stopped.

Any thoughts or is it off to the gunsmith?

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[Jim K]

Well if the safety is stuck in the Fire position, you can't disassemble the bolt. With the bolt in the action and cocked, you have to move the safety in the middle position before removing the bolt. Only then can you press the bolt sleeve lock and unscrew the firing mechanism from the bolt body.

First put the bolt back in the rifle, make sure it is cocked, and see if the safety will move to the middle position. If it won't, try soaking the bolt sleeve in Kroil or a penetrant. There might only be grease or dirt preventing the safety from moving.

If that doesn't work, remove the bolt and try capturing the bottom of the cocking piece in a vise or hold it against a firm surface and try to move it back while trying to move the safety.

Did the problem just happen or did you buy the rifle used and it was that way? If the latter, be very careful as the previous owner may have tampered with the sear or cocking piece and the rifle may be dangerous.

Jim

 

[bhhoyer]

Thanks Jim,

I've had the gun for years. I had the bolt removed for cleaning and when I replaced it I noticed that the safety wouldn't operate.

Is the cocking piece that Red Tab that sticks out?

Bryan

 

[Chawbaccer]

With the bolt removed from the gun with the safety in the firing position there is no way in the world the safety will move to one of the other positions. When in the firing position and you push the take-down button the safety shoroud will only turn about a quarter turn and it won't go further and it can be real hard to turn it back clockwise to get it to lock in the detent again. Put a drop of oil on the cam on the bolt and get a good grip and turn the safety shroud and twist clockwise(like you are tightening it up in the bolt). Look out for the take-down button, it can hang up and prevent the shroud from locking up like it should. Now put the bolt in the gun and put the safety on the middle position and remove it again and it should be a breeze taking the bolt apart.

 

[bhhoyer]

Well I got the bolt apart and it was clean, so I reassembled it, thanks for your help.

Now I'm back to where I started. The safety is difficult to move to the midpoint. It's easy after that and going forward. It's not gunky at all it just feels hung up. Is there a lubrication point for the safety?

Bryan

 

[Chawbaccer]

You might be able to get a bit of grease on the detent with a tooth pick or something, working from the top, other wise you can play with it a few nights in front of the tv.

 

[Jim K]

Make this check. With the chamber empty, cock the bolt in the normal manner. Move the safety to the SAFE position (back all the way). Pull the trigger, hard, and release it. Without touching the trigger, release the safety. If the firing pin drops, take the gun to a gunsmith immediately; it is not safe! If the firing pin doesn't drop, do the same thing with the safety in the mid-position. Again, if the firing pin drops, the gun is defective.

The safety on that gun (and many other rifles) is designed not only to lock the firing pin, but to cam it back off the sear. If that is not done, the firing pin can rest on the sear and not allow sear reset when the safety is released, so the firing pin drops. If the rifle is loaded, it will fire without the trigger being touched.

Jim

 

[bhhoyer]

Thanks Jim,

The rifle passed both safety tests when I was able to actuate the safety, which is only half the time.

I'm taking it to the gunsmith this week.

Bryan