Licensee

Winchester Model 70 Bolt Action Rifle Owners Manual

Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page

This manual covers current Model 70 versions with

conventional magazine systems with enclosed floorplate
and swing down-type floorplate design. This includes
those with Classic Pre-64 type action and push feed
designs. This manual does not apply to Model 70s
containing a Detachable Box Magazine (DBM). Study
these instructions carefully to be sure you have covered all
information about your particular Model 70.

Gun safety warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 - 3

General description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 - 4
Terminology and descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Magazine capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
General operation/special reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

GUN SAFETY WARNINGS

Initial cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THESE OPERATING

INSTRUCTIONS BE THOROUGHLY STUDIED
BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM TO ASSURE
PROPER AND SAFE GUN HANDLING. FAILURE
TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS OR FAILURE TO OBEY ANY SAFETY WARNING MAY
RESULT IN INJURY TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS, OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR GUN.

Oiling the action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Operation of the safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Installing/removing the bolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Loading procedures magazines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Unloading procedures magazines . . . . . . . . . . . .15 - 17
Firing procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these responsibilities can
be the difference between life and death. There is no
excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm.
At all times handle your rifle and any other firearm with
intense respect for its power and potential danger.

In the case of a misfire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Bolt disassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Sight adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Cleaning and maintenance suggestions . . . . . . . . .22 - 24
Ordering parts / service or repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

pressure. Reload only after proper instruction and in strict

compliance with instruction and data contained in current reloading manuals.

PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF

THE CAUTIONS, PROPER HANDLING PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS OUTLINED IN
THIS BOOKLET BEFORE USING YOUR NEW
FIREARM.

5. Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to

shoot. Always keep it pointed in a safe direction in case of
accidental discharge.

1. Do not carry a loaded gun with a live round in the

chamber while walking, running, climbing a tree, crossing
a fence or anywhere you might slip or fall, drop the gun or
otherwise bump or jar the gun. A gun that is dropped,
bumped, or jarred with a chambered round might accidentally discharge even with the safety on, causing serious
injury to you or someone else. When a round is chambered keep the safety on until you are ready to shoot.

6. Always check to ensure that the barrel is free of

obstructions before loading and using the gun. If you
experience light recoil or off sound, check the barrel for
obstruction.

2. Do not rely on the safety to prevent accidental discharge. Many safeties merely block the trigger and prevent
firing by pulling the trigger. The safety may not prevent
an accidental discharge due to dropping, jarring, or bumping a gun.

8. Keep barrel, chamber and action free of rust. Rust in

the barrel and chamber can cause excessive pressures
resulting in serious injury. A rusted, pitted or eroded barrel should be replaced.

7. Before firing, clean any grease or oil out of barrel with

cleaning rod and patch. Grease or heavy accumulation of
oil can cause excessive pressure and result in serious
personal injury.

9. Use hearing protection to prevent ear damage from

repeated exposure to gunfire.

3. Use only ammunition for which the gun is chambered

as indicated on the barrel, to prevent excessive pressure
and possible serious personal injury.

10. Always use proper shooting glasses to prevent eye

injury from flying particles.

4. Incorrectly reloaded ammunition can cause serious personal injury and damage to the firearm due to excessive

11. Never carry a loaded gun in a motor vehicle or carry

round can also be inserted into the chamber manually.

There are many different versions of the Model 70.
A variety of calibers is offered. Each gun is designed to
shoot a specific centerfire caliber.

one into a dwelling. Always carefully unload the gun

before entering a motor vehicle, a dwelling or an area
such as a camp. Always point a gun in a safe direction
while loading or unloading to prevent serious injury in
case of an accidental discharge. Never load in the house
or in your vehicle.

Your Model 70 is made with one of the following bolt

design configurations:

12. Never shoot at a hard, flat surface or at the surface of

water to avoid a ricochet and possible serious personal
injury to yourself or a bystander.

1) Pre-64 type action with claw extractor and

controlled round feed.
2) Push feed design with recessed bolt face and plunger
style ejector.

13. Store guns in a clean dry place out of reach of children

and separated from stored ammunition.

Both designs are proven under real hunting and shooting

conditions and offer excellent advantages to match your
specific needs.

14. Never alter any parts of your gun. Any alterations or

adjustments that may become necessary to the operating
mechanism should be performed by a qualified gunsmith.

Every Model 70 has a three-position safety. This sets the

Winchester Model 70 apart from other designs. With the
safety in the middle position, the bolt can be opened and
operated. In the middle position the safety remains on
safe. Model 70s have hammer-forged rifling. This type of
rifling is considered by many gun experts as the best rifling
for accuracy. Your Model 70 may be equipped with the
BOSS accuracy system (Ballistic Optimizing Shooting
System, U.S. Patent #5,279,200). If so, it will have a full
floating barrel. If you have the BOSS, be sure you
thoroughly read and understand all instructions

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Your new Model 70 is one of a number of different versions and configurations offered. The basic operating procedures are the same for nearly all of them. Where there
are differences they are pointed out for your convenience.
The Model 70 is a bolt action design that allows the
shooter to load a round by cycling the action and moving
a cartridge from a loaded magazine to the chamber.
This can be repeated until the magazine is empty. A single

Cocking Indicator

Safety

Loading/Ejection Port

Action

FIGURE 1A
Optional BOSS Device

Bolt Handle
Muzzle
Bolt
Hinged Magazine
Floorplate

Trigger
Recoil Pad
(Butt Plate

Stock

Fore-end

Trigger
Guard

of which type of magazine you have and carefully read the

instructions pertaining to it later in this manual.

concerning it supplied in a separate manual with your

rifle. If your manual is missing contact us immediately.
The barrels on other non-BOSS models often utilize slight
forearm pressure to maximize accuracy.

If your Model 70 is one of the new Classic Pre-64 type

models youll notice the nearly identical likeness to the
original Model 70s discontinued in 1963. You get all the
classic design advantages of the originals, plus improvements in manufacturing and finish not possible decades
ago.

Magazine configurations vary. Yours has one of the following:

1) A hinged-type floorplate with a conventional spring
and follower mechanism.

IMPORTANT: Refer to Figures 1A-D for general part

descriptions regarding your new rifle. You must become
familiar with all part names listed before proceeding with
the rest of the instructions in this manual.

2) An enclosed floorplate.
DBM-type magazines (stands for Detachable Box
Magazine) are not covered in this manual. Please be aware

Locking Lugs

FIGURE 1B

FIGURE 1C

Ejector slot
Claw
extractor

Manual ejector gives more control over the way a cartridge is ejected. Unlike plungerstyle ejector, the Model 70s Pre-64 type design uses a blade system that allows you to
vary the amount of ejection. Pull sharply rearward and the cartridge ejects well clear of
the rifle. Pull slowly and easily pluck the round from the action. The non-mechanical
blade ejector is so reliable, it has long been the preference of those who hunt in Africa.

Anti-bind slot

TERMINOLOGY
AND D ESCRIPTIONS

FIGURE 1D

Descriptions in this manual generally refer to the gun in

the horizontal position. That is, in the normal firing
position. For example, the muzzle is forward or front; the
butt stock is rearward or rear; the trigger is downward or
underneath; the sight is upward or on top. For general
parts terminology, refer to Figure 1-A.
The Winchester Model 70 is also shown disassembled to
the extent necessary in order to follow instructions contained in this book (See Figure 1-B through 1-D).
Figure 1-E covers the general features and benefits of the
Model 70 design.

Cone-to-breech design protects bullet points for accuracy. All new Model 70s with
Pre-64 style actions have a precision machined coned breech. The proven cone design
assists alignment of the cartridge point with the chamber without marring the point
of the bullet. You get smoother feeds, with no snags, as the cartridge neck and shoulder
are guided into position.

The original Model 70 three-position

safety is still the preferred design of
most gun experts it actually blocks
the firing pin and lets you open the bolt
with the safety on.

The Model 70 offers our superb anti-bind

bolt design keeping bolt function smooth.

The heart of any rifle is its trigger.

The Model 70s trigger system is
repeatedly praised for its consistency,
precision and incredible crispness.
Most Model 70s feature
the famous Pre-64 type
action with claw extraction. For different needs,
models are also available
with our proven push-feed
bolt design.

The innovative field-strippable

firing pin mechanism is easy to
inspect and service even in
the outdoors. It gives you special confidence in extremely
cold or dirty conditions.

FIGURE 1E
The Model 70 gives you the precision of
hammer-forged rifling the most accurate
rifling made.

Free floating barrels on Super Grade, Sporter and syntheticstocked models with the BOSS accuracy system.

No other competitors rifle gives you the

strength and accuracy of a forged, chrome
molybdenum, machined steel receiver and
barrel. (Of course on stainless models,
these components are stainless steel.)

The optional BOSS accuracy device takes the famous Model 70

design into a new era of accuracy. This revolutionary, patented
technology allows barrel vibrations to be tuned to maximize accuracy with virtually any load. Available on many new Model 70s.

Throughout this manual the action refers to the mechanism of this rifle which loads and secures the cartridge in
the chamber.

pressure. Reload only after proper instruction and in strict

compliance with instructions and data contained in
current reloading manuals.

SERIAL NUMBER

DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY

VENTILATED AREAS, CLEANING FIREARMS,
OR HANDLING AMMUNITION MAY RESULT IN
EXPOSURE TO LEAD AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES KNOWN TO CAUSE BIRTH
DEFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HARM AND OTHER
SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. HAVE
ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES.
WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER
EXPOSURE.

The serial number is located on the right side of the

receiver, just forward of the loading/ejection port. Record
the serial number at the front of this book for future reference.

AMMUNITION
The caliber of your Model 70 is inscribed on the left side
of the barrel. As stated previously, use only ammunition
for which your Model 70 is chambered as indicated on
the barrel to prevent excessive pressure and possible
serious personal injury.

MAGAZINE CAPACITY
It is extremely important that you know the magazine
capacity of your Model 70. It is listed on the hang tag
supplied with your Model 70. Under appropriate
circumstances at a range or other suitable shooting
location load your magazine to full capacity and make
note of the number of cartridges. Remember, total
capacity includes an additional round which can be
loaded manually in the chamber in addition to a
full magazine.

The various Model 70 actions are able to handle a large

variety of different centerfire cartridges. Many cartridges
have similar sounding names.

MAKE SURE YOU USE ONLY THE EXACT

AMMUNITION/CALIBER AS LISTED ON THE
LEFT SIDE OF THE BARREL.
Incorrectly reloaded ammunition can cause serious personal injury and damage to the firearm due to excessive

GENERAL OPERATION /SPECIAL REMINDERS

INITIAL CLEANING

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE

POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.

Some metal parts of your new Model 70 have been coated

at the factory with a rust preventative compound. Before
using your Model 70, clean the anti-rust compound from
the inside of the barrel, receiver, breech bolt mechanism
and the action/chamber areas. A high quality, light gun
oil should be used to remove this compound and to give
your new gun its first lubrication. Clean the barrel using a
cleaning rod and patch as explained under Cleaning and
Maintenance Suggestions found later in this manual.
First lubrication suggestions are outlined below.

Prior to using live ammunition, familiarize yourself thoroughly with these operating instructions. Get accustomed
to the feel of your new gun know the forces required to
operate the action. Learn how to pull the trigger and,
above all, know the location and operation of the safety.
Procedures for disassembly and operation of various components are outlined in the sections below. Please read
and study them thoroughly. In addition, always remember:

If your new Model 70 is to be stored for an extended period of time, it is permissible to leave the rust preventative
compound in place and keep your Model 70 in its box for
maximum protection during long-term storage.

USE THE CORRECT AMMUNITION REFERENCED BY THE INSCRIPTION ON THE BARREL.

BEFORE LOADING YOUR GUN BE SURE ALL
GREASE AND OIL HAVE BEEN REMOVED
FROM THE BARREL AND CHAMBER, AND
THERE ARE NO OBSTRUCTIONS.

OILING THE ACTION

Before the first firing of your Model 70 you should first
wipe the mechanism completely clean, clean the bore and

INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL ARE GIVEN

FOR A RIGHT-HANDED GUN. MOST PROCEDURES ARE THE SAME FOR RIGHT OR LEFTHANDED RIFLES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
BOLT OPERATIONS.

FIGURE 2

Firing pin cocking indicator.

FIGURE 3

Cocked

Lightly oil the action at these points.

OPERATION OF THE SAFETY

The safety can only be operated when the firing pin is
cocked. To cock the firing pin, lift up on the bolt handle
and then return it to the locked position. When the firing
pin is cocked, an indicator is visible at the rear of the bolt
(See Figure 3).

apply a few drops of quality oil on the following surfaces

(See Figure 2):
Along the breech bolt surface and where the sleeve contacts the breech bolt.
Along the breech bolt surfaces on the receiver where
the bolt contacts the receiver as it is worked.
Avoid applying too much oil. Only a light film is necessary. Cleaning and Maintenance Suggestions should be
followed before each oiling.

10

Safety: Fully on.

Most rearward position.

FIGURE 4

Safety: Firing position.

Fully forward position.

FIGURE 6

Always maintain the safety in this position (fully on)

when carrying a loaded (cartridge in chamber or magazine
loaded) Model 70 rifle.

FIGURE 5
Safety: Intermediate position.
Midway position.

2. Intermediate Position This is when the safety is in a

midway position (visually at a right angle to the bolt).
This position locks the firing pin, but not the bolt.
The intermediate position also allows for safe removal of
an unfired cartridge from the chamber or magazine
(See Figure 5).
3. Firing Position With the safety fully forward, the
rifle is ready to fire (See Figure 6). For ease of operation, it
is recommended that the safety be operated with the
thumb.

1. Fully On This is when the safety is drawn to the

most rearward position and in line with the bolt. Both the
firing pin and bolt are positively locked (See Figure 4).

11

Partially disassembled bolt.

insert the bolt into the action. In addition, it is always a

good idea to remove the bolt before cleaning.
Consequently, becoming familiar with removing and
inserting the bolt assembly quickly and easily is absolutely
essential.

FIGURE 7

Make sure the

sleeve lock is
engaged in the
notch.

MAKE SURE THE FIRING PIN IS COCKED

(FIRST INSTALLATION )

Before inserting the bolt for the first time, make sure the
firing pin is cocked. Under most conditions it should be
(and remain) cocked. When the firing pin is cocked, an
indicator is visible at the rear of the bolt (Refer back to
Figure 3). If the indicator is protruding from the bolt
sleeve a minimum of 1/8", the firing pin is cocked. If the
firing pin is not in the cocked position this means that the
bolt has been partially disassembled. To remedy this simply turn the rear section of the bolt clockwise when
viewed from the indicator end until the breech bolt
sleeve lock engages the notch in the breech bolt
(See Figure 7). On a new gun where surfaces are not yet
burnished from use, it may be difficult to rotate the bolt
sleeve by hand. If so, carefully grasp the lower section of
the firing pin in a padded vise, pull and turn.

The safety mechanism when it is engaged is

designed to block the firing pin and disengage the sear to
prevent firing. However, this mechanism will not necessarily prevent the accidental discharge of this firearm as a
result of jarring or abuse such as occurs when a firearm is
dropped.

INSTALLING /REMOVING THE BOLT

The bolt of your rifle may have been packed separately in
the carton in which your rifle is shipped. You will need to

IMPORTANT: FULLY UNLOAD YOUR RIFLE AS

EXPLAINED PREVIOUSLY. BE CERTAIN

12

Removing the bolt.

4. Again, make sure the safety is already in (or placed in)

either the intermediate or rear safe positions.

FIGURE 8

REMOVE

Push on bolt stop.

1. To remove the bolt the firing pin must be in the

cocked position. If it already is, proceed to step 2. If not,
first perform the following: With the rifle unloaded and
the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, cock the firing pin
by raising and lowering the bolt handle.
2. Place the safety in the intermediate position.
3. Again, raise bolt handle and draw the bolt fully to the
rear.
4. Depress the bolt stop located at the left rear of the
receiver and remove the bolt (See Figure 8).

THERE ARE NO CARTRIDGES IN THE MAGAZINE OR CHAMBER.

The breech bolt has been carefully selected and fitted at

the factory to assure correct head space. It is etched with
the last four digits of your rifles serial number for identification purposes. To assure your safety, never interchange
breech bolts. You will not have the proper head space. If
the breech bolt is lost or damaged, return your rifle to the
factory for replacement with a properly fitted bolt.

INSTALL

1. Make sure the claw extractor (if gun is so equipped) is

perfectly lined up with the right hand locking lug.
2. Insert the bolt into the receiver with the lugs on the
bolt aligned with the lug tracks in the receiver.
3. Push fully forward and lower the bolt handle down to a
locked position. The safety can now be operated.

13

FIGURE 9

Press the cartridge down until it

snaps into the magazine.

FIGURE 10

Pull bolt fully rearward.

LOADING PROCEDURES
CONVENTIONAL MAGAZINES

and oil has been removed from the barrel and chamber,
and there are no obstructions.

These instructions apply to Model 70s with conventional

hinged magazine covers or enclosed magazine designs.
Use the correct ammunition referenced by the inscription
on the barrel. Before loading your gun be sure all grease

1. With the safety in the intermediate position lift the

bolt handle and pull the bolt back all the way (See
Figure 9). Lay a cartridge in the receiver just forward of
the bolt. Press the cartridge down with your thumb until
it snaps into the magazine (See Figure 10).

14

Place the next cartridge on top

and push into magazine.

FIGURE 11

FIGURE 12
Hold down the top cartridge
and close the bolt.

2. Press each succeeding cartridge similarly into the magazine (See Figure 11).
slight increase in resistance as the bolt is rotated to the
locked position, and the extractor clears the cartridge rim.

3. With the magazine loaded to capacity, an additional

cartridge may be placed directly into the chamber only
when you are ready to fire. This is done by opening the
action, inserting a round in the chamber, and pressing
down on the top cartridge in the magazine as the bolt is
closed (See Figure 12).

UNLOADING PROCEDURES
CONVENTIONAL MAGAZINES

DO NOT CARRY A GUN WITH A CARTRIDGE

IN THE CHAMBER TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL
DISCHARGE.

Perform the following to remove cartridges from the

chamber and magazine on all firearms with a conventional hinged magazine cover.

UNLOADING THROUGH THE HINGED FLOORPLATE

Special Note: When loading a cartridge directly into the

chamber (bypassing the magazine) you will experience a

15

FIGURE 13

FIGURE 14

Catch the
cartridges
with your
hand.
Magazine
cover latch.

1. With the safety in the intermediate position, open the

magazine cover by pressing back the magazine cover catch
in front of the trigger guard (See Figure 13).

4. Carefully reposition the magazine follower and magazine spring back into the magazine opening. Close the
hinged magazine cover and make sure it snaps into place.

2. Allow the magazine cover to swing open (downward).

Allow the magazine follower to lower until it is out of the
magazine opening. This will allow any cartridges to fall
into your hand (See Figure 14).

5. Recheck the chamber to assure it contains no cartridge.

If it does, cycle the action (as explained earlier) to eject
the loaded round.
UNLOADING BY CYCLING THE ACTION

3. Lift bolt handle up and pull the bolt fully back to

remove the cartridge from the chamber.

This unloading method can be used for any Model 70, but
is the procedure required for any model with an enclosed
magazine.

16

Place the safety in

intermediate position.
Open action.

IMPORTANT ALWAYS VISUALLY CHECK

AND KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOUR RIFLE IS
NOT LOADED. DO THIS BY LOOKING DIRECTLY
INTO THE CHAMBER AND MAGAZINE WITH
THE ACTION OPEN AND BOLT FULLY TO THE
REAR.

FIGURE 15

FIRING PROCEDURES
1. When ready to shoot, and with a loaded cartridge in
the chamber, the safety on, and your finger off the trigger,
push the safety fully forward. Your rifle is now ready to fire
with a pull of the trigger.

1. Place the safety in the intermediate position.

2. With the rifle pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger, operate the action (See Figure 15),
extracting and ejecting each loaded round from the chamber. Work the action very slowly in order to easily capture
the loaded cartridges with your free hand as they are
ejected. Do not eject them onto the ground. This risks
damaging them and affecting accuracy.

REMEMBER, THE RECOIL FROM A

CENTERFIRE RIFLE, ESPECIALLY MAGNUM
CALIBERS, WILL BE SOMEWHAT HEAVIER
THAN MOST OTHER GUNS, SO FIRMLY
SHOULDER YOUR GUN, TAKE AIM, AND
WHEN ON TARGET SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER.
2. Pull the bolt handle up and fully rearward until the
fired cartridge is ejected.

17

Immediately move the safety to

one of the safe positions.

AVOIDING DIRECT EXPOSURE TO THE

BREECH BY YOURSELF AND OTHERS.
REMOVE THE CARTRIDGE FROM THE
CHAMBER. LEAVE THE ACTION OPEN AND
FULLY UNLOAD YOUR RIFLE, REMOVING ALL
CARTRIDGES FROM THE MAGAZINE.

FIGURE 16

Carefully inspect the ejected cartridge. If the primer is

indented, the cartridge should be disposed of in a manner
that would prevent accidental injury to you or others. If
there is no indentation, your gun has malfunctioned and
should be serviced by a qualified gunsmith, or by the U. S.
Repeating Arms Company Service Center in New Haven,
Connecticut, or by an Authorized U.S. Repeating Arms
Company Repair Station.

3. Push the bolt fully forward, positioning a new cartridge

from the magazine into the chamber. Lock the bolt by
moving the bolt handle (knob) fully down. Your rifle is
again cocked and ready to fire. Immediately put the safety
in the middle or rear on safe positions until you are
ready to fire again (See Figure 16).

BOLT DISASSEMBLY
One of the unique advantages of a Model 70 is the ability
to field strip the bolt for cleaning the firing pin mechanism. Under very harsh weather conditions and in dirty
environments just knowing that all firing pin parts are
clean and lightly oiled can add an extra measure of confidence to your hunt.

IN THE CASE OF A MISFIRE

Only rarely will modern factory ammunition experience a
misfire. If this ever happens to you when shooting your
Model 70 please follow these instructions carefully.

CAUTION: IN CASE OF MISFIRE, KEEP THE

BARREL POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION,
CAREFULLY OPEN THE ACTION WHILE

Make sure you have a clean place to work and a good

place to put the bolt components as they are disassem-

18

DISASSEMBLY

FIGURE 17
Press on the breech bolt sleeve
lock with your finger.
Unscrew the breech bolt sleeve.

1. To remove the bolt the firing pin must be in the

cocked position. If it already is, proceed to step 2. If not,
first perform the following: With the rifle unloaded and
the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, cock the firing pin
by raising and lowering the bolt handle.
2. Place the safety in the intermediate position.
3. Raise the bolt and remove it from the rifle as explained
previously.
4. Depress the small breech bolt sleeve lock with your
thumb (See Figure 17) and turn the breech bolt sleeve to
the left (counterclockwise looking from the rear of the
bolt). It takes about six turns for the breech bolt sleeve
(and the connected firing pin assembly) to unscrew from
the breech bolt. Carefully pull the entire assembly out of
the breech bolt.

bled. Disassembling the bolt can be done in the field, but

remember, there are small parts involved, some of which
are under spring tension.

BE CERTAIN THERE ARE NO CARTRIDGES IN

THE MAGAZINE OR CHAMBER.

19

2. Reinsert the bolt into the receiver as explained previously.

FIGURE 18

IMPORTANT: Should the safety be inadvertently put in

the forward (fire) position with the firing pin removed,
the firing pin will be released forward and locked in the
forward position. This makes reassembling the firing pin
into the breech bolt somewhat more difficult.

Firing pin.

As the breech bolt sleeve/firing pin assembly is screwed

back into the breech bolt the cocking ramp of the firing
pin must compress then uncompress several times before
the assembly is fully screwed in. Place the breech bolt on
a flat hard surface and using the breech bolt handle and
the head of the bolt as a support, firmly turn the breech
bolt sleeve clockwise until it snaps into position. Once
the bolt assembly is installed in the action and the bolt
closed and cycled, the firing pin will recock, and the safety can be moved back to the intermediate or rear position.

Disassembled bolt.

5. Be extremely careful to leave the safety in the intermediate position.

6. It is not necessary or recommended that you disassemble the firing pin assembly further than this
(See Figure 18).
7. Carefully wipe clean and very lightly oil the assembly.
Aerosol lubricants are excellent for forcing out any dirt,
grit or moisture.

SIGHT ADJUSTMENTS
Some Model 70 rifles are fitted with open sights. The
style and adjustment system may vary between models
and grades. The proper procedure is to shoot a group with
the sights set as they come from the factory (intermediate
position on both elevation and windage), and then make

REASSEMBLY

1. Screw the firing pin assembly back into the breech bolt
until the breech bolt sleeve lock engages the notch in the
breech bolt.

20

incremental adjustments to move the sight blade and

blade holder to position the group on your target. The
procedures below are for the most common type of open
sights found on Model 70 rifles.

RIGHT OR LEFT WINDAGE ADJUSTMENTS .

On most Model 70 sights, the entire rear sight blade holder is dove-tailed in the rear sight base. To adjust for
windage, first loosen the rear sight windage screw which
secures the rear sight blade holder in the dove-tail on the
base. Gently move the rear sight blade holder to the right
with your fingers. Your gun will now shoot more to the
right. Moving the blade holder to the left is just as easily
done. The position of the rear sight base with respect to
the sight mount on the barrel is marked with index lines.
Note how much you adjust the sight as you sight in your
rifle. Remember:

BEFORE MAKING ANY SIGHT ADJUSTMENTS,

MAKE SURE YOUR RIFLE IS FULLY
UNLOADED AND THE MUZZLE IS POINTED IN
A SAFE DIRECTION. PLACE THE SAFETY IN
EITHER THE INTERMEDIATE OR REAR SAFE
POSITION.
UP OR DOWN ELEVATION ADJUSTMENTS .

Adjusting your rifle to shoot higher requires you to raise

the rear notch on your rifles elevation adjustment. With
most Model 70 sights this is accomplished by first loosening the screw on the elevation adjustment and then moving the rear sight blade (the part with rear notch) upward.
Use your fingers to lift it up. Then retighten the screw.
Marked index lines give you a reference as you adjust the
sight. Adjusting the sight to make your rifle shoot lower is
just the opposite move the sight blade down.
Remember:

Move the rear sight to the right to shoot farther to

the right on the target.
Move the rear sight to the left to shoot farther to
the left on the target.
After each adjustment, and before shooting, tighten the
rear sight windage screw.
On some sights the front sight blade (base) is dove-tailed
in the front sight ramp. The blade can be tapped right or
left to attain additional windage adjustment or to replace
a damaged front sight. Under most circumstances this is
never necessary. Adjusting sights is a matter of trial and

Move the blade up to shoot higher.

Move the blade down to shoot lower.

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give your gun a thorough cleaning to see if it solves the

problem before seeking the services of our service facility
or a competent gunsmith.

error. Make incremental adjustments then check

the result.
Care should be taken not to mar the finish or bend sights
when adjustments are made. The rear sight blade can be
folded down and the front hood removed for storage or
when a scope is used.

To clean your firearm, follow the general outline below:

CLEANING PROCEDURES

BE CERTAIN YOUR GUNS CHAMBER AND

MAGAZINE ARE UNLOADED. ALWAYS WEAR
PROTECTIVE SAFETY GLASSES DURING
ALL CLEANING PROCEDURES. KEEP
AMMUNITION AWAY FROM THE CLEANING
AREA. DO NOT TEST THE FUNCTION OF
YOUR FIREARM WITH LIVE AMMUNITION.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE SUGGESTIONS

The Model 70 will function better and more reliably over
a longer period of time if it is properly maintained and
kept clean.

BEFORE PERFORMING ANY CLEANING PROCEDURES, ALWAYS MAKE CERTAIN THERE

ARE NO CARTRIDGES IN THE CHAMBER,
MAGAZINE OR ACTION/FEED AREAS.

Always place the safety in the intermediate on (safe)

position before beginning any cleaning procedure.
Remove the bolt from your rifle as explained previously.

You should clean your Model 70 after every day of

shooting and more often if it becomes excessively dirty.
If shooting for extreme accuracy your Model 70 should
be cleaned after every 50 shots or even as few as every
25 shots under competitive conditions.

1. Use a cleaning rod with a tip and patch suitable for the
caliber of your Model 70s bore. Make sure the patch is
large enough for a snug fit in the bore. Insert the rod and
patch into the barrel at the receiver end and run it back
and forth several times. Use a crown protector if you are
cleaning from the muzzle end of the barrel. Damage to the
crown of a barrel can affect the accuracy of your rifle.

A minimum cleaning includes wiping down the action

and oiling key parts. Most regular maintenance will also
include cleaning the barrel. If you encounter a function
problem (tight action when working the bolt), be sure to

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5. Lightly oil your gun at the points described under

Oiling the Action explained earlier in this manual.
Ordinary good judgment will, of course, indicate that the
metal of the gun should receive a light film of oil any time
the rifle has been exposed to weather or handling. This is
very important and must be done with every rifle even
stainless steel models. Remember, the polished, finely
fitted surfaces of the receiver and action mechanisms must
always have a thin film of oil. Make sure that the surfaces
of the breech bolt are especially clean and lightly oiled
with a high quality gun oil. Do not use pure silicone
or lanolin.

If your Model 70 is equipped with the BOSS accuracy

device please refer to special instructions on cleaning
found in the BOSS special supplement manual. If your
special BOSS manual is missing, write or call our
Customer Service department for a free copy.
2. Inspect the chamber and bore for brass, copper and
powder fouling. A normal amount of powder residue can
be expected and is not serious. It can usually be removed
by repeating step one, using a patch saturated with solvent. If or when fouling should become heavy, it can be
removed with a brass bore brush. Dip or spray the brush
with solvent and scrub the chamber and bore until the
fouling is removed. To prevent brass bristles from
breaking off, the brush should be pushed completely
through the bore before being withdrawn.

6. Inspect the barrel and chamber. Make certain that no

patches have been inadvertently left in them. Remove
any that remain.
7. Wipe all wood surfaces.

3. After fouling has been removed the bore should be

wiped dry. Then pass a slightly oiled patch through
the bore, for preservation. A fine, light gun oil
is recommended.

8. When transporting only, store your Model 70 in a

quality protective case to prevent scratches and dents.
Store in a dry place to prevent corrosion. Store away
from children.

4. Wipe all exposed metal surfaces of the receiver, forearm

and barrel with a clean rag. Finger marks should be
removed because they provide a place where moisture can
accumulate. Any dried oil in the receiver area should also
be removed.

MAKE SURE YOUR RIFLE IS UNLOADED AND

ALWAYS STORE AMMUNITION SEPARATELY.

23

OTHER CLEANING SUGGESTIONS

ORDERING PARTS

Never pour large quantities of oil into the receiver or

other parts. It can drain down to the wood and soften it
and cause permanent damage and loosening of the
stock.

To order parts, please write our parts department and

furnish the following: your name, address, and telephone
number. Also specify the caliber, model, serial number
and grade of your Winchester Model 70. When we
receive your request, we will send an order form and a
parts breakdown with prices.

After extended periods of heavy use, your gun should

be taken to a qualified gunsmith to have the action
disassembled for professional cleaning and lubrication.

Write to:

NEVER ATTEMPT TO TAKE YOUR MODEL 70

APART FURTHER THAN EXPLAINED IN THIS
MANUAL.

Parts Department
U.S. Repeating Arms Company, Inc.
275 Winchester Avenue
New Haven, Connecticut 06511-1970

This is a specialized, finely fitted mechanism. You may

permanently mar it by attempting to disassemble the
inner mechanism assemblies. If further disassembly for
service or cleaning is required, take your gun to a U. S.
Repeating Arms Company recommended Service Center
or a competent gunsmith as explained under Service
or Repair.

CAUTION: PARTS ARE MADE FOR

WINCHESTER BRAND GUNS MANUFACTURED
BY U.S. REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, INC.,
AND SHOULD NOT BE USED IN OTHER GUNS
EVEN THOUGH MODELS MAY BE SIMILAR.
IMPROPERLY FITTED PARTS MAY BE
DANGEROUS.

24

shipping.) Place inside a cardboard box approved for

strength in interstate shipping.

SERVICE OR REPAIR
If your Winchester Model 70 rifle should ever need repair
or service we suggest you utilize one of the world-wide
network of U.S. Repeating Arms Company Authorized
Service Centers for Winchester firearms. A special service
center for your Model 70 also provides the full scope of
service for your rifle. If you have any questions about how
to obtain service for your Winchester Model 70 rifle, call
or write our Firearms Service Center:

U.S. REPEATING ARMS COMPANY IS NOT

RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE INCURRED
DURING SHIPPING.
3. Ensure that a letter is enclosed with your firearm
(attached to it in some way) describing the trouble
experienced and the repairs or alterations desired.
Include your complete address and both work and home
phone numbers.

Firearms Service Center

U.S. Repeating Arms Company, Inc.
275 Winchester Avenue
New Haven, Connecticut 06511-1970
Phone:
(203) 789-5008 or
1-800-945-1392

4. Remember, never return ammunition with your

firearm. It is against postal and most commerce
regulations.
If you have other questions about Winchester rifles and
shotguns, call or write our Customer Service department:

When returning your firearm for servicing you must.

Customer Service
U. S. Repeating Arms Company, Inc.
275 Winchester Avenue
Morgan, Utah 84050-9333
Phone: 1-800-945-5237

1. Make sure it is completely unloaded.

2. Package the firearm securely. Wrap the rifle in paper or
other protective packaging and place gun in the original
box, including a note of explanation. (The box supplied
with your rifle will protect the gun, but is not designed for

25

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U.S. Repeating Arms Company, Inc.

275 Winchester Avenue
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. 06511-1970
Administrative Offices:
275 Winchester Avenue, Morgan, Utah 84050-9333

Winchester trademarks licensed from Olin Corporation.