Winchester model 70 3 position safety problem

Ok so I'm trying to fix up an old Model 70 and the safety gets stuck in the fire position and won't come back out without some swearing and levering with...levers.

While the firing pin assembly is out of the bolt body, it will easily go through safe and half safe(?) But when it goes to the fire position, the pin goes forwards. It's easy enough to get it back to safe while its out of the bolt body.

However, when the bolt is all back together, the safety will go into safe and half safe just fine but as soon as it goes into fire position, it won't come back out again even if the bolt is cocked.

A bit of background for the rifle, it also had an extraction problem, well a lack of extraction which I have sorted.

Any ideas on the safety mechanism? Remove the bolt shroud and see what's going on?

cant help sorry but it does make a fella wonder if rifle has had a traumatic experience with overly hot load at some point.....
also did it have issue with safety before the extraction issue was sorted???

I know with mine if you put into safe position...remove bolt you can then unscrew guts of bolt to check/lube firing pin and spring....sort of didnt think safety SHOULD move when its out.... @gundoc @grandpamac

The detent hole in the safety lever could be smidge deep and have to have the edge radiused slightly, also there is a wee plunger that goes into a recess in the bolt body to keep the bolt locked when the safety is applied. That may need to be deburred.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

cant help sorry but it does make a fella wonder if rifle has had a traumatic experience with overly hot load at some point.....
also did it have issue with safety before the extraction issue was sorted???

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I'm unsure of the rifles history, it was purchased from a gun shop bargain bin without much if any inspection by the current owner. All the issues were there the first time we took it out to get it sighted in with factory winchester soft points

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Originally Posted by gundoc

The detent hole in the safety lever could be smidge deep and have to have the edge radiused slightly, also there is a wee plunger that goes into a recess in the bolt body to keep the bolt locked when the safety is applied. That may need to be deburred.

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Ah ok, the plunger was moving freely when the bolt is out. I'll get some photos of it tonight.

How do I access the safety lever detent? Is it as simple as removing the bolt shroud?

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Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

Ah ok, the plunger was moving freely when the bolt is out. I'll get some photos of it tonight.

How do I access the safety lever detent? Is it as simple as removing the bolt shroud?

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Cock the rifle, put the safety in the halfway position, remove the bolt from the rifle, the bolt lock plunger is depressed and the bolt shroud and firing pin are unscrewed as a unit, then the mainspring collar has to be carefully removed after pulling the spring back a bit. Remove the firing pin from the rear of the shroud and then the safety can be put into a position that is halfway between the two detents and lifted out, taking care that the spring-loaded plungers are not lost.

Ah I see. Thanks @gundoc I'll get set up in a well lit area with a good backstop in case I let one go by mistake.

Thanks @Micky Duck as well for the tag ins :thumbsup:

I'll post an update with how I get on later

Any tips on getting the main spring back on?

You need a U shaped piece of flat metal that will fit freely over the firing pin to draw back the spring while you put the collar in place, ease the spring back onto the collar and slip the metal out. The collar has a step that goes inside the end of the spring to retain it. If you are careful you can do it using the nose of long-nosed pliers or even a pair of scissors held in a vise.

Long nose pliers, that's a bloody good idea. I'll give that a crack tonight after work.

Ok so I've got the bolt back together, using the long nose pliers worked a treat.

While the firing pin assembly was out, the safety moved freely between safe and half safe clicking into each detent with the assembly cocked.

However, after putting the bolt back together and re installing it to the rifle, as soon as the safety goes forwards to the fire position, I can't get it back out of fire. I noticed that the cocking indicator doesn't come back nearly as far when the bolt is assembled as when the firing pin assembly was separate. I think I've found a symptom of what's actually going on. The cocking indicator only comes out 3mm from the back of the bolt shroud when cocked.

Could it be the trigger has been adjusted too far causing this?

Attachment 150377

Or is the sear worn too much?

Attachment 150378

Has someone fiddled with or stoned the trigger at some stage? If so the striker could be sitting slightly forward of the original position when the rifle was built and the safety flat (visible in your first photo) on the striker may need to be adjusted. The safety should cam the striker back slightly when it is applied. This adjustment is very critical as too much metal removed could allow the rifle to fire when the safety is released. The slight reward camming of the striker is an indicator of the correct setting when the safety is applied. If that does not occur then the rifle is dangerous!

sounds like a trip to a gunsmith is order of the day....

Ah I see. Well I think that nails the coffin shut so to speak. My intention was to get the rifle reliable, safe and accurate. I fixed one reliability problem but the safety/trigger situation is where this journey will end I think. The owner isn't interested in spending any money in the rifle.

I really do appreciate all your input, I'll let the owner know and see what he wants to with it.

I couldnt help more with the safety issue as the one on my poohseventy has been used maybe a dozen times in over 30 years....mostly to strip bolt...I hunt bolt half open,always have and probably always will.
by bolt half open..I mean chamber round then open back up to where bolt handle is up....rifle wont fire,round can eject if bolt gets knock...

@Rated M for Magnum.I think you're on to it about worn/machined cocking piece or sear. To my eye, I admit I've had a couple of bourbons with meal, the surface on the cocking piece in top photo looks to have been filed/stoned at an angle at some stage allowing the firing pin to go too far forward for the safety cam to re-engage properly. Build the surface up and reprofile correctly.Take note of the engagement angle, it's important to match sear.It won't be that difficult, the steel isn't as hard as you would imagine.
Just my 2 cents worth as a long time owner of model 70's.
PS. What calibre is it, could be interested if for sale.

Hi @woods223 it's a 270 win. I'll catch up with the owner in the next few days and see what he wants to do with it.