Winchester 70 Bolt Action Rifle Owners Manual

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GENERALOPERATION/SPECIALREMINDERS
IMPORTANT: ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE
POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
Prior to using live ammunition, familiarize yourself thor-
oughly with these operating instructions. Get accustomed
to the feel of your new gun Ñ 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 com-
ponents are outlined in the sections below. Please read
and study them thoroughly. In addition, always remember: 
USE THE CORRECT AMMUNITION REFER-
ENCED BY THE INSCRIPTION ON THE BAR-
REL. 
BEFORE LOADING YOUR GUN BE SURE ALL
GREASE AND OIL HAVE BEEN REMOVED
FROM THE BARREL AND CHAMBER, AND
THERE ARE NO OBSTRUCTIONS. 
INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL ARE GIVEN
FOR A RIGHT-HANDED GUN. MOST PROCE-
DURES ARE THE SAME FOR RIGHT OR LEFT-
HANDED RIFLES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
BOLT OPERATIONS. 
INITIALCLEANING
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 ÒCleaning and
Maintenance SuggestionsÓ found later in this manual.
First lubrication suggestions are outlined below.
If your new Model 70 is to be stored for an extended peri-
od 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. 
OILING THEACTION
Before the first firing of your Model 70 you should first
wipe the mechanism completely clean, clean the bore and  
						

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apply a few drops of quality oil on the following surfaces
(See Figure 2):
¥ Along the breech bolt surface and where the sleeve con-
tacts 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 neces-
sary. Cleaning and Maintenance Suggestions should be
followed before each oiling.
OPERATION OF THESAFETY
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).
FIGURE 3
Cocked Firing pin cocking indicator.
FIGURE 2
Lightly oil the action at these points. 
						

							1. Fully OnÑ 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).Always maintain the safety in this position (fully on)
when carrying a loaded (cartridge in chamber or magazine
loaded) Model 70 rifle.
2. Intermediate PositionÑ 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 PositionÑ 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.
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Safety: Firing position.
Fully forward position.
FIGURE 5Safety: Intermediate position.
Midway position.
FIGURE 6Safety: Fully on.
Most rearward position.FIGURE 4 
						

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The safety mechanism Ñ when it is engaged Ñ is
designed to block the firing pin and disengage the sear to
prevent firing. However, this mechanism will not neces-
sarily prevent the accidental discharge of this firearm as a
result of jarring or abuse such as occurs when a firearm is
dropped.
INSTALLING/REMOVING THEBOLT
The bolt of your rifle may have been packed separately in
the carton in which your rifle is shipped. You will need toinsert 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.
MAKE SURE THE FIRING PIN IS COCKED(FIRST INSTALLATION) Ñ 
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 sim-
ply turn the rear section of the bolt Ñ clockwise when
viewed from the indicator end Ñ 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.
IMPORTANT: FULLY UNLOAD YOUR RIFLE AS
EXPLAINED PREVIOUSLY. BE CERTAIN
FIGURE 7Partially disassembled bolt.
Make sure the
sleeve lock is
engaged in the
notch.  
						

							THERE ARE NO CARTRIDGES IN THE MAGA-
ZINE OR CHAMBER. 
INSTALLÑ
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.4. Again, make sure the safety is already in (or placed in)
either the intermediate or rear safe positions. 
REMOVEÑ
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).
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 rifleÕs serial number for identifi-
cation 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.
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FIGURE 8Removing the bolt.
Push on bolt stop. 
						

							LOADINGPROCEDURESÑ 
CONVENTIONALMAGAZINES
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 and oil has been removed from the barrel and chamber,
and there are no obstructions.
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).
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FIGURE 10Press the cartridge down until it
snaps into the magazine.FIGURE 9
Pull bolt fully rearward. 
						

							2. Press each succeeding cartridge similarly into the maga-
zine (See Figure 11).
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). 
DO NOT CARRY A GUN WITH A CARTRIDGE
IN THE CHAMBER TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL
DISCHARGE. 
Special Note: When loading a cartridge directly into the
chamber (bypassing the magazine) you will experience aslight increase in resistance as the bolt is rotated to the
locked position, and the extractor clears the cartridge rim.
UNLOADINGPROCEDURESÑ 
CONVENTIONALMAGAZINES
UNLOADING THROUGH THEHINGEDFLOORPLATEÑ
Perform the following to remove cartridges from the
chamber and magazine on all firearms with a convention-
al hinged magazine cover.
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FIGURE 12
Hold down the top cartridge
and close the bolt.
FIGURE 11Place the next cartridge on top
and push into magazine. 
						

							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).
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).
3. Lift bolt handle up and pull the bolt fully back to
remove the cartridge from the chamber.4. Carefully reposition the magazine follower and maga-
zine spring back into the magazine opening. Close the
hinged magazine cover and make sure it snaps into place. 
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 ACTIONÑ
This unloading method can be used for any Model 70, but
is the procedure required for any model with an enclosed
magazine.
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FIGURE 14
Catch the
cartridges
with your
hand.
FIGURE 13
Magazine 
cover latch. 
						

							1. Place the safety in the intermediate position. 
2. With the rifle pointed in a safe direction and your fin-
ger off the trigger, operate the action (See Figure 15),
extracting and ejecting each loaded round from the cham-
ber. 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.
IMPORTANTÑ 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.
FIRINGPROCEDURES
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.
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 Ñ
WHEN ON TARGET Ñ SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER.
2. Pull the bolt handle up and fully rearward until the
fired cartridge is ejected. 
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FIGURE 15Place the safety in 
intermediate position. 
Open action. 
						

							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 Òon safeÓ positions until you are
ready to fire again (See Figure 16).
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 WHILEAVOIDING 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.
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.
BOLTDISASSEMBLY
One of the unique advantages of a Model 70 is the ability
to Òfield stripÓ the bolt for cleaning the firing pin mecha-
nism. 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 confi-
dence to your hunt. 
Make sure you have a clean place to work and a good
place to put the bolt components as they are disassem-
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FIGURE 16Immediately move the safety to
one of the ÒsafeÓ positions.