USMC Winchester 70 Target Rifle

[JRice79]

I purchased a "U.S. Property" marked Winchester M70 National Match rifle manufactured in 1957. I have a USMC Unertl but no scope blocks. I have a set of O and E blocks but I don't think these are correct for the rifle. I'm also considering buying a M70 in 220 Swift from the same period just for the blocks and I'll resell the rifle. Does anyone know what blocks are correct for a USMC sniper rifle and if the 220 Swift blocks will fit? Thank you.

[Promo]

Have you tried asking Steve Earle? And did you try to fit the scope blocks to the rifle first, or do you only believe they won't be correct?

[Bill Wylde]

There should be plenty of loose M-70 blocks around. The hole spacing might be the same between the O and E and one of the M-70 blocks, but I understand those original blocks are scarce. A search for a pair of M-70 originals should quickly produce the proper blocks.

[RCS]

This Winchester Model 70 came out of a lot sold by the US Navy in the mid 1960's There were
a dozen M70 rifles in the group, a few has standard weight barrels. All were 30-06 cal31041310423104331044

[JRice79]

Who is Steve Earle? I'll try the O and E mounts to see if they fit. Pretty certain they used factory mounts on these. I don't think they were lettered though?

[JRice79]

I've searched for M70 blocks but the seller told me they're post 64. I have no idea what the difference is though.

[JRice79]

Beautiful gun. I'll post pictures of mine when I get the mounts. I also have a spotter barrel in the 45000 serial number range and another "U.S. Property" marked 150000(?) range that has been glass bedded - I bought at RIA in 2010. Beautiful guns and very accurate.

[PhillipM]

Who is Steve Earle? I'll try the O and E mounts to see if they fit. Pretty certain they used factory mounts on these. I don't think they were lettered though?

He makes high quality reproduction scope mount blocks

http://www.steveearleproducts.com/scopeblocks.html

[five 0]

This Winchester Model 70 came out of a lot sold by the US Navy in the mid 1960's There were
a dozen M70 rifles in the group, a few has standard weight barrels. All were 30-06 cal31041310423104331044

Do you have the serial numbers of the dozen rifles sold in the 60?

[Herschel]

I have Lyman chart that I believe is from 1952 that shows the Lyman blocks that fit various rifles from that era. It show the Win. Model 70 Natl Match uses a Lyman "H" for the front base and a Lyman "U" for the rear. The dimension from top of the barrel or receiver to the top of the base for the "H" is .415 inch and for the "U" .167 inch. The blocks for the Model 70 had a rounded groove running front to rear in the top. According to information I received from C. O. Smith in 2008, the groove was to allow early use of early Fecker mounts which used the groove to mount target sights lower due to low combs of early target rifles. The term "block" is what I learned to call them from my target shooting years. Lyman calls them "bases" in describing them in their chart.

[Motorcop]

If you can't find what you are looking for give Mr. Earle a call. If he doesn't have the information for what you need right at hand he will need the diameter of the barrel and front receiver ring where the scope blocks mount. With that information he should be able to make blocks that will work.

Rick H.

[Cosine26]

The front scope block on factory assembled M70 target rifles is rather unique. It is about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long. The proper base has two scope mounting positions; one gives true minute of the angle adjustments and the other gives one inch per hundred yard. A true National Match M70 is a rare bird indeed. When target shooting was resumed after WWII, the NRA rules specified that the target rifle could weigh no more than 10 pounds. This ruled out the Heavy barreled M70 and the Bull barreled M70. To accommodate this weight requirement, Winchester put the regular sporting rifle in the Marksman stock and called it the National Match model. Circa 1960 this weight restriction was lifted by the NRA (probably because most M1's weighed more than 10 pounds) , and the M70 Heavy barreled target rifle with a 24" heavy barrel-not as heavy as the Bull gun but significantly heavier than the standard sporter barrel became the standard target rifle.
As indicated above, all factory assembled M70 target rifles had special longer front telescope bases. Because the NM M70 had a sporter weight barrel, it was smaller in diameter at the forward mounting position for the scope block so a higher base was required to accommodate the Marksman stock (as I remember it was approximately 1/2 inch high). When the weight restriction was eliminated, demand for the NM M70 was practically nonexistent. Most of the M70 scope blocks available are for the heavier barrel and the higher for the NM one fell in to disuse. Most of the M70 front blocks will be for the larger diameter barrel. There were no post -64 M70 NM rifles built - all were equipped with heavy barrels.
Finding the proper front mount for a true NM M70 may be difficult.
Hope this helps.

[Cosine26]

After further research, I find that according to the Winchester parts list, there were three target front sight bases listed for the target telescope:
14070.....Telescope sight base complete front (long) National Match 0.470 hi9gh
14170.....Telescope sight base complete front (long) Target weight barrel 0.362 high
14270C...Telescope sight base complete front (long) Bull barrel 0.262 high.
Note that the description indicates that the bases are long.
In a 1960 catalog three M70 target rifles are listed:
a, National Match
b. Heavy barrel Target Rifle
c. Bull Gun (in 30-06 and 300 H&H)
In a 1961 catalog only two M70 target rifles are listed:
a. Heavy barrel target rifle
b. Bull Gun (in 300 H&H only)
Hole spacing for the front telescope base on a Winchester target barrel is 2 3/4 inches.
FWIW

[Bob S]

Here's mine, 1951:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Model%2070/National%20Match/Model70NMleft.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Model%2070/National%20Match/Model70NMscopeblock.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Model%2070/National%20Match/Model701951StoegerCatalog.jpg

Respectfully,
Bob S.

[Cosine26]

Hi Bob,
Great pictures. I almost got one but was sold before I got there.
Does your target blocks have the holes on the left for the old Malcolm (SP ?) scope mounts?

[Bob S]

Not easy to see in the pic above, but yes, they are there.

Respectfully,
Bob S.

[Cosine26]

Thanks!