I recently picked up a winchester model 70 in what looks to be nearly unfired condition from a pawn shop for an unbelieveable price. Well upon picking it up (won on gunbroker) for some reason I didn't think to check the trigger as they had a lock on it and in Michigan they have to give you a lock with any gun purchase, so I just left it on there until I got home. Upon arriving at home, I decided to dry fire it a couple of times before putting it in the safe. The firing pin just rides forward when I close the bolt and I can see that it is clearly overtaking the sear. It seems that the sear to trigger engagement is a bit sloppy allowing the sear to be pushed down by the firing pin before the trigger stops movement in the sear. The angle on the cocking piece on the back of the firing pin looked to be quite a bit more angled than what I had seen on NOS pins, so I ordered a NOS firing pin. But my question is should I replace the trigger and sear as well, perhaps with a Timney? This is going to be my backup deer hunting rifle that my fiance may use as well, so I want it to be 100% safe. Thanks for any insight.
Winchester Model 70 Problems (Firing Pin)
- Thread starter Midodgeguy
- Start date
Re: Winchester Model 70 Problems (Firing Pin)
... Or that looks to have been "messed with", ground or sanded or otherwise re-shaped.
... Or that looks to have been "messed with", ground or sanded or otherwise re-shaped.
I know this is an old thread but has anyone else had this issue with the firing pin cocking piece riding over the sear when the bolt is closed? I can push the firing pin forward with my thumb with ease when the sear does catch the firing pin when the finring pin is cocked. I bought a timney trigger to take care of the issue and the timney does the same thing. Called Timney and they told me to leave the rear trigger pin out, drill and tap the receiver to bolt on the bolt catch and use the forward push screw on the timney to tip the trigger (sear) closer to the firing pin for more sear engagement. The Timney tech told me he has only heard of this issue in a hand full of Winchester rifles in his 10 years as a tech. The first post in this thread explained my problem perfectly ( The firing pin just rides forward when I close the bolt and I can see that it is clearly overtaking the sear. It seems that the sear to trigger engagement is a bit sloppy allowing the sear to be pushed down by the firing pin before the trigger stops movement in the sear) I'm pulling out my hair. I didn't want to drill and tap my receiver so I slotted the rear pin hole on the timney trigger to accomplish the same effect as leaving it out and have had no success. I have a Rifle Basics trigger on the way to see if the sear engagement to this new trigger is any different to get rid of my issue. I'm almost ready to weld the rear trigger pin holed and relocate them for more sear engagement. Thanks for any info anyone may have.
