I recently acquired a Win. Mod. 71 with the bolt peep sight, and while the elevation and windage adjustments are obvious I can't figure out the purpose of the 2 little screws on the top. Can anyone enlighten me?

Have not seen but one or two of bolt peep 71's and can't answer your question, but you have a very desireable rifle there.

It looks like they are for making fine elevation adjustments. One screw pushes down and the other pulls up.

One screw is to hold the elevation spring in place. It's inside end is cut down to a smaller diameter and the small cut down element fits inside the elevation spring coil.
The other screw is to set and lock in the lowest elevation setting which would usually be 100 yards.