Having no idea what whould happen I took the safety out of my new M70's cocking piece to slick it up. It had two loud clicks even when let down by two or more fingers.

You drive out a roll pin that secures the safety stem to the cocking piece after unhooking the firing pin spring and removing the firing pin. This adventure alone with the new style firing pin retainer clip and washer is reason enough not to do this project.

The safety is held in it's three positions by a spring loaded pin with a pointed head. The dimensions of this grey metal part are approx. 1/2" x .150" for the head and .100" for the stem. The head of the pin goes into one of two tappered holes for the safe off and safe on but operate the bolt postions. For full safe and lock the bolt there is no hole for the head of the detent pin to go into and it relies on friction only.

So I ground down the path of the head of the detent spring to make it's travel easier and also found a new, lighter spring.

While assembling this spring loaded pin into the cocking piece for the first time the pin slipped off of the tip of the small screwdiver used to hold it down while I tried to wiggle the safety back in. It hit my eyeglasses and I heard a click as something hit the bench in front of me. After clearing the bench and getting a spotlight to look for the spring and pin the spring was found on the floor. The pin could not be found. This is after taking stuff out of boxes for a hour or so.

I then composed a letter to USARC while I made a new pin from memory and measurements of the cocking piece out of brass. The new pin was ready only a hour or so latter and worked well. This was the highlight of the evening so far until I found that the new pin was too long and I could not get the cocking piece all the way onto the bolt. The modifications to the length of the pin which were not certain resulted in a pin that would no longer work.

So I moved the bench from the wall and there was the pin, right where it always was. The orginal pin did not hold safety well with the lighter spring in the full safe position so I made a small mark with a prick punch on the safety's stem and now it's better than an original (my opinion).

Now the safety operates with one thumb and is silent.

I don't suggest this task for everyone.

Uhh, you might want to have a gunsmith look at that and give an opinion on whether or not he thinks it's safe.

I'm no expert but I'm sure that modifying a safty is potentially dangerous.

Don,
Actually what you did there is pretty common fix for those safeties. If you take a dremel with a small, soft cratex attatchment and polish the detent holes in the safety lever itself, it will greatly reduce the felt friction on the safety. I don't recommend reducing the spring pressure though. One of the biggest things that causes those safeties to feel like crap is the fact that the detents are casted in, and tend to be quite rough. The other major problem that can occur is that the cocking piece is being cammed back too far, so you are working against the firing pin spring more than you should. I don't recommend making any adjustments to that area unless you've got some good experience at it already, along with having the proper equipment.

Matt,

The cam back on this one is only .015". I measured a pre64 and it goes back .030" but that's a valid point.

I think I have something with making a small detent for the full back safety position. There is none now and with a lighter spring it works really well. I just got back from visting a friend who has an extensive collection with a large gun room. We compared my safety job to all of the pre64's and pre war 70's that he has and mine is by far the smoothist and most quiet. He was surprised and excused himself as he has only target shot M70's now for a long time and we don't use a safety then.

I looked at his Bob Owen's Mauser in .257 Roberts. That a piece of magnificent work.

My M70 safety is quiet and prevents firing but won't lock the bolt.

If anyone will tell me the problem it will save me from having to decipher the Gun Digest instructions. Thanks.

Steve Y---

Several possiblities--

If the shroud is not turned all the way in the safety won't lock and it usually won't fire, either.

If the safety lever will go into the full back position and doesn't lock the bolt the detent rod is too short. You need a new one.

If the safety won't go into the third position at all it means the detent rod is not engaging the notch on the back of the bolt. Try jiggling the bolt handle while pulling back on the lever. If it falls in place, do it again and pay attention to where the handle has to be for it to work. That'll tell you how much the notch has to be *carefully* enlarged.

Thanks Jack. The safety is fully functional except for failure to lock the bolt so it's the detent rod.

I'll probably leave as is for now, although on my recent elk hunt I did notice the bolt partailly lifted one day.

(The rifle I wish would lock the bolt is my Rem M7. That's my thick cover "crawling" rifle.)

[ 11-10-2002, 05:08: Message edited by: steve y ]

steve y---

Jim Wisner makes a great 3 position for the Remingtons. I fitted one today. A little pricy but better made than any others I've delt with. I hear Gentry has a nice one for less bucks, but I haven't seen one up close.

Thanks, Jack. I'll check into them ASAP.