I just dropped my Model 70 for some work at Ed Lapour's and he asked me if I had considered removing the little gas block on the left side of the bolt for reliability's sake on my 375. He has seen these break before on larger caliber rifles and it;s a matter of more reliability versus the possibility of gas escaping down the raceway on a ruptured head.

Am 100% dumb on this so I thought I;d pass it by you guys. In the end, i'll probably take whatever advice he gives but since he asked me my thoughts i thought i'd educate myself via your experience.

thanks, BAxter

yes it is a newer one (appx mid 2005) and it is as you describe: held by the extractor collar. Thanks.

btt for some more opinions, thanks!

I don't know, the gas block is there to protect you're eyes in event of a ruptured case; what's your eyesight worth? I would not remove it and would never recommend it be removed, in fact I recommend older model 70's be fit with it.

how do other acions achieve the same thing? e.g. REM 700/Mauser/Other mod 70 types such at MRC Dakota etc?

Get yourself a copy of "The bolt action" in there it's explained quite well how other actions handle escaping gases.

The mauser has a few things that let gases flow in a direction that is less dangerous to the shooter. As in vents on the bottom of the bolt. A gas block on the rear bolt sleeve, the extractor and a few others.

Nope that's a safety device and should never be defeated unless and in very rare occasions something of a better proven design can be substituted

The old (pre 64 M-70) did not have a flange on the shroud..I don't think the new models do either. In fact, the old dearly loved M-70's had no provision for stopping or deflecting gas on the L. raceway.

That extractor collar on the new ones look pretty damn flimsy. La Pour is pointing out a potential problem . My personal opinion is that any DGR (bolt gun) should be a pattern 98 Mauser anyway.

Duane, you are 100% correct in that Ed is enlightening me to the potential problem. That is the exact conversation we had and he simply asked me whether I had considered it and when he gets around to that rifle if I wanted to have it taken out and err on the side of not having a blow out versus having a failure of the ring or the block at a most inopportune time.

At this point I am just trying to get ideas on both sides of the issue and since I am not a gunsmith i need some help from the more technical among you to make an educated decision versus saying 'no' or 'yes' without reason. Ed left the decision to me, which I appreciate, but I am the type of person who has to understand the 'why' of a yes or no answer.

I also appreciate the M98 suggestion but at this point I have to work with what i have. I have been trying to educate myself on M98's as well so maybe down the road I can go that route.

Thanks for your thoughts thus far,

_Baxter

Hi,

I think Ed La Pour makes a bolt shroud compleate with a gas deflection shield for the Pre64 M70 Winchester. I was thinking to order one for mine.

Regards

PH

The newer Mod 70's do have a small shroud compared to the older ones but not nearly as big as the Mauser. Just by looking though it seems it could be enlarged to do a better job.

So you plan on using corroded cases, over-max loads, incorrect bullets & cartridges and crappy ammunition in your rifle? You're gonna get peppered whether the gasses go all the way down the rail or out the thumbhole cut.

I've never heard of a specific instance where had a Mod 70 had a shroud Joe Blow would still have his left eye.

But I'm sure some know-it-all (in the tens of thousands of posts) will spout up some BS about it.

Yeah on paper it looks nice...........but in the real world, I wouldn't sweat not having it and ensure a properly functioning rifle over a theoretical, possible design advantage.

quote:

So you plan on using corroded cases, over-max loads, incorrect bullets & cartridges and crappy ammunition in your rifle?

That'd be a negatory...

The real problem is the M-70 bolt release location. It 's just in the way for an effective gas block.

Pete Grisel designed the Dakota bolt stop. He was inspired because his father suffered an eye injury . (true story)

I got to look a a bunch of different actions the other day and saw something that didnt make sense.

I took the bolt out of an FN mauser and I could see the gas holes on the bottom of the bolt. that didint make sense to me because when the bolt is in the rifle and closed, those holes would be pointing into the left raceway. Why do that versus down and into the magazine?

Ah,..maybe the thumb cut acts as an exit?

The "Thumb Cut" was for gas relief, not your thumb. 120 years ago they were just learning how
to mass produce brass cases.
Good luck1