We have a .375 H&H Model 70 Winchester in Ethiopia that has picked up a nasty habit. When you take the safety off, the rifle fires...a most disconcerting happenstance.
They put another model 70 .375 bolt in and it functions . This make me think it's something on the bolt assembly that needs replaced. Not being able to see the rifle and not being familiar with model 70's...can anyone tell me the part that is needed?
Rich Elliott

Maybe just increase the trigger pull weight. To compensate for a worn sear????

Rich,

It sounds as though there isn't enough 'lift off'. When the safety is put on the firing pin should move to the rear (lift off the sear) about .020". This allows the sear to re-engage the cocking piece if the trigger is pulled while the safety is on. If the firing pin does not lift off the sear enough the mating on the cocking piece should be filed back a small ammount. Do it a little at a time because if you file too much the safety will be difficult to put on.

Hope this helps.

Headache

When I first read the response by Headache, I thought he was wrong so I went and re-read it. Just to clarify, the thing that needs work is the underside, the area that mates with the trigger, not the area of the cocking piece that mates with the safety lever.

It could be a combination of the engagement area where the sear mates with the cocking piece that needs some work, as well as the safety lever cutout on the cocking piece.

I would most likely inspect the safety cutout first, to ensure as Headache mentioned that it had enough "lift off". More times than not, this will take care of the problem.

All of the cocking pieces from USRAC were ground very precariously, but luckily that area isn't nearly as critical as some of the other features in that trigger assembly. With a little tuning, it can easily be fixed 99% of the time.

Thanks everyone,
I'll let you know how it goes.
Rich Elliott