Making M70 Ejector Pins

Such was the case when a competitive shooter alerted me of his urgent need for an ejector pin for his Model 70 Winchester rifle. When I told him I could make one in a hurry and it would be faster than waiting on an ordered part, I got the go ahead. Making The Ejector Pin As a pattern, I removed the ejector pin from one of my Model 70 rifles. Removal is accomplished by pushing out the roll pin retainer with a small punch. This frees parts for removal.

The small spring is quite powerful, requiring eight to nine pounds of pressure to push the ejector pin flush with the bolt face surface. If it slips off the tool used to seat it, it can fly away—never to be seen again. Placing electrical tape over the part can prevent a lot of trouble while removing or replacing the ejector assembly. A number 29 drill was used to make the part. Such steel is ideal for hardness and is readily machinable. The ejector pin is 0.138" diameter.

With the donor drill shank in the lathe, a quarter inch of the tip is turned to inner spring diameter. It would then fit freely into the compressed spring. The ejector pin retaining slot is 0.212" long and 0.070" deep. A slot is formed with a good machinist’s file. Tolerances here are quite close.

Ejector Pin Assembly A comparison of Pre- 1964 Winchester Model 70 ejectors and those The temper of the steel is ideal for machineability and durability for this gun part. manufactured later with push-feed action show a quite marked functional difference.

As the loaded or fired cartridge is withdrawn from the chamber on the Pre-’64 Model 70, it moves freely and straight back as the case is pulled by the extractor to the length of the case mouth or tip The punch holds the spring loaded ejector pin in place until removed. On withdrawal, the pin can go flying if not properly held. of a loaded bullet. The case rim then engages the ejector tang which passes through a slit in the underside of the bolt.

The tip of the cartridge case or loaded cartridge then moves diagonally upward and rearward as drawn back by the extractor and is thrown from the rifle.

With each rifle, inertial force, thrust upon the case rim, throws the case upward and outward out of the rifle and free of the shooter’s face. Faster bolt withdrawal will sling the case considerably farther with the Pre-1964 Model 70s. The later push-feed M70s are limited to the spring loaded ejector, providing 0.085" of eight to nine pounds of force to expel the case or loaded cartridge out and away. bolt will be at maximum thrust to eject cartridges.

Extending the bottom of the ejector pin slot by 0.025-0.050" will increase extractor thrust on full bolt withdrawal. A slightly longer spring-loaded ejector travel from 0.085" to a maximum of 0.110" will send cases flying a bit farther on bolt withdrawal. This can be accomplished by extending the slot cut out at the bottom of the ejector by 0.025". In so doing, be sure the ejector plunger surface can be pushed down flush with the bolt face or it will bottom out while chambering.

Conclusion On my target and benchrest rifles I often reduce ejector spring pressure by as much as 50%. I don’t want cases that will be handloaded flying off to the side. Also, I want all the feel I can get while chambering rounds. Withdrawn cases normally fall from the bolt onto the loading ramp. Competitive shooters using the magazine need the benefits Far left and Even the smallest of parts perform a vital function on a gun. of a working ejector.

Many of these trained shooters don’t even take their eye off the sight as around is extracted and ejected, and anew round is chambered. So this tiny little part, weighing only eight grains and a half inch in length, does indeed serve a vital purpose. AG This angle is the result of the ejector pin pushing on the case rim while still held by the ejector.