I just brought back a model 70 in 270 winchester with the synthetic stock and stainless steel barrel. Anyway when i got it home, i slid the bolt into the action. Then when i was reading the owners manual it said to make sure the saftey is in the middle postion when you do that. To be honest, i dont remember if it was in the middle postion when i entered it into the action. Could i of done harm doing this? I feel so stupid! But the action seems to cycle just fine.

It's fine.

Winchester has a three position safety. Forward is the fire position, middle is safe position but allows the bolt to be cycled while in safe mode to allow you to unload it or remove the bolt, and all the way back is the other safe mode but does lock the bolt closed just in case you drop it while hunting the bolt won't open.

Winchester tells you to put the safety in the middle position to cover their butts just in case you are dumb enough to have a live round in the chamber when you remove and / or replace the bolt.

It's not going to hurt the gun at all if the safety is forward. Just make sure there is not a live round in the chamber so you don't shoot yourself or someone else.[&:][8D]

As Bigbulls said, no harm done! It's just the "liability clause!"
Like "caution, coffee is hot!"
With some types of lawyers lurking around everywhere these days, it is only wise for any company to cover their butts!
Thank you ever-so-much, liability activists, for our gosh-awful, "lawyer triggers!"

When you do strip the bolt down, the safety must be in the middle position. Make sure it is firmly snapped in the middle, otherwise it can de-cock and it's kind of a bugger to cock the bolt outside of the action. Otherwise, like the other two fellows said, no harm done. ( I love being a band-waggoner!)