MorgansBoss

Jerry, If you can scrounge a 3/4" (1" is better) thick piece of steel 8-10" long and a couple 12' x 5/8" or 3/4" bolts or threaded rod you got it made. The steel bar is the "top" connected to the bench by a bolt on either side. Holding power is generated by a $8 2-ton hydraulic jack from WalMart sitting on your choice of oak or aluminum block drilled for your barrel. Simply drill the bar for the bolts. Drilling an "indent" for the jack ram in the center is recommended as well. I use another bar for the bottom to make it portable but the bolts can connect right to a sturdy bench top. Oak blocks can be made from the small sticks of dimensional red oak sold at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. [if you don't have bits for aluminum blocks, flat "spade bits" can be bought cheaply to drill oak blocks.] Drill the lumber then saw in half to make top & bottom. Rosin, for getting the blocks to hold can likely be bought locally in the form of a "pitcher's bag" at a store selling "team sports type" sporting goods - not "our kind of sporting goods store!" The blocks sit on the bench. The jack sits on the blocks. The bar sits on top of the jack. The bolts connect the whole mess to the bench (tightening the nuts on top to take up slack). Then its just a matter of pumping the jack as tight as you can! I usually just use the oak blocks because they're cheap and easy (sometimes with sheet lead between block and barrel) but aluminum will last longer. This is long enough... we'll talk about the shop later! Congratulations on the house!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I know it's there but I just thought it'd be nice to have here - since he's such a prominent member - and we're trying to re-build. Its such an ingenious idea that I'm sure many never considered. I know I for one didn't until he mentioned it once and I used to sell Norton abrasives! Its one of those "tricks" that everyone in this hobby should know about. The link is all that's necessary I guess... and of course now we have it! Thanks flaco.

There's two dogs and two cats in this house. In this situation there is a definite up side to having dogs that eat poop - no scooping the litter box! Now they don't eat each others poop, just the cats. Maybe there's some reason but I can't think of one! The vet once told me it was genetic and goes back to when they were wild animals and the undigested matter in the droppings was utilized to supplement the diet, particularly in younger dogs, who (again as wild animals) hadn't yet perfected their hunting skills to fully meet their nutritional needs. Sounds sensible but is that the same reason kids eat buggers? Sorry folks but this was a pretty disgusting thread anyway, figured it was a logical progression.

Got my bolts from Springfield Sporters today. They're great and @ $30ea. you can't go wrong. The same item sells on ebay every week for nearly twice as much.

The first rifle I ever "worked on," although I'd hesitate to call it that today, was a 7.35 carcano. Problem #1 was that since I had a 6.5 first, I didn't know there was a 7.35 at the time! I just thought it was shot out. Sooo with what I assumed to be a worthless junker, I began experimenting. I don't like Carcanos! That 6.5 was a real shooter... when I could afford the expensive Norma ammo. The sights sucked. The rear sight fell off one time while I was hunting... naturally one of the few times I actually saw a buck back in those days. The safety is atrocious! I can still feel the skin grating off my thumb when I think of working it, even now 30 years later! The absolute worst though was those (then) nearly impossible to obtain Manlicher-style clips! As expensive as ammo was the clips were what was really valued. Lose one of those things and you wanted to cry. Lose your last one and you were stuck with a single shot... and not a very good excuse for one at that! Now that said, I have seen some info on Carcano's in recent years that has led me to doubt my previous assumption that they were weak actions. I think our old friend Clark posted a link once, but I also read in a foreign gun rag about a guys fruitless attempts to blow one up. In retrospect, while they certainly aren't the strongest of actions, I feel they are another victim of post WW-II prejudice. That 6.5 of mine had a beautiful (to a kid) sporter stock on it. I really liked that little rifle (after replacing the sight!), but eventually sold it due to the ammo and clip delima. The prices have been tempting over the years, being more capable if not more knowledgeable, I'm certian I could make some "improvements" that might even make it nice to shoot (the safety comes to mind). However, memories of those danged clips always brings me back to earth!

I was cleaning up a floor plate this afternoon and it ocurred to me that your "bench-stone polishing method" would be welcomed by the newbys visiting the site... and some old hands as well. How about it Beau? Its the sort of stuff that makes this place great!

I was mainly referring to sporting rifles but in the case of a original configuration mil-surp the hand guard typically doesn't touch the barrel much except for where its attached. For this reason its not a great concern. Where the problems usually affect accuracy is from pressure exerted on the barrel from a tight fitting fore end. Closely inletted stocks can swell or warp due to weather conditions and such. Now as I said before, some rifles like this pressure but when it changes (as in bad weather) things can get iffy. A gap the thickness of a good ole greenback is usually pretty safe and not so much as to be unsightly. I took my 7x64 on a hunting trip, carefully zeroing with the ammo I'd be using before leaving. As an after thought I installed a sling. When arriving at my destination I couldn't hold zero! Shot up half my ammo trying to figure it out before trying the dollar bill trick... Assumedly due to the very different weather conditions, my front stud was contacting the barrel ever so slightly! Loosened it 1/2 turn and was back to sub-MOA!

From all the weird sites you been posting I assume you're not back to work yet, huh? You really need to build something Beau.

Springfield Sporters! $30 for complete bolts. I'll let you know in a couple days what they're like.

In the past I have used a button similar to the one z1r posted (although not nearly as pretty) on several rifles. Made mine from a 1/4" carriage bolt. Grind the shoulder (the square part under the head) to the same diameter as the bolt shank. I also reduced the diameter of the head by about one-fourth and rounded it up to a pleasant contour. The square lug on the inside of the floor plate is then cross drilled for a pin. The "button" is inserted through the hole in the floor plate (where you'd normally insert a bullet, etc. to activate the catch) and drill the shank of the button to match the pin hole. This gives the upper limit of the hole. Remove the new button and lengthen the hole by drilling another hole right beside it. Re-insert the button and pin it in place. Depress it all the way and mark it at the surface of the floor plate lug. Cut the button/bolt shank off at this point. It's a good idea to leave it slightly long and finish fitting with files, file/fit, file/fit, etc., etc., etc. The original catch pin and spring are retained. In use the issued catch presses out on the button enough to allow it to catch. The button simply depresses the catch to be even with the surface of the lug - thus releasing the floor plate to be removed as usual. The button doesn't have to have much travel. The original catch doesn't project all that much! This is an easy mod. It does have the problem of being in the way if you carry at the floor plate though as Bill pointed out. I to gave up on those "pretty" German style lever catches for the same reason. Spent hours making and fitting that thing only to hate it once I started USING the rifle... I think its still in a drawer someplace. I prefer the hinged floor plate and Mod.70 style catch but this is a much more difficult modification than the button described above.

Nice guns fellas! I was really surprised to see all those handguns from the land up north. Does age have something to do with acceptability? FC, got the shotgun I emailed you about restored. Your photo aided in getting "the right look" to the stock. Thanks!

Sure is nice to see the technical topics picking up with serious stuff and "Cud" getting back to just plain fun!

"...Could this be a salt marsh mosquito..." That'd be my guess. Looks like the vampires that live around the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coast regions. Storms move a lot of stuff around people don't normally think about... soy bean blight for instance!

Even more valuable on those shrouds without a flag safety! I usually use a plain old washer though, just be careful you don't bump it off while handling.

Same reason people take perfectly good cars, motorcycles, etc. and "customize" them! I think someone above mentioned "personalizing" the rifle. That's one take, but I simply like working on guns. I like experimenting. I like things that are unique. I also like classic guns of the early to mid-twentieth century - and I can't afford to buy many of them in top notch condition. Hence it's either build them myself or restore something others have deemed too far gone to be valuable! Yes, I sporterize Mauser rifles. I also restore (and modify) other rifles and shotguns. I get immense pleasure out of taking a rusted, broken old veteran and turning it into something attractive AND useful.

"...The actions that seem to be available for a good price are Czech 98/22's, Turkish '38's and Yugo '48's. From the experience of this forum is one of these a better choice to base such a rifle on? Does one have inherent advantages? or dis-advantages? over the others?" Since you asked - I'd have to say you've already ranked them as I would. 98/22, Turk 38, Yugo 48. The Czech rifles are good strong serviceable guns and all "normal" parts screw right on. The Turk is at least as good a choice as the Czech except for the small shank barrel, which can be a problem should you wish to change it out. The Yugo... well, nice rifle, but as the action is of the smaller size shopping for parts is a bit more difficult. Now as for Bill's question... "Some of the worlds greatest engineers, ballisticians, and craftsmen manufactured your Mauser, what are you going to do to top their work?" I couldn't agree more with your analogy of design genius associated with Mausers. However there is room for improvement, personalization, and customization in any man-made product. I hated those hokey looking wheel covers on the 65 Mustangs, but a set of Creagers made the whole car look better!

I repeat - "...If your ammo is correct and you get case separations your head-space is off..." Forget the reloads for now and buy a box of factory ammo. It the problem persists, send it back. Factory ammo and factory reamers are BOTH made to SAAMI specs. Since you paid for the work you shouldn't settle for fixing it yourself. Even the pros make mistakes. I'm sure a reputable outfit like Shaw's wouldn't want one of theirs floating around out there. One word of caution - don't fire it from the shoulder until you solve this problem!

Its not just airguns, check this out http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4581871.stm Heaven forbid, now that the britt's (almost) can't own guns they're using knives. Who'd of thought it? After knives are outlawed I guess sticks and stones will be next on the hit list until somebody with some sense realizes bad people hurt other people no matter what they have to do it with.

"...The action was trued, barreled and blued by E.R.Shaw..." Call Shaw and make arraingements to send it back. This of course means you're gonna miss hunting with it this season, but then it looks like you are anyway. If your ammo is correct and you get case seperations your headspace is off - dangerously perhaps. If they barreled it, its their problem to correct.

Don't know about the rest of ya but for the last few weeks I was MIA in the shop. What with the seasons changing, trying to get things done before winter, hunting seasons rolling around (I'm a big dove hunter)... Even when I would go in the shop and try to get in to something, it just didn't click and I locked the door back up. This week things seem to be different for some reason. I cleaned-up my boy's .270 - on an engraved M98 action w/ claw mounts, a "bring back" that came to me stripped and in deplorable condition - he's been bragging on it at work and there were a couple issues I wanted to address before he starts showing it off. Since then I've been in the shop everyday. If its been the same way for the rest of you maybe things will start happening around here again as well?

Well friends, when we first moved from the old site I was reluctant to register here. Don't really have a good reason, I just procrastinated. Now that we seem to have settled in here I thought I'd better get it done so I can share in the bennies - messages to other users, etc... Anyway, it's official, I've finally registered!