Horsefly

I built an action wrench and used it twice.I haven't built a barrel vise yet,and have the rust blue coming any day now.What I'm wondering is,can I put the barrel on after bluing without screwing up the blue on the barrel without a barrel vise? I know I should have just ordered a vise,but I get as much satisfaction making my tools as I get from working on Mousers(see Mouser on ebay the other day).I bought a house yesterday that needs much remodeling,so I won't have much time to build a vise,maybe I should just order one.Kinda answered my own question I reckon.Oh ya,the house has 2 1/2 acres,plenty of room for a real workshop,so I'd sure appreciate any ideas on building the perfect shop for Mouser work.Maybe even pictures of your shops.Jerry

Haven't found the grip info yet Tom.I've stuck the shipping papers somewhere,and that's why I can't find it.Too much junk.I remember I got his name off Makarov.com,but all that's there now is a company that has Mak grips for around 60 bucks.I'll keep looking.Jerry Tom,have you made it down to Military Gun Supply yet?

Gunner,is that a Davis May bolt? Jerry

If it's really your first sporter,your off to a hell-uva start! That jewelling looks nice.One hum-dinger of a rifle you built there Gunner.That's 2 finished rifles to look at this morning,Swamp Things and yours,and I've noticed a couple new names.Things are picking up.Thanks for the picture GunnerHAF. Jerry

You done good Swampy! That really is a good looking stock,especially with the checkpiece on the correct side.If that was my rifle,I'd put pictures of it on the internet too! My next stock will be a Micro-fit.Jerry

Pedestal,you Martini's impress the heck outta me.Beautiful rifles! lots of years ago,when good gunsmiths were building rifles from Mausers,the great gunsmiths with big names were building guns on Martini actions.I've always thought Ruger copied those custom guns when they came out with the No.1 and No.3.That was my first thought when I saw my 1st no.1,they copied a Martini.You guys have a lot to teach me about Mausers before we get off onto something else.Jerry

There's a dude that makes wood grips for Maks,and he does a dern good job.I got a pair from him a couple years ago for my PA63 I think for about 20 bucks.It makes a low budget gun look as good as anybodies.I'll see if I can find the dope on him and get back to you.Jerry

Ever since Swampy brought up the question "why we sporterize",I can't stop wondering why.Out of the 25 or so guys I've worked with for over 20 years,each one has something they're better at than the rest.We've got mechanics,carpenters,an artist,computer whiz,pilot,art collector,cow man,horse feller,and drag racer.Seems we all hunt something to be good at to seperate us from the rest.I've always been the trailer building welder and a half ass(what they call a gunsmith,but I wouldn't make a wart on a gunsmiths butt)gunsmith.They impress me with their skills and I sometimes call on them to help me with things I can't figure out.Me repairing their guns kinda pays them back for drawing on their knowledge.I think most everybody has to find something that interest them and strive to be good at to smooth the rough edges of everyday life,and working on guns does that for me,and apparently I've found a group of guys and gals that think sorta like me.How many times have you been messing around the garage and see a gun part laying there that could use a little shinning,and once started,you forget about the other stuff you were doing,and before you know it,4 hours has gone by,and you think,"dang I enjoyed that"! Jerry

Jason,it's strange that this year we didn't have hardly any skeeterhawks,but twice as many skeeters.Jerry

If I could buy a factory made rifle,and pay 10 or 20 bucks on it when I have it,I'd probably get in trouble paying on several guns at a time.I like saving up my coke money until I have enough for a stock,then save for a Davis bolt,and so on until I have enough parts to put a gun together.I even get a kick out of hunting for parts.Everyone needs to be creative at something.Working on guns keeps me out of the pool halls.Jerry

Littlecanoe,Cheaper-Than-Dirt had a few Yugo 48's a while back for 180.00 that were brand new old guns.Even the bluing was perfect.I figured they were prettied up battle guns until I pulled the bolt and looked down the barrel.They were brand new and the bolt was even a little tight.Maybe I can get by there and look to see if they have anymore.Jerry

I resemble that last remark!!!!!!! Jerry

LC,you might take a look at the Husky rifles Sarco has in 8MM.They have them built on small-ring and 98 actions,and from the picture of the one ZR1 bought,they are humdingers.They have fine line checkering,a pistol grip like the old Remington shotguns,and I think it has a sling swivel on the barrel like an Afrian express rifle.Z said his is a small-ring and he wished it was a 98,but I think they still have 98's in their ad.At 260.00,you'd be way better off than giving 200.00 for a barreled action that may or may not have a good bore,still have to buy a 75.00 stock,30.00 safety,cut and recrown the barrel,40.00 in sling and swivels,and probably 25.00 in sandpaper and stock finish.When you get ready to put a rifle together,look for a VZ 24 or 98/22 action,save your Coke money and get a barrel,well,what I'm getting at,is buy a piece at a time until all the parts are together,and build the gun you want.I think most of the folks here will agree on the German made actions first,then the BRNO's,'cause here is where I learned what little I know about piecing together a rifle.Look at Z's Husky in the Commercial section.Jerry

Your laminate must not be a Boyds.It has more dark color wood in it than my Boyd's,and I tried a bunch of stains and ended up using pecan to get a dark honey color,and then finished it with 8 or 10 thin coats of True Oil and mineral spirits.The darkest part of your stock was what I was after,but never got .That is a fine rifle you put to together.I sure would like to have your recipe for the finish you use.I'm ready to try something different.Jerry

What stain did you use on your open sight rifle to get such a dark walnut look? Jerry

Howdy FM,good to hear from you.If you've Parkerized all your guns,you've mixed enough solution to fill a swimming pool.Can you get a real black finish that looks good with matte finish scope mounts,rings and scopes? How about a very o.d.green that would look good with a camo stock,like Corelite has?Jerry

A feller in Amarillo does it,but said he didn't like the idea of doing a high pressure caliber action because of the heat involved.He knows Mausers I guess,because he said a low pressure shell like 7x57,6.5X55,OR .257 Roberts in a '98 action might be ok,and that's the only action he'd Case harden.If it's that iffy,I don't want my head behind the bolt even if it is purty,not my head,the gun.Jerry

Please do send some pictures,it's something I've been thinking about trying.Reckon it's as tough as what the Garands and M1 carbines had on them?Glad you had good luck! Jerry

Pilkington is the only brand I can find in Brownells and Midway.Are there other makes you folks like as well or better? Jerry

Congrats. MorgansBoss! If it ever rains here again,maybe I'll know how you feel.I reckon I never even considered ya'll would have droughts in your part of the country.We went from 92 Weds. to a high of 68 yesterday,the cooler weather is almost as great as rain would be.Jerry

I sent mine to the police chief of our town.Jerry

Like Morgan said,I'm not whooping on this dead horse anymore either.AZ,you dang sure summed it all up with your last post.The illegals are using our system against us.The part about buying the $45,000.00 Suburban,Excursions,and 4WD 4 door,diesel pick-ups with cash is the part that hare-lips me too! Jerry

I'm sure thinking about it,but am in the middle of trying to buy and sell a house,so may not get to go.The last time I went I decided I'd just stick with Dallas gunshow from now on,because they had much more Mauser stuff than Tulsa did and a much smaller show,but I got a hankering to go to Tulsa again.Jerry

Happy birthday from me too Emy!!!!!!!!!!! You seem to be a pretty happy girl most of the time and I hope you continue to be.Your one of the key reasons this board is such a great retreat for most of us.Have a large,good happy birthday sweet girl! Jerry

fritz,it's already happening.The Mexicans are making 10.00 an hr. or more on constuction jobs but the newly arrived unskilled lawnmowers are still starting around 5.00.I'm surrounded by wets every day,and see their pay increasing all the time.The man that owns the lawn service lives in a giant house in Denton,owns a home in Colorado,and a nice ranch in Montaque co.10 years ago,he lived in a home in town on about the same poverty level as me.He's come a long way working lawbreakers.What gets me,is our company,Paccar International hires his company and no questions ask.Our factory is full of illegal immigrants every day working for these outside contractors.I've know these 2 business men 22 years and don't feel sorry for them because they have to work wetbacks.They were making a good,honest living 10 years ago working American citizens and college kids.Now they're filthy rich off illegal labor's sweat.Jerry