AzRednek

Just curious, did you give the original smith a chance to rectify the situation? I've been had a few times over the years by a some claiming to be a gunsmiths but I've also had a couple of the so-called come-backs fixed when I bought it back. I had one in paticular, a trigger job on a 45 auto, the gunsmith called me a few hours after I bought it back and profusely apologized. He was working 12/6 trying to catch up for the previous gunsmith, admitted he totally screwed up and had it done right the next day.

I'm looking to stain a rifle the same color with the slightly red tinge the older Winchesters were. I tired, rather failed miserably trying to match it adding powdered jewlers rouge and redwood stain to some walnut stain. Does anybody know of a brand and the color name that might come close to matching the older Winnies.

Can you imagine having a job and getting paid to go to the range. Even better when the company buys your ammo. Should have asked him if he wanted to hire an assistant.

Thx for the advice, I passed your posts to him. Apparently he doesn't want to take my advice after a gun shop salesman sold him on 220 Swift. Hope his ol'man likes buying barrels!!

 

Also, how do I go about getting more of the oil out without creating further headaches?

About as low tech as you can get!! Works real well in Arizona especially this time of year with outside temps running as high as 120. I wrap cosmo soaked stocks in toilet paper put it in my car's trunk and park it in direct sunlight. When the stock cools down at night and the cosmo solidifies peel the paper off. Line your trunk well with newspaper or plastic. If the cosmoline gets in the trunk liner the odor wont go away.

When I had my FFL I remember odering one of these BSA 30/06's. Think it came from Dixie Gun Works. Can't forget the deal because he used it to commit suicide and I was asked not to attend his funeral. I don't remember it having the same markings but do recall the Brit proof marks. I remember it looked like a brand new rifle, high polish blue, nice stock and it arrived with a user's manual. I can't remember if it came with iron sights but I'm pretty certain it came with no ears drilled and tapped. If you come across an old Dixie Gun works catalog earlier than 1990 you might see it in there.

Got a call from a relative that is getting into varmit hunting and can't decide on 22/250 or 25/06 for a heavy barrel varmit gun. He is getting a rifle as a combination high school graduation and birthday gift. I'm hoping any of you that have built either or both would like to share your experience.

Being that the lucky guy's dad will buy him either, which caliber would you choose and why?? He already has a Remington slide action in 30/06 for Deer, Elk and his new heavy barreled rifle wont be used for other than varmit hunting. I doubt if he will take any varmits larger than coyote.

I'm partial to the Remington 700 in 22/250 and told him if he couldn't decide to go in between and go with a 243. He laughed out loud but didn't answer when I asked if his ol'man would spring for a 240 Weatherby. Currently he doesn't reload. He is being encouraged to go 25/06 by his hunting buddy that has what I think is Winchester model 670, its been re-barreled with a heavy Douglas barrel in 25/06. His dilemma reminds me of a kid in the candy store with a pocket full of change.

Asmart I don't know alot about relining but if you're looking for a low cost alternative to rebarreling it is not the way to go. It will cost more than having the barrel replaced. Finding a gunsmith willing to do it will prove difficult with the exception of the 22 rimfires. It is a good way however to keep an older low powered rifle historically correct with it's original barrel and markings and still be able to shoot it but its not cheap. I know somebody that had it done on an old Stevens Crackshot because he wanted to preserve the barrel that had his Grandfather's initials stamped in it. As I mentioned in the previous post McGowen will do it if it is practical, you may want to call them for details and calibers he will do. 815 937 9816. ask for Harry, he's hard of hearing but pretty sharp on older rifles.

Riceone, if you don't get a responce I know McGowen will do low power relines but his prices are steep.

Beautiful rifle!! I know from first hand experience it is hard to get a decent picure of light maple. I helped a friend a few months ago try and get a picture of an antique tea cart he put on Ebay. If you happen to have it out again try a picture in natural sunlight, preferably on an overcast day.

Building that stock from scratch really makes a statement of your skills, something to be really proud of.

Fly it was apx 20 years ago the repro covers and cleaning rods hit the market via Shotgun News. If the blueing is near perfect I would be suspect.

I know this belongs in the restoration group but I started it here so I'll finish it here. This Jap rifle I aquired about 20 years ago as a sporter. It has a ground crest but it appears to be early production with the chrome lined bore. When I was in business and had a FFL I ordered at cost for a friend, a Jap collector. As a favor he put it together for me with parts he had restoring it to military configuration. It's been several years since I shot it. Using ammo made from formed Canadian 30/06 blanks the shot to shot accuracy was incredible. Can't recall the fps but it cronyed slightly faster with Norma ammo as my friend's 7.62 M1-A shooting reloads, my reloads a bit slower but much more accurate.

The dust cover and cleaning rod are reproductions made in India or Indonesia.

The sling is Chinese, made in the 50 or 60's. China made slings and other parts for captured Jap rifles after the war. I bought it at a gunshow believing it was Japanese and paid way to much. I found out from a Jap co-worker a few years later I was mis-lead after I asked him to translate. The original Jap canvas slings were coated with rubber and I should have known better. The Jap leather slings are rare, pricey and usually rotton from jungle humidity.

The metal was untouched except for the missing aircraft sight ears I got at a gunshow for a few bucks. The ears were blued with touch up and matched the original color pretty close.

I showed it off about a month ago along with other military guns to a teenage neighbor and his girlfriend, I didn't tell the truth about it. Guess I could pass it off and sell it as original but I like sleeping at night, think I'll keep it.

Fly don't want to sell it yet. I already left a message to a Jap collector I know. He might give me more than it is worth in trade because of the virginal crest. He restored a Jap sporter for me several years ago to what at least appears to be original. I'll post a picture later.

Fritz, living in the 5th largest city in the country, Phoenix, there are plenty of places they could have sold the guns. I usually have 2-3 lucky gun finds a year yard sale shopping. I always ask at every yard sale if they are selling guns, tools or Coleman lanterns. Every now and then somebody will pull something out of the closet, especially if they are desperate for money. Occasionally they might remember some ammo or reloading goods they have. In my previous life with my cop ex-wife, I had to turn one gun over to the police because it was hot. I would have the X run the numbers on anything I found. I got a small claims judgement against the seller but was never able to collect.

If ypu live in a large city, try it and don't get discouraged they're out there. Gotta get up early though on weekends. My former brother-in-law makes a good living working yard, estate and flea market sales. He knows collectables from toys to cameras and re-sells it mostly on Ebay. He also hunts down vintage items and antiques for a Hollywood co that contracts with movie and tv studios that might need something like a teapot or fixures for a 1950's kitchen. The best gun deal he got I'm aware of, was a German drilling in a felt lined, alligator skined hard case, he paid a whopping $250 for it. The rifle was small change compared to the box full of WW1 vintage aircraft gauges he found at the same sale. Phoenix is adjacent to Sun City, the largest retirement community in the country, although there is alot of competition amongst buyers I've landed some real deals and made a few bucks re-selling it on Ebay. Unfortunatly for me there are two companys that get leads from morturarys and set up estate sales. They are aware of what things are worth and send all guns, reloading equipment and fishing gear to a pawnbroker that sells on consigment either in his shop or on one of the auction sites.

I really learned a lesson about getting out of bed early. Had I been a few minutes earlier at a yard sale I would have beat the guy that got a Ruger 44 mag auto rifle, Browning 12 ga auto and a Remington 788 w/scope in 243 all for $250!! He also had a couple of Mexican leather gun cases, don’t know if that was included in the deal or not. When I asked the lucky guy if he wanted to make a quick hundred just pissed him off and he ended the conversation. I got bloody seconds buy still got a deal for $70.00. I got a BRNO still in the cosmoline, 6.5 Carcano missing front band and bayonet lug parts but shootable and a Bubba on drugs incomplete Arisaka project. Thirty for the BRNO and twenty each for the Carcano and the pathetic jap. I passed on the unknown brand single shot 12 ga completely sprayed with aluminum paint for 10 bucks. According to his daughter, Bubba is in a hospice and has Alzheimer disease. They found some pistols including a Luger, bayonets, knives and some Nazi souvenirs in his attic but don’t want to sell them. I left my card, hopefully they will need some money and call.

That is glass not rust on the action!!

The Jap rifle is almost laughable, this guy must have been doing some heavy duty drugs when he glass bedded it. The glass is smeared all over the stock, sights and action. The barrel channel is a sloppy uneven mess. The long Mannilicher type stock looks like walnut but it will take a couple pounds of sandpaper and needs a trigger guard assembly. The crest is there but it has sights added so it is not a restoration project.

I wonder, what was going throough his mind when he cut the bolt channel. The dark build-up is more smeared glass.

Rat do you have any problems with the long 28 inch barrel being cumbersome on a hunt or do you just use it for target shooting?? My 35 Whelen with a McGowen 24" is a little on the long side, wish I had it cut and crowned at 22 instead. I know I need at least 24 with the belted mag.

The older I get, the more I appreciate the "classics." capt david

Know the feeling well Capt. Of all the guns I've bought, sold and traded over the years my 308 Norma and 30/30 has been with me since they were new.

I'm stuck with my PA 63. I originally gave it to my daughter-in-law. Not wanting to complain about a gift she didn't say anything for almost a year. I got mine from J&G for 99.00 and they said sorry should have returned it right away. Mine also has a problem with the mag falling out. Guess I got my money's worth, can't really expect alot from a hundred dollar handgun. It's stored next to my AMT 380 that I can't locate parts for. Guess I'm fixed if I ever need a couple of paper weights!!

Another consideration as far as the action's worth is already having the ears milled, especially if done neatly and a big plus if it has a scope mount. If it has a wood stock with some potential it could save you another hundred or better. Generally I see sportorized Remington 14 and 17 Enfields running about 135-200 at gun shows.

Just curious why you are choosing the 300 H&H instead of 300 Win mag?? Just because I want one is a perfectly good answer!!

Couple of questions. What do you think of the Ruby?? I can get one in 38 sp for $85.00, it appears to have hardly been used. Fly how reliable is your PA63?? Mine will not empty a mag without at least one failure to feed jam. Any suggestions on the ammo, I've tried S&B and steel cased Rusky ammo and neither will feed reliably.

Better have your alignment right though as once they are on, they are on!

A freind and I did two many years ago. We had access to a large oven used to turn automotive leaf springs cherry red. Mine was just a hair slightly off center, hardly noticable to anybody but me BUT it really bugged me everytime I looked at it. It was one of those very minor errors that nobody would see unless I pointed it out. I silver soldered the front sight back on and certainly wished after the fact I had done the barrel band the same way.

Does anybody have any experience either good or bad, or any knowledge with Shaw barrels?? Thought I might try them and the prices do seem reasonable. I would rather pay an additional 60 bucks, have it installed and be done with it.