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Constructing and Gunsmithing the AR15 and M16 Type Rifles One of
the most popular ways for survivors to express their independence and gain
familiarity with their primary rifle is to build it themselves. Home
manufacture not only gives the survivor the satisfaction that comes with the
pride of building something, but it can save money. Another reason for
standardization of the AR15 type system is the remarkable utility you get by
switching sub assemblies to make different weapon configurations. You can,
in theory have only AR15 type guns as long guns for a survival arsenal, with
different configurations serving different roles. By standardizing your
groups parts, supplies and Gunsmithing expertise with this weapon system,
you have access to almost every major type of firearm from a .22 plinker, a
big caliber sniper rifle, an assault rifle to a 9mm subgun...
Gunsmithing and Repairs A discussion forum on another site.
CZ 527
[PDF] Operations, Maintenance & Troubleshooting Manual. Has an excellent
exploded diagram. See also:
CZ 452 ZKM
Model 1889 Manual - (in German) compliments of Paul Pelfrey You can
use the BabelFish translator (on bottom of RMSG
TOC
page) to get a translation if you don't mind typing from the .jpg manual
pages.
The K11 & K31 Manual - (In English!!!) compliments of
Czechmauseritis
The 1944 K11 & K31 Manual - (In German) By Gunmanuals.ch - You can
use the BabelFish translator (on bottom of RMSG
TOC
page) to get a translation if you don't mind typing from the .pdf manual
pages.
The 1967 K11, K31 & ZfK31/42-/43 Armorer's Manual - (In German) -
You can use the BabelFish translator (on bottom of RMSG
TOC
page) to get a translation if you don't mind typing from the .pdf manual
pages.
The ZfK 55 Manual - (In German) - You can use the BabelFish
translator (on bottom of RMSG
TOC
page) to get a translation if you don't mind typing from the .pdf manual
pages. See also:
The ZfK 55 Armorer's Manual - (In English!!!) and
The Type K Diopter Manual - (In English!!!)
Rifle Markings for help in identifying old Swiss rifles. See
also:
Translating K31 Identification Tags
Tm-9-1005-223-34 These instructions are in accordance with the
maintenance allocation chart (TM 9-1005-223-20) and are published for the
use of direct support and general support personnel maintaining the 7.62-MM
Rifle. M14, M14A1 and Rifle Bipod, M2. They provide information on the
maintenance of the equipment, which is beyond the scope of the
tools,/equipment, personnel, or supplies normally available to operator and
for organizational maintenance...
AR-10(T) Addendum to USMC M16A2 Technical Manual (Armalite Tech Notes)
see also:
Defects in Material and Workmanship,
Technical Info Concerning AR-10B Series Rifles,
Errata Sheet for the ArmaLite AR-10B Rifle,
Errata Sheet for the AR-10(T) Ultra Magnum,
Errata sheet for Armalite and Eagle Arms M15 Series Rifles and
Errata Sheet For ArmaLite AR180B Rifles
SAR Semi-Automatic Rifle [PDF] SAR 1 Cal. 7.62x39mm; SAR 2
Cal. 5.45x39mm; SAR 3 Cal. 5.56 NATO (.223); OPERATIONAL MANUAL: The
SAR semi-automatic rifle is well made, reliable, and has several interesting
features such as a hard chrome lined barrel, hard chrome plated piston, and
can be completely taken down without tools.
Building an AK-74M A popular blog feature from 2005 using a
Bulgarian parts kit, a receiver blank and a Russian side-folding synthetic
stock. See also:
Part 2 |
Part 3 |
Part 4 |
Part 5 |
Resources |
More on Building
The U.S. Rifle, caliber .30, M1917 ©2003 by Dick Culver [PDF] The
U.S. Rifle, caliber .30 M1917 (often called the Enfield or P-17) is one of
the most misunderstood and neglected of United States Service Rifles. For
many years the M1917 has been basically ignored by collectors and shooters
in favor of its more popular cousin, the M1903, usually called the “Ought
Three” or Springfield (even though produced by both Springfield Armory and
Rock Island Arsenal). Here I will attempt to give you some insight into the
thinking and usage of one our most prolific and combat used battle rifles of
WWI. First, we should know the intricacies and the growing pains of our main
(or at least most used) service rifle of The Great War, and why in the final
analysis it was not adopted as our principle service arm...
Gunsmithing The Model 788 Remington Discontinued Remington M-788
rifles which originally cost about $90 handle such cartridges as the 6mm
Remington, .22-250, 7mm-08, .257 Roberts, .308 Winchester and the 7x57
Mauser (rifles were also chambered for the .223 head-size calibers). Their
bulk, weight, rigidity and minimal magazine and ejection port cut-outs gives
them many of the attributes sought by the super-accurate benchrest
shooters...
Yes, you can! - Shotgunner ~ Guns Magazine, Jan, 2004 by Holt
Bodinson: The arrival of Brownells' latest No. 56 master gunsmithing catalog
reminded me how easy it is today to repair or make modifications to your
shotgun with nothing more than simple hand tools, if that. And it's a recent
development. For decades, shotgun gunsmithing was a rather arcane craft.
American gunsmiths, in general, tended to gravitate to the rifle and handgun
business, and most of the available gunsmithing books reflected that bias...
Barrel
Headspace &
Measuring Headspace: Tech notes from Armalite. See also:
The Effects of Barrel Design and Heat on Reliability,
Breaking in Match Barrels
Measuring Headspace [PDF] This article is not intended to
be the "end-all" scientific guide to the technologies and specifications
associated with the headspace of a firearm. It is intended to be a general
overview for the beginning collector who like me strives to shoot "safely".
Chambering a 50 Caliber Rifle Barrel by Daniel Lilja: There is, in
my estimation, a shortage of accuracy minded gunsmiths capable of, and
willing to chamber 50 caliber rifle barrels. While I'm no longer involved in
the gunsmithing end of rifle barrels, I do know a little about the subject
and thought I'd pass on what I've learned. And perhaps stir up some latent
desire in a few readers who have had an interest in machine work and who
might want to try chambering their own barrel.
Understanding Barrel Bedding There are many factors that affect
accuracy, but next to the barrel itself, none is more important than the
bedding dynamics between the stock and the barreled action.
"Barrel Making, from Truck to Truck" Following is a comprehensive
walk through the MAB factory, from unloading the steel truck to loading
finished barrels onto a courier truck for dispatch. You will see every
machine and process used in the manufacture of both "cut " and "buttoned "
rifled barrels.
AJ's Pillar Bedding Instructions for Rem 700 BDL This instruction
sheet is for the Remington 700 BDL. The same theory can be applied to other
bolt action rifles with some modifications to the instructions. I suggest
reading these instructions fully 3 times through, asking yourself some
questions, to understand the theory behind this procedure. If you can not
answer your own questions after the 3rd time through, have a professional do
the pillar bedding for you.
Pillar Bedding Techniques by Darrel Holland (courtesy of Michael Donaldson)
In this "How To" article we'll deal with the pillar bedded system with a
free-floated barrel. Our barreled action is a Remington 700 fitted into a
McMillian fiberglass stock.
Barrel Bedding Block Article written by Roger
Linger.Barrel bedding blocks
come in shapes that suit the builder. They can be rectangular, cylindrical,
polygon and combinations. The intent is to surround the barrel with a metal
(normally steel but can be aluminium) of a certain length and stiffness
depending on the rifle to be used on. They are normally clamped or bonded to
the barrel. Regardless of shape they are referred to as 'barrel bedding
blocks '.
Floating the Barrel Unless the rifle is used for short range
shooting, as hunting deer in the woods of West Virginia where shots over 50
yards are unusual, I suggest floating the barrel and relieving the action.
Glass Bedding There are two goals to strive for through bedding a
rifle. They are to eliminate possible
stressto barrel, bolt and action and to
ensure movement relative to its anchor points on stock is minimized during
ignition.
Barrel Bedding Block Barrel bedding blocks come in shapes that suit
the builder. They can be rectangular, cylindrical, polygon and combinations.
The intent is to surround the barrel with a metal (normally steel but can be
aluminium) of a certain length and stiffness depending on the rifle to be
used on. They are normally clamped or bonded to the barrel. Regardless of
shape they are referred to as 'barrel bedding blocks '.
Ruger 10/22 Bedding Experimentation The Ruger 10/22 is one of the
funnest little carbines out there. However, for those of us with somewhat
absurd accuracy expectations, they can be a little frustrating.
Pillar Bedding This section has not yet been fully developed.
Pillar bedding by Darrel Holland In order for you to achieve the
best possible accuracy from your varmint rifle, it must be bedded properly!
There are many types of bedding styles; block bedding, two-point bedding,
pillar bedding, and then pour some epoxy into the stock, cinch the screws
and call it good!!
Shilen Barrels - How to break-in a Shilen barrel Break-in
procedures are as diverse as cleaning techniques. Shilen, Inc. introduced a
break-in procedure mostly because customers seemed to think that we should
have one.
Home Made Muzzle Brake Here is a simple muzzle brake I made for my
17 Mach IV T/C Carbine 22 inch full bull barrel.
Target Crowning a Muzzle The primary purpose of a firearm muzzle
crown is to provide propellant gases a resistance free path away from all
parts of the projectile as it exits the bore of the barrel. The secondary
purpose is to protect the bore from damage caused by misuse. The third
purpose is for good looks which is always achieved when the primary purpose
is satisfied.
Fluted Barrel Info a small BASIC Program that calculates the
stiffness of solid and/or fluted rifle barrels.
Score High Gunsmithing More info on fluting a barrel. Few things are
as controversial as barrel fluting. There are both facts
and theories that give good reason why to flute and why not to flute your
barrel. The first thing is to dismiss some of the
misconceptions of what fluting can accomplish.
Fulton Armory FAQ More info on fluting barrels. We do not flute, nor
recommend it, for Service Rifle and Match Rifle applications. Here's some of
the reasons why...
Recommended Rifling Twist
The information below will help you select the best barrel twist
for your specific needs, providing of course there are multiple choices. If
you’ll be shooting one bullet weight, choose a twist from the chart just
fast enough to stabilize it. See Also
Rifling twist rates
Glock Barrels - Which Ones Fit Which Models Glock
Slide Disassembly - Glock
recoil spring and barrel (pictorial) &
Slide Disassembly - slide cover plate (pictorial)
Rifle Bedding Technique
"Barreling Up" a Rifle : DIY Network In
this episode of Trade School, gunsmithing student Tim Mullin learns
that becoming a quality gunsmith means having a mechanical mind. Today's
gunsmiths are capable of not only repairing guns, but manufacturing them as
well. Here we join in Tim's education as he crafts a custom target rifle, a
gift for an administrator at the school. Tim aims to balance both beauty and
precision in every inch of his project.
Head's Bunker Checking Headspace ~ Before firing any rifle that
you have purchased used, as surplus, or built, you should be sure to check
the headspace. On a rifle with excessive headspace, the cartridge does not
contact the shoulder area of the chamber and the cartridge is usually held
in place by the extractor alone and rests loose in the chamber, if only
microscopically. Erratic ignition can happen because some of the force of
the firing pin propels the cartridge forward a bit. More serious is that the
cartridge case expands to fill the volume of the chamber, and that may
result in case head separation. High pressure gas is vented, again blowing
off mag floorplates and cracking stocks, or worse. Lots of smoke and gas
will vent backward out of the receiver, and that is where the shooter's head
usually resides. Yuck...
How To -- Cutting Down a Remington Barrel.: Bottom dealin' Mike once
commented that there is something about the Remington that invites a
hacksaw. Truer words were never spoken, but many people are afraid of the
complexity of cutting down a barrel. This article will illustrate how the
barrel was cut on a Remington project gun...
Long-throating barrels can provide higher velocities ~ Shooting
Industry, Feb, 1990 by William Schumaker: Many hunters and gun owners place
unrealistic emphasis on velocities their rifles are capable of. Shortly
after WWII, the large case capacity "Weatherby" cartridges commenced their
trek to near immortality. At that time, many shooters didn't realize that
chambers such as the .30O Weatherby magnum were long throated about 3/4-inch
(called free-boring). This means the rifling was cut away at the throat of
the barrel to allow bullets to jump 3/4-inch before engaging the rifling.
This, coupled with the high velocity, gives them a double recipe for shorter
barrel life and accuracy loss...
Re-choking obsolete .410 shotguns - Shooting Industry, Nov, 1990 by
William Schumaker: For years there was no easy solution for restoring single
barrel shotguns. Once the original choke was either blown out via
obstructions in the barrel, or the tapered tubes that screwed onto some of
the muzzle-slotted collets cracked and were no longer available, the shotgun
was useless for its purpose. Then came B-Square's heavy roller type swaging
tool with which our shop has re-choked numerous single barrel shotguns...
Break-In a Barrel. Written/Copyright © 2002 by David B.
Horvath, CCP: Let me state this clearly: I am not an expert in Barrel
break-in. Knowing that, I went to the experts to find out their thoughts on
the topic. Fortunately, this research was very easy with the use of the
Internet: I only had to find the articles already written on the subject and
not track down the experts themselves. Who are the experts? The
manufacturers like Bushmaster, Remington, Compass Lake Engineering,
Winchester Repeating Arms, and Jack Krieger (Krieger Barrels). There are
other experts out there, but this is a representative sample. And they have
a vested interest in your rifle (especially if it is one of theirs or has
one of their barrels on it) shooting accurately!
Permanently Attach a Muzzle Brake or Flash Suppressor This is
a BATF approved method of attaching a 'screw on' device permanently to your
threaded barrel. Make those sub-16" barrels legal, or convert a barrel with
pre-ban features to post ban (dremel off the bayonet lug, then attach a BATF
approved muzzle brake).
Back to TOP
Trigger
Lightening an SKS Trigger [PDF] ~ I own a few SKS carbines (notice I
did not state an exact figure; my wife may actually read this article - just
kidding) and probably half of them have triggers that are either as
difficult to pull as pulling the bumper off of my truck with my trigger
finger or the pull feels like running your hand over gravel or a combination
of both...
A Welcome Break ~ How do you improve accuracy on one of the most accurate
out-of-the-box rifles? Why, with an AccuTrigger, of course. By Dan
Johnson: Since any rifleman worth his salt demands that his rifles possess a
good trigger pull, it behooves manufacturers to come up with new trigger
designs that enhance safety without compromising function and usability. To
my knowledge, Savage Arms is the first American rifle manufacturer to boldly
address this challenge...
Colt AR-15 Hammer and Trigger Pin Diameters &
Tuning the ArmaLite Two-Stage Trigger Tech Notes from Armalite.
The Elements of a Trigger Job on an M1911 Pistol There are four
areas of concern with a trigger job: the sear and hammer hook interface, the
sear spring, the mainspring, and the trigger bow. There are risks associated
with the first three. The sear and hammer hook interface can be polished and
lubed. Some people will attempt to take a lot of metal off the hooks and
sear face. This can make the gun dangerous by allowing the sear to slip off
of the hammer hooks or not catch during the cycle. This can cause the gun to
fire unexpectedly or fire multiple rounds on a single trigger pull. A polish
is good but removing metal and changing the angle of the hook-sear interface
is dangerous. Modifications to the sear face and hammer hooks should only be
attempted by a trained and certified gunsmith who has the proper tools and
know-how to do the job...
Snipers Paradise Adjusting the Remington 700 Trigger by Tom
Grover: DISCLAIMER - changing any setting on a factory trigger is an
inherently dangerous thing. The recommendations herein are an attempt to
provide a safe method for performing these adjustments on this model only.
If you have any doubt whatsoever about this process, take it to a gunsmith.
If you are about to embark on this, make sure you know a good gunsmith who
can fix it if you goof it up. Consider taking the finished job past a good
gunsmith once you're done to check if the work you've performed results in a
safe trigger. And make REALLY sure that the chamber is empty!!!
Trigger Tuning Tips by Bob Londrigan as published in Front Sight
Magazine, July 2004: If you have ever had the pleasure of pulling the
trigger on a gun with a really good trigger job, then you know the feel.
Sometimes described as a glass rod breaking, what you are feeling is the
result of a near frictionless movement of the sear across the hammer hooks.
To get this feel all components must fit together with precision and there
cannot be drag anywhere in the trigger system. If these words do not
describe your trigger pull, then the information in this article may help
you out. My intent here is not to teach you how to do a trigger job, rather
to explain how certain adjustments can affect the feel and reliability of
your trigger. This information will also enable you to give a pistolsmith
feedback on exactly what you want in a trigger job. One quick but very
important disclaimer -- before you get started performing any maintenance,
always double check to make sure your gun is unloaded.
Real Guns - Remington trigger upgrade...maybe This project began
with the possibility that a factory Remington trigger could be limiting my
rifle's potential for accuracy, and that a moderately priced replacement
premium trigger could open the door to measurably improved performance. I
figured I'd grab the most recent Remington addition to my gun cabinet, one
devoid of bolt locks and keys, and see what could be put together. In
addition to the trigger component of the project, this was also an
opportunity to illustrate how some of the mini machine shop equipment comes
into routine use for people with an interest in firearms...
Wadcutter: Ruger DA Revolvers If you’ve just bought a new Ruger
DA revolver, chances are the first thing you’ll want to do is lighten the
trigger pull. While Rugers almost always have very sweet single-action
pulls, they generally cannot match S&W revolvers out of the box in
double-action...
ACCURIZING THE ENFIELD The Lee being a typical military rifle, it
has the standard 2-stage trigger pull. This trigger pull was implemented
mostly for an added safety feature, in the rough and tumble atmosphere of
the battlefield one does not want a "hair-trigger". You didn't want to knock
your rifle while "going-to-ground" and inadvertently shoot your section
mate, yet the tactical situation did not make applying the safety, a smart
idea either. Conversely, while in a defensive position, under strict "open
fire policy" you didn't want the thing going off when you threw it up on the
trench ledge. However when the time came to loose off a round, adrenaline
reduced both trigger pull and let-off to a mere caress, or so it felt...
Poor Boy's Trigger Job Many, if not most, revolvers leave the
factory these days with what can charitably be called a less than
satisfactory trigger pull. The typical factory trigger consists of a gritty
feeling pull with excessive weight. Trying to shoot a three pound sixgun
with a seven pound trigger pull is not conducive to accurate shooting. Add
to that a rough feeling sear engagement, and hitting the target becomes more
luck than skill...
The $0.25 Glock trigger job What we are going to do here is to
polish (not alter) some parts to make the trigger pull (which admittingly is
a bit different) smoother. I've also included the extra steps to completely
disassemble the gun and get it back together again, which can be good to
know in case some part needs replacement. The three major arguments that
sold me on these pistols are the simplicity of operation (point and click,
no buttons or levers to worry about), the consistent trigger pull, as
opposed to a DA-SA trigger, and that the gun can be worked on using a
minimum of tools and off-the-shelf parts. If you want to rough it, a 3/32
punch is sufficient, and Glock (and others) are selling this very tool. The
one I'm using in the pictures is a ground down screwdriver, which I made
because I needed one and didn't have anything else. Also recommended are a
small screwdriver, and a small pair of pliers, if you have "fat" fingers...
Compass Lake Engineering Two Stage Trigger: This is the "Frank
White" trigger you have heard so much about. It uses mostly stock parts that
are modified extensively by this legendary rifle smith. It uses a normal AR
hammer, but has a modified hammer spring. These conversions will work in
Colt rifles, although those with the unique "COLT block" will need to be
modified. The CLE trigger does require careful installation and initial
adjustment, but after that will give you many, many years of excellent
shooting for a modest investment.
Ruger Bisley -
Trigger Improvements I &
Trigger Improvements II &
Trigger Improvements III The out-of-the-box feel of the Bisley's
3.5 lb. trigger was good. However, after some use the trigger pull did
become rough, and the required release pressure started to wander. I thought
I'd gather up as much technical information as possible relating to Ruger
Blackhawk trigger rework, assess the cost of small tools and fixtures that
would be required to perform the work, and maybe take a crack at doing the
job myself.
Field & Stream - Are You Trigger Happy? A few days ago I was
castigated by a reader who had wearied of my incessant whining about
triggers. I replied that a good whine goes well with just about anything,
and that there are a lot of genuinely rotten triggers worth whining about...
Eliminate Trigger Over-Travel Here is a simple but very effective
way of eliminating that nasty trigger over-travel.
Glock
Trigger w/Trigger Bar Disassembled & Glock
Trigger Spring Installation - Coil & New York Types &
Complete Glock Receiver Disassembly For Trigger Installation
- With Full Graphics! &
Receiver Disassembly - Glock
trigger removal (pictorial)
1911 Trigger Stop &
K31 Trigger Stop for the Schweizer Karabiner
How do I adjust the trigger pull on my Weatherby Mark V rifle?
The Mark V trigger assembly has two socket cap (Allen-type) adjusting screws.
The socket cap screw on the bottom of the trigger assembly adjusts for
weight and trigger pull, and is for your use. The socket cap screw on the
top of the trigger assembly adjusts sear engagement (“creep”), and is for
use by Weatherby factory and Authorized Service Center personnel only...
MTB Madness - Trigger Weight: Putting your trigger on a diet!
Most folks will agree that they would prefer that their Glock's trigger be a
little more "user friendly", especially for competition. This article will
track my Glock 22 trigger system's (hopeful) improvement as I proceed
through a list of modifications. Use the article index to jump to the pull
weight table to check for updates if you've been here before...
Brownells BenchTalk - 2 lb. Trigger Pull [PDF] Early in my
career as a pistolsmith, I worked hard to develop a process I could apply to
all 1911 Auto Pistols that would produce a reliable 2½ pound trigger pull
that broke clean and would not follow. After a lot of trial and error and
experimentation, I came up with the following process that has served me
very well over the years. It’s the same process I now use during the Trigger
Work portion of the NRA 1911 Auto Accurizing class that I teach each May at
Montgomery Community College in Troy, North Carolina...
Williams Trigger Specialties A series of pages discussing what
they do and (sort of) how they do it. The “GREAT MYTH” about trigger work on
semi-auto rifles is that spring tension and hammer/sear engagement must be
reduced in order to produce improved trigger pull specifications. In fact,
however, such methods are CARDINAL SINS because they create safety and
reliability problems long before there is any significant improvement in
pull weight and creep specifications. In order to avoid these “cardinal
sins” and their problems, WTS offers three basic types of trigger work that
improve trigger control in three DIFFERENT ways...
rec.guns FAQ: III.D.2.a.18.a. Adjusting the Remington Model 700
The Remington 700 trigger group consists of the trigger, a trigger connector
bar, a sear which rests upon the trigger connector bar and holds back the
cocked firing pin, and a set of three adjustment screws and assorted springs
and pins which hold it all together. The safety lever is attached to the
trigger group, and blocks the sear motion. It does not block the firing pin,
and so the safety is completely reliant on the soundness of the trigger
group to properly perform it's function... see also:
rec.guns FAQ: III.D.2.a.23.a. Adjusting the Model 70 Trigger
Remington Crisp REMINGTON CRISP is a recipe for crisp triggers
with a Remington 700 rifle. It was born out of my dire need to abate
developing the physique of a fiddler crab when I was shooting my prized
Remington 700. The factory trigger of a Remington 700 is fully adjustable
and can easily be adjusted to remove any unwanted backlash or excessive
weight of pull. By following this easy recipe, and by taking the time to
test & consider each adjustment, you too can soon have your REMINGTON CRISP
cooking at your next shoot!
Trigger shoe installation and modification ... The Kel-Tec
trigger shoe accessory is almost a requirement to improve the trigger pull.
Unfortunately, it has a propensity for falling off when installed casually.
Also, the trigger shoe must be removed from the trigger every time you
remove the frame from the grip. This is burdensome. Here is what I did to
permanently install my trigger shoe so it would never fall off...
Mauser 98k Ultra Light Trigger and the Yugo m48 Match Grade Trigger:
I had been thinking about writing a "How-to" article based upon installing a
high-performance trigger in my 98k and taking it to the range to see if it
would help. John F. Huber contacted me via email to discuss his new trigger.
The timing was excellent. John owns Huber Concepts and crafts the Huber
Anti-Friction Ball Trigger, for some of the greats in Military rifles - the
US Model 03A3, Enfield P-17, SMLE, Arisaka Type 99, and the Mauser 98k. He
asked me to give him a call, so I did and after we discussed the idea for
the article he shipped me the trigger... This is a great site for
military surplus rifle owners. There are some 395 articles - not all
concerning accurization or, in fact, shooting though.
Savage Arms’ New AccuTrigger
Riflemen these days have access to some of the most intrinsically accurate
weapons ever built. Gun manufacturers have the tools and technology to
produce very accurate barrels at relatively low cost, along with improved
metallurgy and the ability to produce actions with precise concentricity and
close tolerances. Accuracy is also enhanced by precision-molded synthetic
or laminated wood stocks, resulting in a rifle with great intrinsic
accuracy.
Trigger Adjustment on the Savage 110 Series RiflesThis involves
reducing the trigger's "weight of pull" and "sear engagement" adjustment
from that which is set by the Savage factory. You must decide if this is
safe for your intended use. The following is how I adjust the trigger on a
Savage bolt action rifle for target shooting -- what this means is that I
never have a round chambered until I am ready to shoot, and if the rifle
ever fired unexpectedly, I would be surprised (and perhaps lose points in a
rifle match), but no one would be hurt (and for what it's worth, this is how
I handle a rifle in the field, so I would not hesitate to take such a rifle
hunting)... Also available here:
Trigger Adjustment
CZ-452 Trigger Modifications Although it is a relatively new
arrival to the USA, this series of Czechoslovakian .22 caliber rimfire
rifles has been around much of the world for close to 40 years. They have
proven to be well-made and quite accurate rifles, and offer excellent value
at a reasonable cost. Regardless of the specific model, they tend to have
one major shortcoming. The trigger pull, although adjustable in theory, is
far too heavy and exhibits too much creep and overtravel in its' operation
to suit the tastes of most serious shooters...
Improving The M1 Rifle's Trigger Improving the M1 rifle's trigger
is a task the owner of the typical service rifle can perform with a few hand
tools. Carefully and thoughtfully done, the operation described here will
result in a safe, reliable, easily managed trigger pull for your M1 rifle...
ArmaLite, Inc. Technical Note - Tuning the ArmaLite Two-Stage Trigger
ArmaLite® has designed an improved, fixed two stage trigger that is
easily tuned in a manner similar to that used with the proven M-1 rifle
trigger. Tuning the trigger is easy, but can be done incorrectly if the
person doing the job is impatient. Take your time: replacement parts are
relatively expensive. We strongly recommend that you have the trigger
mechanism tuned by ArmaLite® technicians or a trained gunsmith...
Adjusting the Winchester Model 70 Trigger Let me discuss how the
trigger on the Model 70 works. Knowing how it works will allow you to know
how a gunsmith would adjust it. The trigger mechanism on the Winchester
Model 70 is remarkably simple. Remove the barreled acton of a Model 70 from
it's stock and you can see just how simple it is. You will see a trigger
that pivots on a pin. Look at the rear portion of the trigger (normally
hidden by the stock) and you will see a square head screw (the trigger stop
screw), three nuts, and a spring (we'll call it the trigger return
spring)...
Smoothen your Trigger Pull Tips to smoothen the trigger pull
on your stock single stage trigger.
Unresearched links:
Winchester M70
Remington M700 Trigger Adjustments by Quarterbore
Anschutz Match Trigger Adjustments
Jewell Custom Trigger Adjustments
RWS 54
Mauser
Savage Accu-Trigger Trigger Adjustmentr
Savage 110 Trigger Adjustment
Ruger M77 Trigger Adjustment
ECO-AIMS Air RIfle
CZ RImfire Rifles
Kimber 82 Trigger adjustment screws
Huber
Concepts Anti-Friction Ball Triggers for Military Surplus Rifles
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Action
Smoothing the action of a Winchester 94 The 1894 Winchester lever
action rifle was specifically designed by John Moses Browning as the first
lever action rifle to be marketed for use with the new smokeless powders.
The Winchester 94 has been in nearly continuous production since 1894, which
makes it one of the most successful products in history. This gun makes a
fine entry-level Cowboy Action lever gun and new owners of these successful
rifles will want to know how to slick them up so they shoot well.
Unfortunately, the current design of this rifle does not lend itself to
being turned into a finely tuned shooter without some major modifications
that are beyond the scope of this article... see also
We improve the action on a Winchester 94 lever gun-Part II.
Primers, springs and firing pins... Specialty steel firing pins can
prevent primer flow, smearing and pin breakage. High rate recoil springs can
improve primer firing pin penetration.
Proper Action Bedding For The Precision High Power Rifle By: Outlaw
Hunter, Edited by: Jim Groom.
Complete Glock Slide Disassembly For Firing Pin Installation
- With Full Graphics!
see also:
Receiver Disassembly - Glock locking block removal (pictorial) &
Receiver Disassembly - slide lock removal (pictorial) and
Glock Uppers - Which Uppers Fit Which Receivers
The Aftek "modular" extractor. By Gunnar Christensen October 1999.
In this article, let's look at two new products that have impacted the IPSC
scene over the last little while. The Aftek "modular" extractor is one such
item that I'm often asked about - it's trendy and pricey. Is it worth three
times the cost of a good match extractor?
K31 Bolt Disassembly Guide by Roy Headrick. Slow loading photos
with text.
Improved AR-10B Rifle Parts (Tech Notes from Armalite): see also:
Increased Carrier Key Torque,
Gas versus Piston Drive, and
Adjusting the Ejection Pattern of the AR-10 Rifle
We Improve the Action on a Uberti Regulator Revolver. There are a
lot of older single action revolvers to be found at a reasonable price in
gun stores or through private purchases. The Hobby Gunsmith had the pleasure
of finding two old Uberti Regulator revolvers that had never been fired. The
first is a .45 colt and .45 ACP convertible while the other is a .44 special
and .44-40 convertible. These older guns have a very stiff action that makes
them pretty much unusable as competitive firearms for Cowboy Action
Shooting...
Stop Getting Blisters from that Gap between the Pistol Grip and Trigger
Guard You haven't installed a Gapper yet? Or do you want to
try to make one of your own. Site visitor Chas has come up with a quick
low-cost way to solve the problem
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Firing Pin/Bolt
Titanium Firing Pins Deemed Generally Useless Titanium firing pins
are intended to reduce lock time; the time between release of the hammer and
ignition of the primer. Theoretically, faster ignition of the shot allows
less time for disturbance of the rifle...
Firing pin removal Ever remove a firing pin from the Kel-Tec P-11?
It can be a frustrating experience.
REMOVING THE SKS FIRING PIN There are basically five different types
of firing pins. Two are Russian, two Chinese, and one is Romanian. See this
demonstration
VIDEO (950kb .MPG) if you don't know how to remove the retaining
pin.
Step-By-Step: How To Do A Glock Firing Pin Safety Check Article
from Glockmeister presents two methods.
Complete Slide Disassembly For Glock Firing Pin Installation
- With Full Graphics!
QMI Titanium Firing Pins by Lee Kidd If while using a
titanium firing pin the primer is pierced, either through soft primer cups
or the pressure from hot loads, the chances are that the tip of the firing
pin will be damaged by the hot gas escaping. This "blowtorch effect,"
although small and seemingly insignificant, can and most probably will cause
a little cavity to be burned into the tip of the firing pin. This cavity is
just like the cavity in a tooth when a filling falls out, i.e., the edges
will be sharp. Note here that the standard chrome firing pin generally does
not suffer this fate.
Firing Pin Assembly/Disassembly pictures and text (clear & easy to
follow) from Top Glock.
Receiver Disassembly - Glock pin removal (pictorial) &
Slide Disassembly - Glock
firing pin assembly (pictorial) &
extractor depressor plunger (pictorial) &
extractor & firing pin safety (pictorial)
The firing pin spring. By Gunnar Christensen May 1999. Let's look at
one of the most inexpensive, inoffensive, unimportant (unimportant? not on
your life!) parts in your gun. The firing pin spring.
Firing Pin Fixture for Mauser Bolts This simple and cheap fixture
will accept the firing pin tip and allow you to compress the spring, while
supporting the pin at the safety flange and at the same time refrain from
slipping across the table and into your glass of milk.
1911 Bolt Disassembly for the Schweizer Karabiner
SKS Owners Early Russian SKSs had a firing pin design that
incorporated a return spring. Why "later" Russians, Chinese and most all
others do not have this design and spring, is still a mystery. Without it,
slam-fire and uncontrollable full-auto are much more likely! (even with your
finger nowhere near the trigger!) Removing all the carbon, dirt, and/or
Cosmoline, may not be enough to insure the firing pin doesn’t lock forward.
The pic below is a cutaway SKS bolt with firing pin taper, and taper in
bottom of hole in bolt, vividly shown. This is where a mechanical "lock-up"
can occur, as any tapered pin driven into a similarly tapered hole will
likely lock the pin in place...
Collecting and Shooting the Mosin-Nagant - Wolff Striker Springs
This might be of interest to those with mil-surplus rifles.
Lock time (Bart Bobbitt) Does anyone have any info on modern
rifle trigger lock times? First, understand that lock time is how long it is
between the trigger sear's disengagement and when the firing pin strikes the
primer's cup. Custom triggers oft times reduce lock time as they have
lighter-weight sear pieces or other moving parts whose mass can slow down
lock times...
UBERFAQ - FIRING PINS There are basically five different types of
firing pins. Two are Russian, two Chinese, and one is Romanian. The
Chinese and Romanian are VERY similar, but don't let the similarities of the
pins fool you. Put the wrong pin in the wrong bolt and the pin is likely to
seize causing the rifle to slamfire the second a round is chambered. On the
same note, put the proper pin in the proper bolt incorrectly,
(such as upside down which is VERY easy to do with the second type of
Chinese pins) and the rifle is likely to slamfire...
The Nesika Bay Action by Daniel Lilja: We will first take a look at
the Nesika Bay action made in Washington state. I feel compelled to add
where these actions are made, because my first reaction to the name was that
it had a very Japanese ring to it. Not so. Proprietor Glen Harrison resides
in the very scenic Puget Sound area, near a bay for which the actions were
named. (Nesika has now relocated to Sturgis, South Dakota.) Glen designed
these actions with one purpose in mind: competitive benchrest shooting. See
also in this series:
The Geske Action,
The McBros 50 BMG Action,
A Look at Bolt Lug Strength,
378 Weatherby Cases in the Remington 700 Action?, and
Trigger Pin Drill Jig
Extractor Reliability (Armalite Tech Notes) see also:
AR-10 Extractor Ring Improves Performance,
Evaluating AR-10 Bolt Assemblies for Effective Extraction,
Receiver tightness,
Improved Rifle Bolt,
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Mag/Ramp
The 3 Types of Glock Magazines & How to Identify Them
- With Graphic! Three Generations of Glock
Magazines.
The Glock LE mag, the pre-ban hi-cap and the 10 rounder - a photo
comparison
- With
Graphic!
Complete Glock Magazine Disassembly
- With Full Graphics!
See also: GLOCK
Magazine Catch Removal
- With Full Graphics! and
Receiver Disassembly - Glock
magazine catch removal (pictorial) &
Magazine Disassembly (pictorial)
Generation II 20 Round Magazine During the 1994 Assault Weapon
Ban ArmaLite was required to produce AR-10 magazines by conversion of
pre-ban M14 magazines. Since expiration of this ban ArmaLite has instituted
production of a new magazine featuring improved reliability.
Field Testing of M-16 Rifle Magazines (Armalite Tech Notes) See
also:
The ArmaLite M-16 Magazine Grading System,
Using AR-15® Magazines in the AR-180®,
Refinishing AR-15™, M-16, and AR-10B Magazines,
Inspecting and Servicing 20 Round Magazines,
CONVERSION OF LOW QUALITY COMMERCIAL M14 MAGAZINES TO AR-10B MAGAZINES,
Updated AR-10 magazine Assembly Procedure,
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONVERSION OF M14 MAGAZINES TO AR-10B MAGAZINES,
CONVERSION OF M-14 RIFLE MAGAZINES TO AR-10 MAGAZINES,
Use of M-14 Rifle Magazines in AR-10B Rifles
Make a Bandoleer to hold 10 & 20 Round Magazines Tired of
trying to find magazine pouches for the Post Ban 10 round magazines, or
can't find the Vietnam era 20 round USGI pouches? This article shows how to
easily modify an inexpensive SKS bandoleer to carry up to 10 magazines.
Use Stripper Clips
Mostly pictures with scant text explaining each.
Replace A Thermold Magazine Spring Instructions (with
photos) on how to modify, then install, a Wolf spring (for USGI 30 round
magazines) in a 30 round Thermold magazine.
Refinish & Refurbish USGI Magazines Make your 'old,
worn-looking' magazines look and function like new!
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Sights
Scoping the SKS: [PDF] I like a scope to give a reasonable amount of
accuracy when mounted on a rifle. I try to avoid modifying my rifle or
carbine and am always drawn to the "No Gunsmith Required" type of products
as my first choice when selecting a mount. I have tried most of the SKS
scope mounts on the market and want to impart some experiences I have had so
far. The following are my thoughts on the scope mounts I have tried or am
aware of for the SKS Carbine...
Winchester Model 70 Scope selection /
installation
Scope Bases for Long-Range Shooting - Written by Daniel Lilja (
Fifty Caliber Shooter's Association Website )
Adjusting ArmaLite's Clamping Front Sight Base for Windage (Armalite
Tech Notes) see also:
M16A2 Rear Sights,
Installation of National Match Sights,
Zeroing ArmaLite National Match Sights, and
Installing the AR-50 Scope Base
Scope alignment rods make installing scopes easier - Shooting
Industry, April, 1989 by William Schumaker: Perfect scope alignment is
probably one of the most neglected procedures in gunsmithing. Fortunately,
experienced gunsmiths aren't guilty of neglecting this particular procedure.
Unfortunately, I'm afraid the blame has to be placed on the do-it-yourself,
cut-rate hopefuls -- those individual gunowners, who are just trying to save
a buck. Of course, this too varies tremendously, ranging all the way from
real gun folks who are doing as well as some gunsmiths, all the way down to
the good guys who are trying so hard, but are barely sling-shot specialists.
Mount a Scout/Gooseneck Mount for your Budget Red-Dot Sight An
inexpensive, quick, and durable method of mounting that sight in front of
the carry-handle so the iron sights can still be used. Requires modifying
an inexpensive (but military approved) Aimpoint Gooseneck mount.
Chop a Detachable Carry-Handle into a Flattop Fixed Sight Need
a backup sight for your flattop while the optics are mounted? If you have a
carry-handle and some time you can covert it to a sturdy and removable rear
sight for much less than buying the DPMS, Bushmaster, or Yankee Hill
version.
Inlay Your Sight Markings Filling in your rear sight markings
with heavy duty porcelain inlays. It makes the markings much easier to see
and looks great, like the old National Match sights.
Determine the Height Over Bore for your Scope This article
explains two methods (quick/easy vs. more complex/accurate) of determining
your optics (scope or red-dot sight) Height Over Bore. This value is used
in ballistic calculation programs to determine the line of sight vs. the
trajectory of the bullet.
Improve the Low Light Performance of your Reflex II The
Reflex II is a great sight but has some problems when you use a strong
light source (like a Surefire Light) at night against a light background
(potential reticle washout). Also, some people hate having to adjust the
polorizing filter as the light situation changes. This article presents a
modification so you always have the clearest view through the lens for most
lighting situations. However, when a 'washout' is possible you flip down a
lens cap and the sight becomes an OEG (Occluded Eye Gunsight). This instant
on/off system is quicker to use than the filter, but requires use of both
eyes and binocular vision.
Improve the Attachment of the KillFlash filter for your ACOG
The KillFlash filter is used to prevent reflection off of the lens of an
optic (they make them for a variety of optics). The author has come up with
an improved method of attaching the filter on an ACOG so you don't lose use
of your iron sights. The method is cheap, effective, and quick/easy to do.
Add a Optima Red-Dot sight to your TA01 ACOG Scope
Adding a red-dot as a backup, or CQB option to your Trijicon ACOG. This
gives you a combo that works up close and personal up to 600M away.
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Stock
Shotgun Side Folding Stock Installation Instructions Limited text
and decent line drawings for Mossberg & Remington using Advanced Tech
stocks. See also:
Installation Guides ~ Here you will find installation guides, provided
for you to make the installation of your Advanced Technology gunstocks and
rifle/shotgun accessories even easier, and serve as a handy reference in the
future.
DIY Refinishing
Sure, you can do it yourself. Refinishing a
stock isn't rocket science, but you need to know there is no quick and easy
way to do a top-notch refinishing job on a gunstock.
Savage Stock/Action Assembly Courtesy of Savage
Arms.. Provided by Alan Copeland.
Wood Stains and Gun Stocks My taste is particular and not always
agreed with. For me, the wood of a firearm should stand on its on. I place
firearm craftsmanship equal to that of fine furniture and refuse to
purposely compromise the natural color tones of their woods.
Refinishing an Existing Stock Refinishing an old firearm stock
enables one to remove or repair damages and enhance its appearance. There is
also that 'I did it' factor that makes it fun.
Making a Custom Stock (includes inletting, etc.) This section
presumes you will be finishing a semi-inletted stock. These stocks come in
various degrees of completion, usually advertised as 80% or 90% shaped. They
are very rough compared to what you want the finished stock to be.
Wrap your Handguards with Paracord
Wrap your free float tube (handguards) in Paracord (550 cord) for a better
grip, insulation from the heat, and add a unique look to your rifle. This
procedure can be done on rifles with standard removable handguards; however,
the handguards are not removable while they are wrapped in the paracord.
Attaching the Recoil Pad This page is photograph intensive and
may take several minutes to completely load.
Installation of ArmaLite Fiberglass Handguard The Armalite®
fiberglass handguard is intended to provide a strong floating fore end to
Armalite® rifles which is readily removable for cleaning. The fiberglass
tubes provide a cooler surface than earlier aluminum handguards. See also:
Camouflage Rifle Finish
How To -- New finishes. "Hey Mohave, when did you get that new Rossi
92? That other one you had looked like it was all stoned up with some of the
bluing missing and the stock was all black and finished like an old
telephone pole." The old man at the loading table asked as he cleared the
rifle and admired the rich and deep glass-like finish of the wood...
Tung Oil Refinishing Technique [PDF] by Darren Locke: I
have cultivated a stock refinishing technique that a few comrades have
expressed interest in after seeing the end results. The technique utilizes
Tung oil and I am happy to share it with you now...
Gunstock blanks: how to buy the best - Shooting Industry, Oct, 1990
by Ron Swartley: The tracking down of good blanks of fine walnut (or maple,
myrtle, or other suitable wood) for the making of custom gunstocks is
something of an art these days. Most of the stock blanks used by gun
manufacturers and those offering semi-inletted replacement stocks are much
simpler to buy, because the wood is pretty much all of the same quality --
plain in color and figure, and with no great pains expended in the drying
process. But for the gunsmith, gun shop owner, enthusiast, professional
stockmaker, and other gun fancier interested in top grade stock blanks, the
selection job isn't quite so easy...
Tips and Tactics ~ A ton of tips in PDF
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Slings
Sling it! Tony Belas describes how to take the strain by fitting a
rifle sling.
Installation of Quick Cuff Sling with a Harris Bipod -
Online Owners Manual. see also:
CQB1 - Close Quarters Battle Sling Owners Manual and
Quick-Cuff Model ONE & TWO Online Owners Manuals
The Ching Sling by Eric S. H. Ching: Prior to the introduction of
the Steyr Scout Rifle (see Henry, Don L., "Cooper and Hambrusch Debut The
Steyr Scout," TMC No.51), the Ching Sling was known only to a relatively
small group of shooters who were familiar with Jeff Cooper and his Scout
Rifle concept. It was also a specialty item, available only from custom or
semi-custom gun leather manufacturers, that required a bit of gunsmithing to
install. Now that the Steyr Scout Rifle is a reality, the Ching Sling has
graduated to being factory standard issue on a unique rifle made by a
world-renowned firearms company, and the time seems right for an article on
the Ching Sling's history and use... see also:
The Wilderness Ching Sling [pdf]
Add a Sling Swivel to the Side of your Front Sight A device
similar to the GG&G Sling Thing (tm). Allows you to attach a sling
to the side of the front sight using a quick release swivel sling. Used
with a telescoping stock (of fixed version) it allows waist level carry of
the AR using a standard 'Silent' sling or padded M-60 sling.
Add A Sling Loop to the Top of your M16/M16A1/M16A2 Buttstock
This is a simple (and field expedient) method of adding a sling
loop to the top of your buttstock using 550 (parachute) cord. This can be
used with the Field Expedient sling (below) or the TacticalCarbine Sling (below),
and prevents the rifle from floping over or
hanging upside down
Make a Field Expedient "Tactical" Sling Using a standard
military issue 'Silent' sling. padded M-60 sling, or any other standard
carry strap you can make a sling that allows the rifle to be carried waist
high (without the rifle 'flopping' over). Can be used with telescoping or
fixed stocks (with some 550 cord)
Make a Tactical Sling for a Carbine Make a sling similar to
the carbine version of the Tactical Taylor (tm) or Giles Sling
(tm). The sling is intended for rifles with collapsible/telescoping
stocks (or their post ban [fixed] copies) to allow the rifle to be
carried across the chest. This will work using the Top Sling Loop (above)
for fixed stock (A1/A2) rifles. This sling works well with the Front Sight
Tower sling mount (mentioned above).
Add a Sling Stud to a Free Float Tube Proper method of
attaching a sling stud to a Free Float Tube. Stud can be used for a sling
or a Harris bipod.
Set up that Tricky Top Sling Step by step instructions on how
to set up that top sling for a CAR type stock and tips for setting it up
with an A2 stock.
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Tips
AGI Tech Tips A few good tricks
Gale McMillan Answer posted on a message board.
Gunsmithing Tips That Can Save Us All Time And Money Slotting a
small washer or a one-cent piece to slip over the end of your long square-shanked,
buttstock screwdriver, will fit over 90 percent of the buttstock holes, and
will act as a guide to lead the screwdriver tip into the screw slot. Using a
square shaft screwdriver enables you to use an adjustable wrench to break
loose and turn out rusted-in or tough screws...
JTJersey's Gunsmithing Tips Page
Make a Flashlight Mount for your AR-15 For the citizen on a
budget. How to mount a SureFire or Scorpion flashlight to your AR-15. Will
work with standard plastic handguards or free float tubes. Allows for a
quick and easy removal of the flashlight.
Make a Sight Tower Flashlight Mount for your AR-15 An
alternate method of mounting a flashlight on your AR-15. It does not
require modifying any AR parts but needs a few more materials than the other
mount. This is based on the design for the Front Sight Tower sling swivel
project (above). They both could be combined into a single unit that
mounted both a sling swivel and a light.
Make a Handguard Removal Tool This is an offsite
article on how to make one of those $25 Brownell's Handguard Removal tools
for a couple of bucks of material from your local hardware store. For a few
buck and 10-20 minutes of time what have you got to lose?
Make & Use 'Ranger Bands' (to include a Reflex II enhancement) Ranger
Bands are strips of bicycle inner tube that can be used on the AR-15 for
everything from securing flashlight tape switches and holding magazines to
the front handguard, to improving the low light capability of the Reflex II
sight.
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Data/Calculators
Calculating Rifle Precision First, precision and accuracy are not
the same. A rifle grouping 1/4
MOAis very precise for a firearm. If that
1/4 MOA rifle puts groups off the aiming point it is not accurate.
Ballistics Calculator Enter your data in the areas provided.
Select the "Calculate" button when all fields are filled. Wind direction is
perpendicular to the line of sight, positive values are to the shooter's
right. If the Chronograph distance is greater than zero, the muzzle velocity
is corrected for this distance. If the field is blank, the default (shown in
brackets) is used.
Muzzle Energy Calculator Enter data for bullet weight and muzzle
velocity. (See also:
Kinetic energy) &
Recoil Calculator (See also:
Recoil)
Sectional Density Calculator (See also:
Sectional density) &
Maximum Point Blank Range Calculator &
Taylor KO Value Calculator
Trajectory/Ext Ballistics Calculator
The following conversion chart is broken into a "Value",
"Multiple By" and "Covert To" column. To calculate a particular conversion,
take the numeric constant noted in the "Multiply By" column and multiply
that number by the "Value" you'd like to convert. For
visitors using IExplorer and Excel, you may access this conversion chart as
an interactive
Spread Sheet.
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Accuracy
What is M.O.A.? Most firearm sighting scopes incorporate windage
and elevation adjustments referenced to MOA (minute of angle). Each click of
the scope turret is usually 1/4 MOA change and on some scopes 1/8 MOA.
Make A Bi-Fur-Pod I think I would almost rather be without ammo than
without my "Bi-Fur-Pod" shooting sticks. When I sight on a target while
resting the rifle on my Bi-Fur-Pod, I have steady confidence that I am going
to hit the target.
Accurizing the Beretta 92F & M-9 The tune up procedures
for this weapon consist of the use of simple stoning and smoothing in the
trigger area, hammer, hammer strut and sear. No other adjustment should be
made. The result of this work will be a much smoother trigger pull in double
and single action. These procedures assume that you are a competent armorer
or gunsmith and they must not be attempted by unqualified persons.
What makes a rifle barrel accurate? - Written by Daniel Lilja (Lilja
Precision Rifle Barrels Inc website)
Tuning the K31 for Accuracy - From the Swiss Rifle Forum FAQ
Effect of Ammunition on Rifle Function (Armalite Tech Notes)
see also:
Selecting the Right Ammunition for the AR,
Ammunition Reliability,
Cartridge Case Failure in the M16 and Similar Rifles,
Marring of Cartridge Cases,
5.56 NATO vs SAAMI .223 Remington Chambers,
Bullets Suitable for .243 Caliber AR-10 Rifles,
Functioning of .243 Caliber AR-10 Rifles
Model 70-Makeover Ho-hum accuracy prompts a rebuild from muzzle
to butt ~ by Lee J. Hoots: I pride myself in not getting hung up over
accuracy. But when it comes to my own big-game rifles--rifles I intend to
hunt with and enjoy--it's a false pride. At least partially so. I don't
expect one-hole accuracy from them, but I do expect reasonable accuracy; 1
1/4-inch three-shot groups or better. Above all, I want my rifles to be
consistent. If they'll only shoot an inch and a quarter, fine, provided they
can do it over and over. Because of this, I had come to agonize over one
particular Model 70 Classic Stainless .300 Winchester Magnum, which I have
owned for a few years...
Blueprinting for Improved Accuracy ~ By RICK JAMISON,
RELOADING/RIFLES EDITOR, SHOOTING TIMES/NOVEMBER 2003: Blueprinting your
rifle's action will not guarantee tiny groups, but if you are to build a
super-accurate rifle, you must start with the action. Once you know you have
a good, true action, you can build on it with barrel, stock, bedding, and
sighting equipment.
Firelapping For Accuracy ~ Guns Magazine, August, 2001 by Charles E.
Petty: Got a rifle that's giving you trouble? Before you spend money on
gunsmithing, try this simple but effective accuracy-tuning procedure that's
as easy as a trip to the range...
Improved Battlesight Zero by LTC Chuck Santose. A great all
purpose zero for all rifles/carbines (no matter the iron sight type); and
you zero in yards (50) instead of meters. It keeps the bullet within 2" of
the point of aim from 8M to 220M (very flat trajectory). Also perfect for
carbines with A1 sights; and ARs having a 'Red Dot' type sight inline with
their iron sighs [on a flattop or in front of the carry handle].
Marine 300 Meter Battlesight Zero Per
M16A2 Operator's Manual. The official sighting in procedure previously used
by the US Marines and currently used by the US Army. If you set your rifle
to the -3 clicks specified, it is supposed to give you zeros at 100, 200,
300 etc.. meters (but doesn't since this method has been proven to give an
improper zero).
Army 250 Meter Zero for the M16/M16A1 Rifle Per DoD sources.
The official method of zeroing M16A1 rifles. Only useful for rifles with A1
rear sights, and primarily those with 20" barrels (for carbines with A1 rear
sights use the Improved Battlesight Zero). Its big advantage is when
shooting the 25M Schedule C Qualification Course. Just flip to the L sight
aperture, and you have a perfect 25M zero, flip back to the short range one
and your rifle is 'battle' ready.
9mm AR-15 Carbine Zero by LTC Chuck
Santose. Looking for a good zero for that 9mm AR? This zero is for a 16"
carbine using 115gr 9mm (and the 147gr 9mm round). Good for use with iron
sights or a dot sight.
Reflex/Reflex 2 Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight Zero Per
the manual. A 300 meter battlesight, with tips specific to the 12.8 MOA
triangular reticule and the 6.5 MOA dot.
M68 Close Combat Optic (Aimpoint) Zero Per DoD sources. This
is how the U.S. Military zeros the M68 Close Combat Optic (Aimpoint Comp
M/XD red dot sight). This is a 300M zero, and is set up to hit the same
point as the iron sights (typically the Marine 300 meter zero).
Zeroing Telescopic Sights with Built In Bullet Drop Compensators (BDC)
Per our experiences on the range. This is a method that allows one
to easily zero their BDC type scope. This works for those compensators that
are mechanical (i.e. Colt, Leapers (Colt clone), Elcan) or those that have
reticules with extra crosshairs for bullet drop compensation (i.e. Trijicon
ACOG scope).
25 Yard Method of Zeroing Per our experiences on
the range during MD AR shoots. During our AR shoots we needed a method of
quickly and temporarily zeroing for 25 yards (to shoot the Alternate Course
C Qualification). It is not a recommended initial zeroing procedure, but it
should be close enough till you can get to a 50 yard range and verify the
Improved Battlsight Zero (the 8/3 - 2 setting).
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Troubleshooting
Trouble Shooting Glock Malfunctions with Remedies All services
besides general maintenance should be performed by a Glock Inc. certified
armourer. All information provided within these pages is simply for
informational use only. TopGlock.Com or any contributing authors are not
responsible for actions that are taken by readers of this information
presented in these pages. Glock Inc is in no way associated with this site
nor does it endorse any of the information contained herein.
What to do if Your Rifle Malfunctions (Armalite Tech Notes) See
also:
Identification and Correction of Malfunctions,
Why Identifying and Solving Malfunctions Can Take So Long,
The Cycle of Operation as a Guide to Troubleshooting.,
Prevention of Slamfires, and
Ammunition, Barrels, and Accuracy of AR-10B Rifles
When Good Guns Go Bad ~ What to do when your autopistol jams. By Dan
Johnson: No matter the make or design, the purchaser of a new autoloading
handgun can make the honeymoon a more pleasant and trouble-free experience
by following a few simple procedures. First and foremost, understand the
design parameters of your gun. Some autos are designed strictly for
self-defense, with accuracy a secondary concern. They're purposely built
with somewhat loose tolerances to enhance reliability. Others, like many of
today's 1911s, are intended for self-defense as well, but a high premium has
also been placed on accuracy...
"Chisel" case extraction is a hopeless matter - Shooting Industry,
March, 1989 by William Schumaker: A city gun shop quoted a fair enough price
to a customer for removing a ruptured cartridge case from an old Mauser 7mm
that had been converted to a .308 Winchester -- by shortening a 1903
Springfield .30 caliber barrel, threading and chambering. Apparently the
customer had failed to realize the extent of the damage he (or someone) had
inflicted on the chamber walls by either digging, pounding or prying...
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Field Stripping & Cleaning
Maintaining Your Autoloader for High Volume Shooting ~ Care and
feeding of the high volume autoloading Shotgun by Spencer Tomb: Several gas
operated, autoloading shotguns have become very popular in the shooting
sports. Starting with the Remington 1100 almost forty years ago these guns
have gained popularity as lighter, less expensive and softer shooting
alternatives to over and under shotguns. One drawback is that these guns are
internally complex and require more cleaning and maintenance than other
types of shotguns...
The Clean-up After [PDF] ~ Most surplus ammo on the market today is
corrosive. Usually the primer is the culprit, when fired it coats the inside
of the firearm with corrosive salt residue. When the salts combine with
moisture, damage starts to occur to the metal surfaces. Oils or petroleum
based products will not break down the corrosive salts and therefore are
ineffective in cleaning or neutralizing the salt compounds...
Field Stripping the Glock
- With Full Graphics! See also:
Field Stripping The Glock (pictorial) from TopGlock.Com
How to Clean Your Glock
The Glock pistol should be cleaned after each shooting session. Once field
stripped, the barrel and chamber are easily cleaned from the chamber end.
The inside of the slide and receiver should be wiped clean along with the
outside of the barrel. We suggest one of the many quality non-toxic solvents
that are available in today's gun cleaning market. This will ensure proper
functioning of your Glock pistol.
Proper Glock Lubrication - According To "THE" Manual
- With Graphic! To properly
lubricate your Glock pistol, after it has been thoroughly cleaned and dried,
use a clean patch that has been slightly dampened with a quality gun oil...
Field Strip The 1911 Colt 45 - Bob Tuley Easy to follow, good
pictures, includes cleaning the magazine.
AR15.COM :: Guides Very basic text and line drawings, but hey -
anyone who's experienced military service or owned an AR knows these are
very basic weapons systems
Copper Fouling with Magnum Cartridges ArmaLite has recently
examined several .338 Magnum caliber AR-30 rifles returned to the factory
for correction of “Bad accuracy”. Close inspection of the bores disclosed an
extreme bore fouling from copper. The rifles sent to the factory were
decoppered and fired for accuracy. All shot excellently. See other tech
notes:
Alternate Cleaning and Lubrication Materials,
Lubrication of Firearms, and
Rifle Cleaning
Cleaning and Maintaining Your Kalashnikov
"Huh? You have to clean 'em?" Well,
they ARE known for lasting forever in the worst of conditions, but even a
cheap single-stack AK is worth keeping healthy for posterity. Here's a
simple way to keep your AK going "bang" every time...
Machinengewehr 42 - Maintenance This is a slow-loading page. I
have DSL and it took frustratingly long due to the 29 Mb video of how to
disassemble the MG-42 for cleaning after shooting and other graphics. On the
plus side, who else has info on this piece?
The Care And Cleaning Of Your M1 ~ Lets say you have just received
your "new" M1 Rifle from the CMP. The big problem is that it is NOT new!
Your M1 Rifle is a used (probably well used) military surplus arm at least
40 years old, maybe as old as 60, straight from a military warehouse. IT WAS
SOLD BY THE CMP STRICTLY "AS IS". THERE IS NO WARRANTY EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED!
Keep em clean: Good firearms deserve good care. Here are a few
thoughts on the subject from the Guns staff ~ Guns Magazine, June, 2002 by
Charles E. Petty: March down to your local gun shop, and odds are that
you'll find a wide variety of products designed to clean, lubricate and/or
preserve the finish of your fine firearms. Unless your local shop is
particularly well stocked, you can look at the assortment of different
concoctions on the shelf, multiply that number by about 15, and you'll be
close to the actual quantity of such products available on the market...
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Schematics
Exploded Firearms Drawings Source of Gun Schematics- many more
available
M-44 Fullbore Target Rifle - Exploded View of Parts
Clicking on a part will link you to the spare parts list with a
description and photograph of the part.
Glock
Parts Listing with Graphic Pretty fast loader, easy to decipher.
Cut-Away Drawing of a Model 1889/1911 Schweizer Karabiner
exploded view
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Safeties
The Three Glock Safeties Explained
- With Graphic! The
Glock has no externally located safety devices which need to be activated
manually. All of the safety devices function automatically. The devices are
sequentially de-activated as the trigger is depressed (as the Glock is
fired).
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Bluing/Inlay
Inlays Inlays can be used to cover cross bolt holes drilled for
large caliber magnum rifles, a bad spot on the stock, or for just having
something fancy. They can be of exotic woods, ivory, metals or whatever.
A Cold Blue Cure ~ It can't fix all cosmetic ills, but it does what it does
well. By Larry Lyons: One of the more problematic aspects of gun
tinkering is bluing, or better stated, the lack thereof. Bluing invariably
gets worn, gouged or rusted off with dismaying frequency. With the high cost
of a professional reblue, we are always searching for some inexpensive, easy
way to put the bluing back on. Thus, we sooner or later find ourselves
heading down the road of cold blues...
How To -- New finishes. "Hey Mohave, when did you get that new Rossi
92? That other one you had looked like it was all stoned up with some of the
bluing missing and the stock was all black and finished like an old
telephone pole." The old man at the loading table asked as he cleared the
rifle and admired the rich and deep glass-like finish of the wood...
How To -- Bluing and Browning your gun at Home. I have often seen
people turn their noses up at the idea of bluing a gun at home. It evokes
images of the simple cold bluing solutions that are sold over the counter to
people who want to touch up a scratch or holster wear. This article will
demonstrate just how to do a top quality bluing job in the home gunsmith
shop...
How To -- Prepare a good Metal Finish. Many of us have had the
opportunity to either completely restore a damaged gun, redo the finish on a
gun that just needed to look a little different, or the misfortune to damage
the finish on a good shooter and found ourselves needing to do a complete
refinishing job...
Electroplating your gun at home Part One In past issues we have
covered how to use an original rust bluing and boiling water to blue a gun
at home. The thought of a Nickel plated 45 is appealing and we chose to
learn about how gun parts can be plated with a protective coating of
Nickel... See also
Electroplating your gun at home Part Two
A quick way to blue gun parts
Rust was the original method of browning or bluing a gun part, but it is
very slow for darkening smaller parts like screws or other small parts. I
this issue we look at a product from Caswell called Black Oxide kit that
provides the hobby gunsmith with the ability to use a chemical reaction to
quickly darken a part.
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Kit Building/Rebuilding
Building a Muzzle Loader from Kit .50 cal. Hawken. Bit of history &
step-by-step w/photos.
Scattergun ~ Bounty Hunter II rebuild Part One Many cowboy
shooters have adopted the Russian made Baikal Bounty Hunter II double-barrel
shotgun as their preferred match shotgun. This project will take a used and
unreliable BH-II and restore it to one that both looks and shoots well...
see also
Bounty Hunter II rebuild Part Two and
Bounty Hunter II rebuild Part Three and
Bounty Hunter II rebuild Part Four and
Bounty Hunter II rebuild Part Five
Building the Traditions Trapper Kit Part One
One common thread among many Hobby Gunsmiths is a background in shooting or
building muzzle-loading firearms. Like many, I learned a lot about working
on guns by returning to the roots of shooting by starting with a muzzle
loading kit... see also
Building the Traditions Trapper Kit Part Two and
Building the Traditions Trapper Kit Part Three and
Building the Traditions Trapper Kit Part Three (I think they mean Pt. 4)
and
Building the Traditions Trapper Kit Part Four (I think they mean Pt. 5)
and finally
We finish the Traditions Trapper Kit
Rebuilding the Taurus PT-92 9mm Auto Part One
There are a several well known gun makers in the world such as Smith &
Wesson, Colt, Beretta, Ruger, Springfield, etc. There area also a series of
lesser known companies that make guns for niche markets. Taurus is one such
South American company that evolved out of Smith & Wesson many years ago...
see also
Rebuilding the Taurus PT-92 9mm Auto Part Two and
Rebuilding the Taurus PT-92 9mm Auto Part Three and
Rebuilding the Taurus PT-92 9mm Auto Part Four and
Rebuilding the Taurus PT-92 9mm Auto Part Five and finally
We finish the Taurus PT-92 9mm Auto
Building a dream rifle of your own ~ Guns Magazine, Nov, 2002 by
Holt Bodinson: With simple hand tools and the resources of a few specialized
firms, you can build your own dream rifle. It's never been easier, and once
you've gone through the learning curve of puffing together that first rifle,
it won't be your last. Here's the story of my new .338...
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