[WPD230]

Whats the best way to do action work on a flat bottom action, like a mauser style rifle, if you don't have an action wrench?

[Chawbaccer]

If you don't have an action wrench and plan on removing a barrel, get an action wrench. Trying to "rig" something up will lead to heart break. I saw a pre 64 action that was split because some bubba thought he could jam a piece of wood thru the mag-ejection port and give it a mighty twist. I am sure others can name a few worse examples.

[rcmodel]

Conventional barreled actions like the old mil-sups, Model 70's etc. require a very strong barrel vice, and an action wrench.

And often a 4' cheater bar, or 4 pound sledge hammer on the action wrench to pop them loose.

You ain't gonna get one off any other way without major damage to the barrel & action.

rcmodel

[Zedo]

Yeah, "the right tool for the job."

Firearms are a complex mix of finely finished machine work and rugged construction. They're like a Swiss watch intended to withstand explosions.

Bubba tools yield Bubba results. Sort of like securing your Swiss watch to your wrist with duct tape.

[WPD230]

point well taken I orderd an action wrench from Brownells, better not to ruin it, thanks for the advice.

[ieszu]

When I was in school I tried re-barreling a Lee-Enfield (no 4 mk. 1) to make a mock-up of a Deslile. I did not have an action wrench, thought I knew what I was doing and used a big piece of maple trying to take off the action.... wrenched the receiver and ruined the whole gun because of my ego.

I then made sketches and designed an action wrench to try the project again.... worked like a charm.

Needless to say, my ego spent a long time in remission from this experience.

[redneckdan]

get a piece of 3" gas pipe, a couple 1/4' thick pieces of plate, and some 3/8" grade 8 bolts long enough to do the job. Drill a pair of holes through both plates and the pipe. Assemble with a plate on top and bottom of the reciever, bolt assembly to the pipe. Apply torsion to the action while smacking the wrench head with a 2lb hammer, should work. If its one of the actions tightend to german spec (guten tight), then you may have to get more aggressive.

[rcmodel]

Still gonna need a barrel vice.

You can't do it with a pipe wrench or something without ruining the barrel.

rcmodel