cooltouch
Member
I have a 1909 Argentine action built by DWM that is in excellent condition and I plan to build a custom bolt gun based on this action. I've decided on a caliber, 7x57 Mauser, which is well within the 1909's safety margins, but not a barrel manufacturer yet. It's a hard choice to make, mostly because there is a decent variety of outstanding barrel manufacturers these days.
Back during the 1990s I took a correspondence gunsmithing course (pre-internet days, so it really was correspondence) and I also took a year-long class in both hand and CNC lathe and mill. I didn't own the machine tools then, but I do now. Be that as it may, I don't own a barrel vice or action wrench so when the time comes to install the barrel, I will seek out the services of a local reputable gunsmith and have him install it, headspace it, etc.
I'll be replacing the bolt's military shroud and safety with a shroud with swing safety, or possibly a shroud with no safety if I go with a Timney trigger (or equivalent) that has a built-in safety. The bolt handle will also go and be replaced by a weld-on turn-down handle. Brownells has one I like in particular and the upside is it is fairly economical.
My main emphasis will be on the gunstock. I build custom guitars, so I see the fabrication of this gun's stock to be something of a challenge, but one well worth taking on. I suppose the wood will be walnut, but the wood will definitely be presentation grade. I may as well make this aspect of the build worth my while. I've always liked the looks of the Monte Carlo-style stocks, and that's what this one will be, but nothing radical. I also received a set of checkering tools as part of my gunsmithing course. I've practiced with these some on a few old gunstocks I have sitting around. It's not as easy as it looks, but if you take your time and don't rush things, the results are often worth it.
So that's the gist of things at least. If you've had the occasion to build your own bolt gun, care to share anything about the experience?
Back during the 1990s I took a correspondence gunsmithing course (pre-internet days, so it really was correspondence) and I also took a year-long class in both hand and CNC lathe and mill. I didn't own the machine tools then, but I do now. Be that as it may, I don't own a barrel vice or action wrench so when the time comes to install the barrel, I will seek out the services of a local reputable gunsmith and have him install it, headspace it, etc.
I'll be replacing the bolt's military shroud and safety with a shroud with swing safety, or possibly a shroud with no safety if I go with a Timney trigger (or equivalent) that has a built-in safety. The bolt handle will also go and be replaced by a weld-on turn-down handle. Brownells has one I like in particular and the upside is it is fairly economical.
My main emphasis will be on the gunstock. I build custom guitars, so I see the fabrication of this gun's stock to be something of a challenge, but one well worth taking on. I suppose the wood will be walnut, but the wood will definitely be presentation grade. I may as well make this aspect of the build worth my while. I've always liked the looks of the Monte Carlo-style stocks, and that's what this one will be, but nothing radical. I also received a set of checkering tools as part of my gunsmithing course. I've practiced with these some on a few old gunstocks I have sitting around. It's not as easy as it looks, but if you take your time and don't rush things, the results are often worth it.
So that's the gist of things at least. If you've had the occasion to build your own bolt gun, care to share anything about the experience?