Custom M1917 rifle help

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palmrose2

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0405180940.jpg Rifle is an unfinished m1917 custom. Replacement High Standard barrel 23.75" long. Dayton Traister trigger and cock on opening. I got it from someone that got took @ a gun show.
The trigger didn't protrude far enough into the trigger guard to really get your finger on it, so I shaved the box magazine so that the front is @ .9 inches and the rear is 1.1inches. I failed to take into consideration that the rear screw that holds the guard in place is @ about a ten degree angle, so that the dimension changes between the two screws. I think I have this covered, but there is no room for error.
The big thing I ran into is that the screws are 30 threads per inch, and the rear screw needs to be shorter. I can buy a die for an exorbitant sum or find a shorter screw. I haven't found any place to get a shorter screw. I thought that shaving the mag was common, and that is why the trigger was so short. I have no clue what the original mag dimensions were, but I suppose I could straighten the trigger and get an original mag. that would save a lot of stock work, but I kind of like the thought of a slim stock on an M1917.

Looking for thoughts, comments, suggestions, and guidance. Thanks in advance.
 
I see the problem. For the moment it looks like it's buying a die or going back to an original magazine. Compare the price difference ( I suppose the die is more than a replacement mag ) and see if money outlay is worth having a slimmer stock. I truly doubt you'll locate an appropriate screw. Good luck.
 
A good gunsmith/machinist can make you a screw but you will pay for the setup etc. Whether that would be greater than the die or less is the issue.

Doubt you will be able to buy such a screw unless you can find a rifle using a similar thread but shorter elsewhere. Might be worth a call to Numrich or Brownells. One thing to check out, whether it works or not, is go to Numrich and look up the Model 30 Remington rifle (civilian version of the 1917 rifle)--check and see if these action screws are the same. I cannot remember off hand whether Remington altered the military issue trigger guard to straighten it or not on these rifles which might require differing screw lengths. It is covered in Roy Dunlap's Gunsmithing book if you can find it.
 
Does anybody know what the mag dimensions commonly are for a 5 round mag conversion? I see that Dayton Traister makes a trigger / speedlock / cock on opening for 5 or 6 round mags. I'm willing to bet that mine is the 5 round type. Hence the short trigger.
I see that they say that the bolt needs to be modded. I don't know if mine was or what to look for to see if it's right.
 
Does anybody know what the mag dimensions commonly are for a 5 round mag conversion? I see that Dayton Traister makes a trigger / speedlock / cock on opening for 5 or 6 round mags. I'm willing to bet that mine is the 5 round type. Hence the short trigger.
I see that they say that the bolt needs to be modded. I don't know if mine was or what to look for to see if it's right.
I just ordered a HSS 1/4" 30tpi die. Will it cut the threads, or do I have to anneal it first?
Get some good cutting oil and use plenty of it, clean the burrs, go slow and don't force anything. Action screws are not normally very hard and you could buy one of the Forster aftermarket screws to do the alteration upon. I know that these are not very hard compared with the original action screws of the 1917.
 
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