Cheap rifle mods that spark joy

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What was his trick to easily remove the buttplate in the field?

You don't have a screw driver on your swiss army knife?

That got me thinking about some guns and especially older scope turrets that are made to be turned with a coin. That always puts me in a pickle in the field because I always have a leatherman in my pocket but never have a coin. I don't pay for cash for anything. Just a funny thing to me, how could the designers have ever predicted that people would have no use for coins anymore? Just like my father in law, he went to work for the phone company 40 years ago because he said everyone is always going to need a phone. Luckily he was able to transition into engineering fiber optics and cell tower communications.
 
Not your guns. Tough noogies.
OK. An owner can do whatever he wants to with his guns, even to the point of destroying them. But it seems to me that there is an ethical obligation to pass them on to posterity in an unsullied condition.

Back in the 1950's and 60's people were chopping up milsurps right and left to make inexpensive "sporters" out of them. (The American Rifleman even ran an article detailing how you could do this to an M1 Garand.) Today, we look back and see how this was a terrible loss. Don't be "bubba."

And, BTW, the "cheap" modifications -- the subject of this thread -- are the worst offenders.
 
Some of the things mentioned in this thread verge on bubba tinkering. As a collector, I see stuff like this all the time. Not good.
Speaking for myself, I only modify cheap guns in cheap ways. Im not going to spend a lot upgrading a 400 dollar rifle. That said, i try to make the work as good as i can. I built a jig to drill the holes straight with the drill press, etc.
 
That got me thinking about some guns and especially older scope turrets that are made to be turned with a coin.
And those "coin" slots always seem to be buggered up on used scopes. If you have something like this, the best thing to do is grind a screwdriver to fit the curved slot.

Screws designed to be operated by the rim of a cartridge are almost as bad.
 
Speaking for myself, I only modify cheap guns in cheap ways. Im not going to spend a lot upgrading a 400 dollar rifle. That said, i try to make the work as good as i can. I built a jig to drill the holes straight with the drill press, etc.
I suppose that some of these modifications aren't too bad as long as they are reversible. The cardinal sin, to me, would be drilling and tapping a milsurp for a scope mount. That would turn an otherwise salvageable gun into a complete loss. I have restored several guns where the stocks and fittings had to be replaced. But a drilled receiver (or a M1917 receiver with the "ears" ground off) is a goner.
 
OK. An owner can do whatever he wants to with his guns, even to the point of destroying them. But it seems to me that there is an ethical obligation to pass them on to posterity in an unsullied condition.

Back in the 1950's and 60's people were chopping up milsurps right and left to make inexpensive "sporters" out of them. (The American Rifleman even ran an article detailing how you could do this to an M1 Garand.) Today, we look back and see how this was a terrible loss. Don't be "bubba."

And, BTW, the "cheap" modifications -- the subject of this thread -- are the worst offenders.

I don't think anybody has said anything about doing this stuff to classic military rifles.
 
I don't think anybody has said anything about doing this stuff to classic military rifles.
The way I look at it is that it's my rifle and if I want to turn a $400+ collectible rifle into one that's only worth $150, that's my business. I've got several hunting rifles built on Mausers and 1903s and I have no qualms about building a couple more (6mm Rem and 6.5x55) on a couple of 98s that I already own and have already been "bubba'd". That 1909 Argentine that already had it's barrel chopped, chamber reamed to 30-06 (but with a 0.313" bore), and the stock butchered is never going to return to its original condition. So it will become a 6mm Remington, complete with a scope and forged (or welded) bolt handle. Could I do it cheaper? Sure, but I want that chambering on that receiver. The world will not be negatively impacted by that.

On the other hand, I picked up a butchered 1903 at a pawn shop and restored it to full battle condition. So it all depends on what moves me at the time.

Matt
 
Trigger job.

Add aperture type receiver sight.

Add paint into the stampings/engravings of critical markings, safe white... Fire red... Caliber yellow... Ect. ..

Bed/free float action/barrel.

Recrown muzzle.

"But a drilled receiver (or a M1917 receiver with the "ears" ground off) is a goner."

The horror, the horror.... I am so ashamed.

A 14 yo boy, a primo M1917, an old bench mounted grinder, a copy of Williams "Converting Military Rifles", and Old Man Murphy looking on in distress as the receivers ears glowed red under the grinding wheel....

Then 6 holes drilled onto the side of the receiver to be able to line up with 3 of the 4 holes in the side receiver scope mount, because the old drill press and dull drill bit kept skating against the super hard receiver, and even then needed to be severely shimmed to be able to regulate the scope ( an old Weaver K-10 ?!?)

The barrel shortened to 24" with a hack saw, cleaned up and squared with a file, then the index finger "booger picker" muzzle crowning with sandpaper technique.

Front handguard fitted, glued and screwed to to top rear of the buttstock to create a scope level "cheek rest".

And it is still killing deer today more than 45 years later.

 
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What was his trick to easily remove the buttplate in the field?
Someone already answered that one for me, but Mr. Tingey always had a Kamp King on one of those janitors keyrings that retracted on a steel cable and recommended all of us idiots do likewise when afield. And I forgot to add he suggested we rub a candle all over each shell stored inside and smoosh it evenly over it so verdigris didn't happen
And mods, this isn't a shtf thing, but his idea of a matchsafe was a dented '06 shell cut off at the neck and sealed with a cork and a little piece of 80 grit sandpaper glued to the base. Holds 5-6 strike anywhere matches and gives you a little edge if need be. Awesome teacher he was.
 
OK. An owner can do whatever he wants to with his guns, even to the point of destroying them. But it seems to me that there is an ethical obligation to pass them on to posterity in an unsullied condition.

Back in the 1950's and 60's people were chopping up milsurps right and left to make inexpensive "sporters" out of them. (The American Rifleman even ran an article detailing how you could do this to an M1 Garand.) Today, we look back and see how this was a terrible loss. Don't be "bubba."

And, BTW, the "cheap" modifications -- the subject of this thread -- are the worst offenders.
That's a valid opinion, but also one I don't agree with whole heartedly.
In milsurps I prefer to buy guns that have been modified, bubba'd even, and see if I can't build something classy, or at least neat out of them (I leave the ones that dont have major modifications already done for guys that like collecting the originals. I really do feel that it's a valid and worthwhile thing to do). I was collecting sporterized ww1/2 bolt guns for a while cause I thought they were cool. I had to finish a couple I picked up as parts bags, and personally I enjoy those far more than I ever did the non-modified versions I've had.
A Savage 110, or a 700, is about as soulless a creature as you can get until it's owner changes that by using it and making it something beside being a collection of stuff in a box. Little modifications, even tacky ones (as long as they aren't really bad lol) add personality, and give you something to talk about. Commercial anything also lack the inherent "history" (unless they were a first, special variant, or it's bad) of military firearms.
Again if folks feel differently, that's fine, but I'm not going to use any rifle, much less a commercial rifle, with a 7lb trigger, or that came with a 5 dollar scope (any longer than I need to), or a stock designed for opens when they don't have them........
This is also coming from a guy who buys guns and other stuff, just to tinker with.
 
That 1909 Argentine...will become a 6mm Remington, complete with a scope and forged (or welded) bolt handle.

Matt
You and me, we can be friends. My father gave me a 1909 Argentine drilled & tapped, bolt handle forged for a scope and re-barreled to 6mm Remington, for my twelfth birthday. I have never owned a finer rifle. When you get yours built, we'll go shoot. I just gotta borrow my 1909 from my son. He has it now.
 
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Speaking for myself, I only modify cheap guns in cheap ways. Im not going to spend a lot upgrading a 400 dollar rifle. That said, i try to make the work as good as i can. I built a jig to drill the holes straight with the drill press, etc.
I gotta admit, I've got about twice what most of my guns are worth into them in parts, and hours, and hours of work lol. Cheap mods are honestly usually the ones that make the largest difference in how useable and fun something is.
Polishing a Ruger American bolt, trigger, and Swapping the trigger spring takes an hour, cost a buck, and completely change the feel of the rifle. 15mins more to polish the receiver and besides the goofy stock I'd put that gun on par with anything in the 1000 dollar range for function and accuracy.
 
One thing that has put me off buying a Ruger American (and other similarly designed rifles) is the gritty bolt travel. Feels like a dump truck poured a whole load of gravel in it
 
One thing that has put me off buying a Ruger American (and other similarly designed rifles) is the gritty bolt travel. Feels like a dump truck poured a whole load of gravel in it
Oh so you felt a good one then :p
actually the best ones felt like corduroy, *verp, verp, bang*
The newer one that I've felt (mine were all the older gravely ones) are nicer, seem they listened to the comments.
 
In my opinion anything that smooths and lightens a trigger (within reason) without damaging reliability is a good thing. My attitude towards my 10/22s changed markedly after I had their triggers worked on. As well as my Marlin lever action. I have a Savage 110 who is going to get the treatment before much longer.

If you're shooting iron sights then invest in decent aperture sights. My .22s, lever actions, and so on became much more satisfying to shoot when I put better sights on them.
 
Not your guns. Tough noogies.

Collectors are a big problem to the cost of used guns for the rest of the shooting fraternity. They buy up guns without any intention of shooting them.

Some companies stopped making guns for the masses to concentrate on making "collectibles", Colt being one...guns that will never be used as originally intended...that being to be shot and carried.
 
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I'm of the opinion that there are enough sporters and bubba jobs out there that we certainly don't need to be cutting up any more original milsurps, but I have no problem further modifying an already bubba'd gun.

Case in point I picked up this sporterized krag in a pawn shop. Its an orignal barrel still but it was cut down, refinished, and drilled for williams sights.

image.jpg

I had no qualms about drilling and tapping the receiver and making a scope mount for it.

17633-FCC-46-BF-47-F1-A43-B-71342-D8-F248-D.jpg
 
I confess that I'm as guilty as anyone. Back in the 1960's, when I was young and foolish, I sporterized an Enfield Mk. III. The modifications, such as the Fajen stock, the Lyman sights, and the complete rebluing, cost several times what the gun itself cost. I didn't even get it all back when I sold it several years later. (It did look good, though.) I still regret that, whenever I think about it.
 
I see nothing wrong with rectifying and improving upon Bubba's lesser efforts.
I've spent a good bit of time and effort attempting to do just this.
I wouldn't do this to a gun that other people would value if it were left in its present condition, though.
It's not worth the bad karma.
 
My feeling about military guns, especially wartime issue, is not about the value to collectors, but that each one is an individual piece of history.
People may have lived or died, battles may have been won based on possession of that gun. Personally, I could not deface it.
 
You don't have a screw driver on your swiss army knife?

I don't have a Swiss Army knife. I don't have a Leatherman tool either. Neither are something I have ever felt a need for and I can carry the things mentioned in my pockets where they are easy to get to and don't rattle instead of inside a hole under the buttplate of my rifle. I have done the name thing on some of my rifles though. Different stokes for different folks.
 
For those scopes needing a coin, drop a dime on top of the turret and screw the cap back on so it's there when you need it.

Me, I love old abused .22s like there’s no tomorrow and some would likely have gone to the trash heap if it weren’t so. Cheap mod? Clean it. Look up diagrams of bolt assemblies then strip them down. Reshape firing pins, replace springs, pick the gunk out of extractor slots, iron chambers, and banish lead from the barrel.

Few things in life give me the satisfaction of restoring a $50 disaster that sparks a discussion at the range with fellow shooters or takes a rabbit after who knows how many lonely decades in a closet. Toughest bit is parting with them once they’re finished so others can enjoy them as well.
 
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