Guns for DIYers

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garrettwc

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Some guns lend themselves well to DIY gunsmiths. A few that come to mind are the 1911, Glock, and AR15.

What other firearms, long gun or handgun have you found that lend themselves well to the home tinkerer?
 
Kel-Tec P11 can be EXTENSIVELY home 'smithed, to smooth/lighten the trigger, add various finger extensions, grip configurations, sights, etc...

Makarov as well, though I'm not as familiar with that one as I am the KT.
 
Pick up a Brownell's catalog and scan through to see which guns could be built from parts, from a bare reciever on up.

The heavyweight champeens seem to be:

Semiauto Pistols: 1911. You can't really build a Ruger MkII or Glock from a bare third-party frame, but everything else under the sun is available.
Revolvers: None that can truly be built from a bare frame, but there's oodles of stuff for S&W double actions and Ruger single actions.
Rifles: AR15, Rem 700, Mauser, 10/22.
Shotguns: Again, none that could be built from the ground up, but the Remington 870 has far and away the most stuff available for it.
 
Thanks Traveler but that's more than I want to get into.

Felonius is right on the mark and so is Tamara.

I'm not talking about building one from the ground up (and all the BATFE issues that go with it). I'm talking more of the this is broke so I'm going to fix it myself, or I wish my gun had this so I'm going to install it type of gun.

Some guns are super simple (the Glock for example) and some have innards that were designed by a swiss watchmaker (the P7 comes to mind).

I'm talking about the former. One that can be worked on by a knowledgeable enthusiast with the proper tools, without spending a month at an armorer's school.
 
The Mauser's are nice DIY's, but understand what you're doing before you do it. Whacked the bolt handle off, not realizing that block at the base rides up the rear receiver bridge and forces the bolt back. Fixable but PIA, not to mention dumb!

Lots of little nuances (sp?) with 1911's also, mostly related to accuracy.

Haven't had the nerve to tear my Glock down yet, going on 5 months, gotta be a record for me!

Makarov.com has detailed instr to completely disassemble the Maks.
 
If your definition of DIY gunsmithing, is closer to parts swapper/fitter
Click to expand...

That's pretty close. Basically, want to be able to make repairs or install upgrades myself.

Sort of like an old Chevy. You can get parts anywhere. With a little practice they are simple to work on and keep running without having to send back to the dealer to put on computer at $38/hr.

I'm asking partly because I'm cheap :p and partly because I love to tinker with stuff.
 
If you already are a tinkerer and have at least a decent amount of mechanical ability you will be fine.

I have found some cheap guns at the gun shop, old .22's, shotguns, etc....Pretty cheap less than $50. That are already beat up and perfect for tinkering on. Keep your eyes open. My first tinkering gun was a JC Higgins (SEARS) 12 gauge pump, it was $40 bucks. Learned how to sweat on sights, cold blue, refinish the stocks etc...

Couple that with gun parts (Numrich) they have them hard to find parts for dang near everything. I would also recommend Brownells and also Midway.

There really are no BATF issues to worry you. I built a FAL from the ground up, the reciever is the gun, options for barrels, stocks, everything led to a very fun build and I am doing another. The only ATF issue I have with this particular rifle is the required amount of USA made parts for compliance.

Good Luck! :)
 
If you already are a tinkerer and have at least a decent amount of mechanical ability you will be fine.
Click to expand...

Well I rebuilt my first engine when I was 15 with a manual from the auto parts store and a little guidance from dad, so I think I am OK in that department. I guess it's sort of the same thing on a smaller scale.

I'm not what you would call a skilled machinist. I would be downright dangerous with a drill press. But I think I could be a parts changer.

I don't always have time to get to the range, especially during the winter. But I think it's going to be fun sitting at a bench in my basement fiddling with a gun or two. Sort of an extension of my hobby.

Bob F. and Felonius, you guys are a bad influence. I checked out that Makarov website and now I want one. Next thing I know you guys are going to have me talked into becoming a Cruffler.

Now where did I put that checkbook........:uhoh:
 
If you decide to bail off into a bolt gun project, you might consider a Savage action. You can pick up barrels, bolt heads, mag followers and other goodies at www.midwayusa.com. They have the barrel nut wrenches, vises, and other tools you need to build or rebarrel a Savage. They are easy to headspace with proper gauges (no machining required). If you want want to change cartridge families (for instance from a .223 to .308) just change the bolt head. Most anyone with commons sense and a little mechanical ability can handle one of these projects. Just a thought.

Wireless
 
MicroBalrog,

Uzis, Stens, and PPS-43's, IIRC.
Click to expand...

Tell you what; why don't you call Numrich and ask them for a stock for a PPS-43, then call Brownell's and see what they have in the way of aftermarket Uzi grip safeties and match-grade aftermarket barrels for Stens?
 
Um, if you can't make a barrel for a Sten, or a stock for a '43 for that matter, you shouldn't be trying to build a gun. Those are about the most basic examples available.
 
Traveler,

FWIW, not everybody has a mill or lathe in the garage.

"Simple to build from raw metal in a shop" does not necessarily equate to "easy to build and modify with readily available parts on the U.S. commercial market."

(You'll also note I said "match grade barrel." If you can turn out truly match-quality barrels from your basement shop, you could probably quit your day job... ;) )
 
Makarov and Glock may be tops for pistols, with the 1911 trailing behind.

I don't own an AR...yet, so I can't really say. I've had my Enfields and M-Ns stripped down to the action and have adjusted their trigger pulls, so they are pretty simple, w/ K-31s a little more complex.

I never fiddled with my 870, past stripping her down and stoning the action bars a little, so I can't say.
 
My Dad has adjusted/tweaked the triggers on his Rem 700, Winchester 70s, and his Ruger .22. He's not at the top of my list for competent gunsmiths so it's a real testament to what a little education can do for you.

He looked up the procedures on the web and used his knife making experiance to help with the polishing work. Amazing before and after results from what is basicly a complete amature.
 
DIY

10/22 by a wide margin,there is just too much stuff available
from aftermarket guys plus an endless list of customizing to be
done yourself.
 
Another vote for the Keltec P11. I shot mine once and hated it, so I came back home and did some research. I tinkered with it for a little 3 nights in a row doing a friction eradication fluff & buff, and it was like a different pistol!!!! I didn't know I had it in me! Cycled everything and LOTS more accurate due to the improved trigger pull. My opinion went 180 degrees.
 
Tamara, we have a gentleman in our area who used to turn out match grade barrels in his basement. Had quite a fine reputation around here for some time but he could never make it pay the bills full time because he couldn't do any quantity that could make the numbers work. It was a fine sideline business for decades and I think he still turns a barrel from time to time. Bored, rifled and chambered a barrel for a friend of mine years ago that won a few matches but as a money maker he couldn't quit his day job.

Quality of manufacture does not always equate to commercial success.

I was able to visit his shop and look over some of his collection a few years ago. He was thinning out his collection some and as we appraised the guns I spoke with him for a while. I wanted to ask if he would teach me a bit of what he knows but his reputation was such that I think I would have needed a reference from someone he knew well. Since then I found about the barrel he did for my friend (mentioned above), might have to engineer another meeting.
 
Another vote for the Ruger 10/22. They're like old Chevys - tons of aftermarket parts available and easy to work on. You can build anything from mild to wild.
 
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