Small gunsmithing triumphs for the mechanically challenged

[bushmaster1313]

You know who you are.

Fess up.

You are a disaster waiting to happen when it comes to having the right tool or knowing how to use it.

What are your small but meaningful gunsmithing triumphs..

Here's two of mine:

1) Drilling out the rivet that was holding in a sling loop that I wanted removed, without hurting me or the gun.

2) Using a punch to remove a dovetail blank from a Ruger No. 1, and replacing it with a folding open leaf rear sight without scratching the receiver.

 

[weagle99]

I wouldn't say that I am a disaster nor am I mechanically challenged, but I did fit a replacement bolt to a Colt Single Action Army once. Probably the most complex project I have completed.

 

[tyeo098]

My first AK build was... interesting.

But it works without issue!

 

[Dr.Rob]

Drilling out the AK gas piston rivet, re installing peening and finishing.

My first AR build was a LOT simpler.

 

[481]

I'm just happy if I can clean, lube, and reassemble my gun without ending up with "spare parts".

 

[scythefwd]

adding aluminum pillars and glass bedding my rifle.

 

[SleazyRider]

Had to make a disconnector pawl for my Spanish Ruby, as the original was missing. These guns are not known for exacting tolerances and thus interchangeability of parts, so I made my own using a Dremel and cutoff wheel, a file, and a stone. Runs flawlessly, and gives me a great sense of satisfaction whenever I shoot it!



Can you guess where I found steel of the exact thickness, and roughly the same hardness?

 

[Outlaw Man]

Nice work, Sleazy.

I'm not normally a disaster waiting to happen, but I managed to install the gas block backwards on my new AR barrel and didn't notice until it was almost completely reassembled and I was trying to get the bolt back in. I thought, "how could they have sent me a gas tube that's too long for a rifle length system?"

I managed to get it back apart, gas block installed properly, and everything back together without messing something else up or hurting myself too badly.

It's the small victories that are sometimes the sweetest.

 

[Red Tornado]

Using aluminum can shims to lighten the trigger on my Mosins. It's easy, but still it's a great feeling.
RT

 

[berettaprofessor]

Most recently completely disassembled and then reassembled a Volquartsen MarkII 10/22 trigger (a spring had popped out, but putting it back in required multiple attempts and eventually I had every part out and back in).

Yo-Dave trigger on a CZ452

Created a pin to fix a jammed Beretta 90.

Sanded out a collapsible Butler Creek stock to free-float a .920 barrel.

Fixed a faulty elevator on a used Marlin 22 lever.

Next project is replacing a broken trigger on a Baby Browning that I bought used last week....with the trigger already broken.

Now if I can just take apart and put a Ruger Mark III correctly....have previously failed miserably!

 

[OilyPablo]

Removing and installing a gas block on a Daniel Defense AR barrel - removal of the tapered pins on a DD standard sight is not a job for the fainthearted as I found out!

Series 70 conversion on my Colt Rail gun.

Converting a Saiga to a legal AK.

 

[230RN]

Using a broken-off Q-tip as a slave pin to hold the barrel in place reassembling my PF-9. You don't do it right and the gun locks up, requiring much vigorous jiggling in X-Y-Z axes to get it to open again so you can do it right.

 

[MI2600]

481 - Left over parts is the hallmark of efficiency!

No big thing, but I made leaf springs from auto feeler gauges.

 

[browningguy]

Actually installing a new barrel on my Savage 12 FV and having it shoot pretty well.

 

[Bwana John]

I aint afraid.....

Have Dremil tool, will travel.

If you cant fix it with a blowtorch and a single jack hammer, it's an electrical problem.

 

[HoosierQ]

Very small. On a Glock extractor plunger assembly I found the little nub end that faces the rear missing. I found a nail the right size, cut to length, filed and sanded it until it was very close to the original. Treated it with EEZOX and installed it. Fits great, works great. 10 minutes work.

Like is said...very small.

 

[Buckeye71]

For me just disassembly and reassembly is the limit of my expertise. So far I have been able to find all the springs that went flying, found all the small parts and ended up with no parts left over...and it works!!

 

[jad0110]

Changing the mainspring on a P.08 Luger.

 

[silicosys4]

diagnosing, finding, and replacing a latch pin on a rust bucket parts gun, with a perfectly and smoothly functioning &^*%-ugly Army Special revolver the result....
my finest "gunsmithing" hour

 

[J-Bar]

I replaced the connector spring (the little pendulum thingy that switches the trigger from one barrel to the other when the first barrel is fired) on a single triggered SKB double barreled shotgun. It only cost the price of the spring, two phone calls to an understanding gunsmith 5 states away, and many cuss words.

 

[doc2rn]

Removed the springs from a Ruger standard once to give it a good cleaning afrer shooting the heck out of it. One went flying across the room, never to be found again. Went into town to the local hardware store and lucky for me the guy was a retired LEO who took pitty on a 14 yo. He even figured out which it was and took his own gun apart so we could match the size and coil. He was my hero. I often revisited him to my surprise, with dads blessing, to learn everything I could. He really mentored me.

 

[Grassman]

Unless it's bolt on or screw on, I will mess it up on gun repair. I don't know why, I'm pretty mechanically inclined, just not in this area.

 

[OilyPablo]

I completely forgot about taking my Colt Trooper III all the way down, repairing a sticking issue (took awhile to figure out*), replacing hammer and trigger springs with lighter versions and wow what an awesome shooter.


*Face of the forcing cone was actually too close to the cylinder exit. The gap was too tight, when revolver got hot, it would stick. Only happened when hot. When I measured it before the free gap was OK, but on the small side (good right?). But in the restrained position, it was like 0.0005" too tight. I just touched it with a stone. Perfection! The amazing thing it was like this since day one from the factory, I bought it nearly new from an estate sale.

 

[redmond]

I'm OK with manual tools: hammer, punch, file, etc. Give a power tool (any sort) and my wife considers me a weapon of mass destruction.

 

[John3921]

Friend of mine was having problems with his Beretta 682 skeet gun. It just did not like to fire the top bbl. I' know the previous owner had issues with it as well. It had been worked on by a local smith and had been rebuilt by Coles - still had issues.

I took it apart and figured out someone had been messing with the inertia system sears and had damaged a surface on the sear. I had the owner order a new inertia mass for me. The sear surfaces have to be fit to the hammer release levers. So I worked the surfaces back with a stone until they properly engages the hammer levers.

Works perfect.