DIY Gunsmithing

[XLR8R]

How many folks are brave enough (dumb enough? :) ) to modify your own firearms?

[wannadiesel]

I can't leave anything alone. :o

Very few of the guns I own are exactly as they came from the factory, and only one of them has had professional modification done. I haven't done any heavy duty gunsmithing to any of them, probably the one that I've done the most work to is my little Kel-Tec P3AT. It needed a lot of polishing and some feed ramp work to be reliable. I wasn't too worried about it because the worst thing that could happen is I'd need to buy a new barrel. Most of what I've done is parts swapping and polishing action parts though.

[Administrator]

I'm not afraid to take electronic stuff apart, modify it then put it back together. With guns though, because of the little experience I have with them, I don't think it's a good idea!! LOL

[Billyram]

With something you're familiar with and have the right tools minor things can usually be better done your self. Most guns shoot better and are more reliable with some tuning. I have quite a bit of experiance with 1911s and know how to fit and tune these guns to my taste. I leave major jobs like barrel fitting to the experts. If the job takes more than average skills and expensive tools it's usually better and cheaper to let the experts do it.

[Duallydog]

Wow, this place looks familiar.
I haven't had much of a chance to tinker with guns, but I would like to learn how to.
Matt

[Fronty Owner]

I have no problem taking one apart and replacing parts or thoroughly cleaning it, but no modifications.

[Adaminak]

Started out by converting military grade Mauser 96s into sporting rifles (trust me...it's cheaper and easier to buy a new barrel than it is to turn the military barrel in a lathe!) Still working on a good-fitting stock design for me (37" sleeve length) but I'm not afraid to waste cheap wood to get a good design for nice walnut. Re-chambering, wildcatting and headspacing doesn't worry me, but bolt face truing is an art I'll leave to the professionals. I even tinkered with barrel harmonics and weight distribution, but I'm not shooting quarters at a 1000yd, and decided it wasn't worth my aggravation. On the other hand, it did give me an excuse to put a LOT of rounds down range in the name of science.

[sundance54]

I'm like Wannadiesel,can't leave somethings alone.Got a book from Wilson and tuned up a .45 acp LLama that I got for cheap and did about 90% of what the book said needed done to a 1911.I now use it at I.D.P.A. shoots and I'm very happy with it. I also did some work on a 45 cal Hi-Point. It's now my $100.00 wonder gun.
l

[Administrator]

I'm like Wannadiesel,can't leave somethings alone.Got a book from Wilson and tuned up a .45 acp LLama that I got for cheap and did about 90% of what the book said needed done to a 1911.I now use it at I.D.P.A. shoots and I'm very happy with it. I also did some work on a 45 cal Hi-Point. It's now my $100.00 wonder gun.
l

What's the name of the book?

[Gunlovingvet]

my lil Ruger MK II kicks my fanny on reassembly so I stay away from home Gunsmithing.. Top you wanna move to OR?

[Gunsmith/Administrator]

my lil Ruger MK II kicks my fanny on reassembly so I stay away from home Gunsmithing.. Top you wanna move to OR?

Nah, I lived on the west coast for the first couple hundred years of my life, I like it where I am now. Besides I have the all the tunnels to the bunkers and pill boxes reinforced now and would hate to have to start over again :D

[Gunlovingvet]

Nah, I lived on the west coast for the first couple hundred years of my life, I like it where I am now. Besides I have the all the tunnels to the bunkers and pill boxes reinforced now and would hate to have to start over again :D

Grumble Darn;) Now I have to use the ret Jar head down the road.

[sundance54]

The book was from Wilson Combat and showed what they do to one of thier1911 and the tools they used.

[tightgroup]

I like to tinker with my guns and started building a 1911 this year.

Colt slide with a Fusion frame:

http://home.comcast.net/~fun2shoot/1911/fusionframe.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~fun2shoot/1911/fuscolt4.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~fun2shoot/1911/fuscolt5.jpg


I still have not decided whether to have the frame electroless nickeled or Duracoated and it needs a set of sights.

Here is the parts list.
http://home.comcast.net/~fun2shoot/1911/fuscoltparts.jpg

[XLR8R]

I like to tinker with my guns and started building a 1911 this year.

Colt slide with a Fusion frame:

http://home.comcast.net/~fun2shoot/1911/fusionframe.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~fun2shoot/1911/fuscolt4.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~fun2shoot/1911/fuscolt5.jpg


I still have not decided whether to have the frame electroless nickeled or Duracoated and it needs a set of sights.

Here is the parts list.
http://home.comcast.net/~fun2shoot/1911/fuscoltparts.jpg

Nice!

Great break down on the parts list... :cool:

[soulezoo]

Depends on what it is or what I want from it. On my sig sauer p226... I never touched it... beautiful as is. On my Colt Delta Elite, just about everything done to it. The rest of the guns fall somewhere in between whether shortening the stock on my trap gun or stoning the trigger assemblies for smoothness.

Heavy duty stuff like barrels I leave to an expert.

[Boatnik]

I am a retired machinist of the old school. I can't even spell CNC let alone run one. I do most of my own gunsmithing unless the cost of the tooling is higher than the cost of a good gunsmith. I do my own scope mounting, trigger tuning, action smoothing and I even shortened a shotgun barrel to twenty inches and recrowned the barrels. I have built a couple blackpowder kits and hunt with them. I also have a Norinco 1911 that I keep as a work in progress. I have accessorised and modified it to be a dependable carry peice for the winter. There are no wall hangers in my arsenal. If I can't shoot them, I can't afford them.

[MrM4]

"I scratch-built a .50 BMG"
Multi. Belt Fed Brownings ;)

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg158/MrM4/FGS/1919a4/IMG_2272.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg158/MrM4/FGS/1919a4/IMG_2959.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg158/MrM4/FGS/1919a4/IMG_2525.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg158/MrM4/FGS/1919a4/IMG_2787-1.jpg