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K 43 Rifle, seperating the barrel and the receiver
narnianhero
Member Posts: 10 ✭✭
My grandfather left me a K43 he brought back from WWII and I've been trying to get it restored from the terrible condition it was in.
Two different gunsmiths have told me the firing chamber is too badly corroded to use and that I need a new barrel. I was able to get a good condition barrel, but the gunsmith I took it too said he was worried about the receiver being harmed when removing the old barrel ( since it is a pressed in barrel). He suggested he could cut the barrel and machine out the rest of the barrel in the receiver.
I'm hesitant to destroy the matching barrel, so I'm wondering if anyone knows a way to extract the barrel from the receiver safely. I'd also need to find a gunsmith that could actually do that.
Two different gunsmiths have told me the firing chamber is too badly corroded to use and that I need a new barrel. I was able to get a good condition barrel, but the gunsmith I took it too said he was worried about the receiver being harmed when removing the old barrel ( since it is a pressed in barrel). He suggested he could cut the barrel and machine out the rest of the barrel in the receiver.
I'm hesitant to destroy the matching barrel, so I'm wondering if anyone knows a way to extract the barrel from the receiver safely. I'd also need to find a gunsmith that could actually do that.
Comments
As far as I am aware, he is spot on with the barrel thing. Recievers on those are a little wonky anyway and have a tendency to need really good welding attention at some point even under normal operating conditions. He would have to cut the barrel and then relief cut several lines toward the reciever in order to remove the shank without cracking the cast reciever. Tricky stuff to work with. There are quite a number of smiths nationwide who specialize in that action and restorations of them.
Well that bites, but it's worth having a shooting gun over a sitting one. I never plan to sell that gun so I guess it doesn't matter too much if I lose the matching barrel. Thanks!
I'm in the same situation as you with a K43 sent home in 1945 that sat for 60 years before it was given to me. I cleaned it up and don't shoot it. They're not a robust rifle like the Garand and ammo isn't cheap. Modern loads may cause damage if the smith you find doesn't do it for you. Because you're going to keep it doesn't mean you should trash it. Save history, sell the barrel you bought, and buy a shooter. jmo
I'm in no hurry to turn it into a shooter, but I've wanted to let the rest of my cousins see our late grandfather's gun in full firing condition. I've heard it was the firing pins that were prone to breaking, if so I actually found a second firing pin in the butt of the gun and a field manual for the gun (all in German) too.
I'm mostly interested in putting only about fifty rounds through this gun mostly to show it to my relatives in a "restored" condition. So how would original corrosive rounds or military surplus rounds do compared to modern 8mm Mauser rounds? I know how to clean guns that have fired corrosive ammo so that's not a problem.
quote:Originally posted by lts
I'm in the same situation as you with a K43 sent home in 1945 that sat for 60 years before it was given to me. I cleaned it up and don't shoot it. They're not a robust rifle like the Garand and ammo isn't cheap. Modern loads may cause damage if the smith you find doesn't do it for you. Because you're going to keep it doesn't mean you should trash it. Save history, sell the barrel you bought, and buy a shooter. jmo
I'm in no hurry to turn it into a shooter, but I've wanted to let the rest of my cousins see our late grandfather's gun in full firing condition. I've heard it was the firing pins that were prone to breaking, if so I actually found a second firing pin in the butt of the gun and a field manual for the gun (all in German) too.
I'm mostly interested in putting only about fifty rounds through this gun mostly to show it to my relatives in a "restored" condition. So how would original corrosive rounds or military surplus rounds do compared to modern 8mm Mauser rounds? I know how to clean guns that have fired corrosive ammo so that's not a problem.
You will probably find Federal 'Blue Box' adequate for your needs. WWII German ammo is pretty hot. Most of the rest of the surplus I've come across "thumps" pretty good as well. I wouldn't use hot ammo. Instead the very mild Fed 8mm won't kick much and will still probably make the gun work without issue.