Tightening a Remington 14 frame

pfm41

I have a Remington Model 14R that as a little play between the receiver and the trigger/stock assembly. What is the fix for this? It seems to me that some careful peening could snug up the mating of the two assemblies.

charliemeyer007

Back in 60's as a kid my first big game rifle was a well used 14 in 30 Remington. It had a wonderfully tight milled steel fit. My BIL acquired a beater in 25 Remington in the 80's at a yard sale for $20 and it still fit up nice and tight.

Any chance yours is a parts gun or perhaps the receiver sprung from a horse rolling. Where is the play? On the horizontal mating area Is it loose at the front end towards the magazine, at the back by the screw or the full length? How is the fit on the rear vertical mating surface? I can't remember if the bushing #56,57 are involved.

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Remington-33454/Rifles-37895/14-39479.htm?results=All

Added: Needing bumped is how I remember the fit.

Accurate peening is hard. Many lighter taps often accomplish the same result as one larger one but not always, it's a feel thing. For me moving metal is often easier, faster and more accurate with a rounded edge flat point punch and the larger area of the flat hammer head. Good lighting, a stable work bench and as secure of a hold on the working you can get will help. I would try and work the entire mating surface a little at a time.

You might consider taking a chunk of scrap angle iron, hack saw in some notches and groves to practice moving metal.

pfm41

Serial numbers match so it's not a parts gun. The wear seems to be in the vertical mating slots at the rear. There is no fore/aft or side-to-side movement but there is a slight amount of rotation, that is, the front extension can drop down a little from flush. The knurls on the take-down screw are really worn so maybe it was taken apart after every use and the looseness is just wear in the rear slots. My Model 14 in 35 Rem has to be bumped with the heal of my hand to get it to separate.

pfm41

Success! After some close examination on where the wear was and a lot of procrastinating I did some light peening with a small ball peen hammer. I peened along the entire mating surfaces until it wouldn't quite go together, then a few light strokes with a jewelers file and all is well. It now takes a few bumps to get it seated and unseated. The front extension is perfectly flush with the bottom of the receiver with no movement. I just got the bag of new 30 Remington brass and a set of Redding 32 Rem dies so its time to see how my little brush gun shoots.

navc130

Thank you for the report. It is always interesting and educational to hear how a problem is resolved.

charliemeyer007

Excellent work sir. I really like the Lyman 323470 cast bullet. I generally only lube the groves that are inside the neck unless they are for bench rest type shooting.

pfm41

I was thinking about cast but it probably won't be shot much so I'll stick with store-bought jacketed bullets for now. I have a supply on hand because I occasionally load up some 32-40s for a friends old but pristine octagon-barreled Winchester 94. The bore on my 14R is dark it would probably foul quickly with lead.