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Gunsmith Question

WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
edited February 2008 in Ask the Experts
How hard is it to install an ambidextrous safty on a 1911a1 which does not have one
What tools are required

SMILE...MAKE EM WONDER WHAT YOUR UP TO

Comments

  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am thinking of taking the necessary steps to become a gunsmith, and possibly a class 3. What do you all suggest on taking to get my 'smith degree or license? Do you recommend a specific school or program? What would be the best in your opinion?
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For all you gunsmiths out there, (this is NOT a trick question) can you put an M16 or Sako style extractor on a Winchester 70 CRPF bolt?

    The reason is, I had the lower boss that holds the Winchester style extractor, break. I can either change the extractor style or replace the bolt. Which is less expensive? Does it work as well? I'm fine with it, if it's only as tough as the CRPF, because that wasn't that tough at all...just handy.

    Thanks in advance, Sw
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Re: Extactor/Bolt action .22 rimfire.
    I bought an old Stevens Model 83 that in good condition. Missing extractor on bolt. Couldn't find replacement parts (ones sold for model by Numrich are NOT correct).
    Finally found a complete bolt (here on GB). Turns out bolt has broken firing pin, so it won't work as a swap out.
    So I took the working original extractor assembly that worked perfectly (3 pieces: Extractor/spring/plunger rod) off the GB bought bolt and installed on original bolt. Easy.
    Problem. doesn't work. Will pull fired cases out of chamber about 1/2 way. Then releases them.
    I imagine a minor fitting/adjustment problem.
    Any idea's?
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
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  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The AK actions dent brass either .223s or 7.62x39s.The edge of the top cover is what is doing it.You can stop the denting by removing the cover.But it will throw the brass so far you'll have trouble finding it.I know I've done it.I wonder if a gunsmith could do an adjustment to the ejector to change the angle the brass ejects when it comes out ?

    [:)] [:)] [:)]




    ATF
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What would cause a live round to get stuck in the Chamber of a 9mm Chinese Tokerov pistol? Just got one of these last night & tried chambering a round. Round stuck in chamber until I carefully disassembled the pistol pried the round out. The gun is pretty clean, I guess I should probably do a complete cleaning on it. But is there something else I'm missing?

    By the way this gun is missing the frame mounted safety. I did a little online google search & found alot of owners of this gun removed their safeties.

    I think next time I try fiddling with this pistol I'll use a snap cap.

    Regards,

    FREE IRAQ
    bigun2.gif2gunsfiring_v1.gif
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I own a Model 37 Ithaca 12 gauge smooth bore deerslayer, Im curious bore is getting atad rough, is there any idea how i can get inside of barrel smoothed out or cromed ? No idea, leave me some ideas.
    It shoots ok but could be better, i shoot rifled slugs threw it most of the time if that answers any question.

    Raymond
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    hi
    how much should it cost to put a new barrel on a 1948 k22 pinned?
    thanks gun702
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm working on an old Marlin model 100 .22 single shot that I bought in project condition. Actually the gun was in pretty decent condition and only needed a firing pin and buttplate.
    Bought the parts and installed. After test firing I found that the firing pin was too long and had burred the chamber mouth. Causing failure to extract. Also found that rifle failed to fire approx 1 out every 4 or 5 rounds. Rounds seldom fired when tried a 2nd time, unless removed and rotated in chamber for firing pin to strike different spot on cartridge rim. Once that was done, every round eventually fired.
    So I shortened the firing pin to match another M-100 I have. And bought a chamber swage ("Name that tool" post from last week).
    Rifle extracts prefectly now, but still has the 1 in 5 dud problem.
    I'm using Federal bulk ammo and as a control, fired some in another rifle w/no duds.
    I'm thinking perhaps the mainspring may be a little weak and is delivering enough strike power to fire most of the time. But not all.
    Is there any tricks to slightly increase the striking power of the mainspring on the firing pin?
    Thanks.
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    can an barrel on an 12ga Mossberg 195K shotgun be change. I have pits in the middle of the barrel and would like to change it to an fully rifle barrel.

    Thanks for the help
    spec.4
  • justright58justright58 Member Posts: 333 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not knowing where you live, here is a short list of schools:
    Lassen Community College
    Susanville, California
    530-257-6181
    www.lassen.cc.ca.us

    Colorado School of Trades
    Lakewood, Colo.
    303-233-4697
    www.schooloftrades.com

    Trinidad State Junior College
    Trinidad, Colo. 800-621-8752
    www.trinidastate.edu

    Pennsylvania Gunsmith School
    Pittsburgh, Pa.
    412-766-1812
    www.pagunsmith.edu

    Montgomery Community College
    Troy, N.C.
    910-576-6222
    www.montgomery.cc.nc.us

    Murray State College
    Tishomingo, Ok.
    580-371-2371
    www.mscok.edu

    Pine Technical College
    Pine City, Minn.
    800-521-7463
    www.ptc.mn.us

    Piedmont Community College
    Roxboro, N.C.
    336-599-1181
    www.piedmont.cc.nc.us

    Yavapai College
    Prescott, Az.
    800-922-6787
    www.gunsmithing.org

    There are others, I just can't remember them all. Be prepared to dedicate 2 years of study before graduating to the school of hard knocks which is another lifetime of years and devotion.
    As for the class 3; If you don't mind a housefull of uninvited guests at 3:00 AM wanting to inspect your underwear, go for it.
    Good Luck !
    John[8D]
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have you ever heard of AGI (American Gunsmithing Institute)? is this a worthwhile way to go or just a load of bull?
  • konamtbikerkonamtbiker Member Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am currently enrolled in the Colorado School of Trades. I am in my 4th month of the program. I thought i knew alot when i got there, man i was wrong. The instructors are well learned in the art, and have taught me priceless information. Nothing but thumbs up for CST. Good luck in your search. If you can afford it take a trip to Colorado and visit the school. Take a tour with Sonny, not linda.
  • scrubberguyscrubberguy Member Posts: 219 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought one AGI video. It was for the Browning HI Power. The package promised tips on cutomizing and increasing the accuracy.

    When I played it I was "entertained" by a "Gunsmith" that had such distain for this particular gun and the concept of pistols in general that I never could figure out what brainless dolt put this fool in front of a camera!

    Suffice it to say I learned nothing because nothing was on the video to be learned! None of the "tips" mentioned on the box existed.

    I still have the video tape, it's in VHS format, just to remind me that a fool and his money are soon parted!

    I have often considered trying to return this product( as I've suggested to others many times in the past) but I honestly think it's to late (must be 12 years since I bought it).

    Now I do know that AGI has a ton of "training" video's. My suggestion is lets hear from some other guys and see if anybody else has had the same experience as I did.

    And yes if AGI reads this I will take my 29.95 back![8D]
  • Wolf.Wolf. Member Posts: 2,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    --
    I joined the AGI and here's my take:
    --The discount on dvd video training material is marginal, at best and no real incentive to being an AGI member in my opinion.
    --The publication is somewhat useful, but really is lacking in quantity. It should be a lot better.
    --Contacting AGI as a member is a somewhat difficult and mysterious process
    --AGI or somebody involved therein seems to have several getrichquick schemes they'd like you to invest in, clogging your inbox with oddball email.
    --The AGI "certification" DVD "course" is different than the "armorer's" DVDs that they offer
    --AGI is still selling VHS versions (old stock, I think) of their armorers' courses, which I think is just wrong! I think when you plunk down $ for an armorer's video (or the full-blown certification course) from AGI, especially if you are a member, they should upgrade the VHS material to new-format (DVD) media upon receipt of the VHS tape plus a buck or two for postage. Additionally, AGI should be ashamed for selling the old VHS material (which AGI should replace for the retailers for nada!!). Blank DVDs are just not that expensive.
    --The AGI "certification" course costs more than $7,000.00, which I consider to be waaaaay too much. You could probably attend a good hands-on school for that much (yeah, yeah...I understand the logistics involved in doing so).
    --"Certified" by who?
    --I have heard many complaints similar to scrubberguy's post about primitive, amateurish, dark, blurry and unseeable video, poor sound quality, crappy or no information, etc. I've seen a couple of them, too. AGI should be ashamed. Don't these guys have any quality control or review process AT ALL? I find it insulting, disrespectful and downright larcenous to have the gall to market this garbage. It's a crapshoot. You have no idea whether what you order will be any good to you or not.
    --And, shame on Brownells, MidlandUSA and others for selling these DVDs when they know that the quality of many of the videos is simply not acceptable. In this regard, the retailers are de facto participants in the insulting, disrespectful and larcenous behavior points above.
    --SO THERE!!!!!
  • MadmanMadman Member Posts: 601 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wolf hit the nail on the head...AGI is useless. Was a payin member for a while, needed some help on a particular weapon....took a year and a day to get ahold of a "so called gunsmith" who promptly told me he couldn't help cause he didn't know, nor did he have any idea where to go.....Have gotten more realistic and helpful info right here on GB than anywherelse in my 15+ year career as a Gunsmith and still learning....Colorado School is top of the line...

    Paul
    Mountain Magic Gunsmithing
  • gsmyth64gsmyth64 Member Posts: 68 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a different take on AGI altogether really. Got a wild hair up my * about 15 years ago and decided to try and customize my new Norico 1911. Screwed everything up but started buying every book and video that existed about gunsmithing, and decided quickly that I wanted to be a gunsmith. Got an f.f.l., hung out a shingle and started to work on my projects, as well as taking in jobs from others that I felt I could handle. After having purchased all the armorers videos available at the time, and feeling I was lacking in some basic knowledge, I sold a few of my personal guns and purchased their professional gunsmithing video series. Worth every penny to me because of the confidence I gained from understanding the how's and why's. I watched all the videos, took notes, and practiced, practiced, practiced. Also purchased every issue of American Gunsmith ever made. Have every article from them and all my other books databased so if I run into a gun I'm not that familiar with I know where to go look for some help. Anyway it's 15 years later now and I'm a successful full-time gunsmith. (all this and a dollar will buy me a cup off coffee some days). Guess my point here is that you can be self taught and still be successful, and for me, A.G.I. was a great place to start.
  • JKJK Member Posts: 223 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The schools are good but run far short in machining and this is a prerequisite for both. Learn how to use machines to full advantage first, and then go into the school of your choice. Now you will be equipped for anything thrown at you
  • the jiggerthe jigger Member Posts: 12 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    My smith is a product of the Colorado school and he is "Aces".
  • WWII_EnthusiastWWII_Enthusiast Member Posts: 147 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'd love you be able to go to a school full time to take these courses but since I work full time it seems like it would be impossible. That's kinda why I was thinking maybe one of the online or at home deals to get me started. I know that phoenix university has an online set up but I am not sure if it's worth while.
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