Drill and tap action and barrel

amigotres

I need to drill and tap an action and a barrel. I called the local gunsmith and he wants $25 a hole. I see that Williams makes a scope base drill fixture (http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/williams-gun-sight-36898-scope-mt-drill-fixture-reviews) that can be had for under one hundred $, and I would rather do it myself and save a few bucks. Anyone have any experience with this? The action is a 93 Mauser, and the barrel is an octagonal on a mode 99 Savage (I want to install Unertl blocks). I figure that if the fixture works on an octagonal action, it should work on an octagonal barrel easily enough.

Ned Fall

You are going to pay $100 for a drilling fixture rather than pay a gun smith $25.00 per hole (4 holes) and then have a drilling fixture for which you have no use? You will also need the drills and taps to do the job. Also if you don't know what you are doing, you can drill through the barrel and receiver into the chamber and/or the bore and wind up with a destroyed rifle. It's cheaper to have the gunsmith do the job and do it right.

amigotres

It is eight holes. Four on the Mauser receiver, four on the Savage barrel. I am not a gunsmith, but I can find my way around tools. I will be using a drill press, so I can determine how deep to go. Even if I buy the fixture, a drill bit kit, and splurge on a plug tap and a bottom tap it is still a lot cheaper than the 200 bucks the gunsmith wants. Add to that that I get a lot of pleasure from doing things myself. I have two other Mausers leaning against a wall that may also benefit from a scope. Also, I have the feeling that the fixture will get borrowed by some of my like minded friends.

sandwarrior

amigotres,

The big thing with getting this right is having the fixture and rifle/action very, very secure before you start drilling. Also, having the rifle secure while it's being drilled. A drill press is the way to go, but make sure you have it on an extended table. And nothing has a chance to fall against it, or traffic can walk by and hit it. The reason I say this is it only takes about .001" off at the stock bases to cause a 1" discrepancy at 100 yds. I have seen some scope bases as far as .005" off. That's a lot of correcting to do @ 100 yds. Then more 'correcting/un-correcting' to do as you dial up (extend) the range of the scope.

FEENIX

quote:Originally posted by amigotres
It is eight holes. Four on the Mauser receiver, four on the Savage barrel. I am not a gunsmith, but I can find my way around tools. I will be using a drill press, so I can determine how deep to go. Even if I buy the fixture, a drill bit kit, and splurge on a plug tap and a bottom tap it is still a lot cheaper than the 200 bucks the gunsmith wants. Add to that that I get a lot of pleasure from doing things myself. I have two other Mausers leaning against a wall that may also benefit from a scope. Also, I have the feeling that the fixture will get borrowed by some of my like minded friends.


Sounds like you have your mind set already. Heck go have at it!

cody45

I suggest you find a used forster sight fixture. these are absolutely fool proof and you will find it an investement, not an expendeture. they show up used on flea bay and go from 250 to 300. if you are interested in getting one send me an email. 99% of gunsmiths that drill and tap barrels and receivers use this jig. when your finished with it you can easily resell it.

Tailgunner1954

"Most smiths use a jig"???? The ones I go to use a Bridgeport mill with a DRO to locate the hole spacing. And they spend more than a little time making sure that they're working down the centerline of the bore (which isn't always concentric or square to the receiver CL).

If the OP thinks $25/hole is to high, wait till he finds he just drilled/tapped through the face of the bolt lug, or snaps off his tap and has to have it EDM'd out.

A octagional M-93 Mauser action? I'd like to see photos of that one.
quote:I figure that if the fixture works on an octagonal action, it should work on an octagonal barrel easily enough
OK, that is what confused me

cody45

tailgun: I have a brideport mill that I use in conjunction with the Forster Universal sight mounting fixture-its easy, fast, and foolproof. If you are not sure of its design, you might enjoy reading about it on the Forster web site. There is a reason it costs about $400 at Brownells and theres a reason its been around for better than fifty years.

amigotres

Tailgunner, the 93 action is not octagonal, it is a normal 93 Mauser action that was rebarrelled, restocked and reblued at some time. The reason I want to scope it is that I am getting at the age where iron sights don't quite cut it anymore. The octagonal barrel is on a savage 99, and I want to scope it for the same reason. I thought both would shoot and look good with a Unertl. I appreciate everyone's input, btw.

nononsense

amigotres,

Welcome to the Gunbroker Forums!

Drilling/tapping and adding your own scope bases is one of the readily accomplished projects for amateurs. It can usually be done with a decent fixture for alignment and a rigid drill.

Be aware of a couple of things:

Check and double check where the drill goes into before doing the actual drilling. There are places where a hole is suitable and where they are not.

Drilling a barrel is a process of careful measurement before doing the actual hole. Common sense should tell you that you can't drill all the way through so you have to know how thick the barrel is at that location.

Brownells has some very nice explanations regarding drilling and tapping holes on their website. I suggest reviewing these before starting up any machine. They also have charts with barrel/caliber dimensions...

As an aside, the high charge for drilling and tapping is a result of experience with broken taps and poorly positioned holes. Broken taps occur even if you do everything exactly right. The method used to correct this problem is EDM and it runs between $25 -$35/hole. Wrong position will cost you hair (from pulling it out) and lots more time and money to correct the error.

Remember the old adage:

Measure twice, cut once. This is extremely appropriate when working with actions and barrels.

Best.

FEENIX

quote:Originally posted by cody45
tailgun: I have a brideport mill that I use in conjunction with the Forster Universal sight mounting fixture-its easy, fast, and foolproof. If you are not sure of its design, you might enjoy reading about it on the Forster web site. There is a reason it costs about $400 at Brownells and theres a reason its been around for better than fifty years.


I'd do it too if I have Bridgeport. A fixture, a vise, and hand drill or Dremel tool is not my idea of precision work. If you have the right tool for the right job and ability - GO FOR IT - otherwise, save time, money, and any headaches and let the experts do it.

Excellent response from nononsense as usual.