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February 6th, 2008
 In previous installments of our Daily Bulletin, gunsmith Gordy Gritters has demonstrated headspacing and barrel set-up on a Grizzly Industrial multi-purpose lathe. We visited with Gordy at the Grizzly booth at SHOT Show. We had to fight through a sizeable crowd of folks who were watching Gordy chamber a barrel for a 1000-yard rifle. The Europeans, in particular, seemed fascinated with the process, as custom gunsmithing operations are few and far between in many European countries.
Gordy pointed out some of his favorite features on the Grizzly 0509G gunsmithing lathe and noted that Grizzly is coming out with a new lathe with even more functions in “the very near future.” Gordy also shared his thoughts on piloted vs. non-piloted reamers.
CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO
February 2nd, 2008
Here’s an early product story from SHOT Show. Glen Seekins of Seekins Precision announced that he is producing a new detachable magazine system for Remingtons. This combines new bottom metal with a fitted magazine. Five sizes are offered: short action .223 (2.5″), short action .308 (2.9″), WSM (3.05″), long/magnum action (3.65″), and .338 Lapua (3.9″). Glen cautions the system may require small alteration of factory BDL inlets. Pillars will be included in the kit.
Seekins hopes to start shipping the first run of magazine systems by mid-February. Retail price is $289.99 with one 5-round magazine. Extra mags will be $59-69 depending on caliber. For now, only 5-round mags are available. 10-round mags will be produced at a later date for most calibers.
January 28th, 2008
In recent years, spray-on finishes have become a popular alternative to traditional blueing for chrome-moly barrels and receivers, plus other gun parts. Spray-on finishes provide excellent rust-proofing, some degree of abrasion resistance, and many of the finishes also provide increased lubricity for moving parts. (Be aware, however, that these finishes go on thin, and the finish can wear through on high-abrasion areas, such as slide rails on pistols.)
Matte spray-on products work well for hunters looking for a dull, non-glossy finish that blends into the background. A bake-on polymer-type finish is a very good choice for a shotgun or rifle used in the winter or in damp environments (such as duck blinds).
Brownells has created a Six-part series of videos that explain, step by step, how to apply a spray-on finish to gun parts. In Parts I & II, Brownells gunsmith Dave Bennetts explains the basics of spray-on finishes, then shows how to properly prep metal parts for finishing.
In the next four videos, Bennetts provides specific application instructions for four different spray-on gun finish products. Bennetts explains the strengths and weaknesses of each product for particular firearm types. Click the links below to watch the specific product videos:
Spray-on Finish – Chapter 3 – Baking Lacquer
Spray-on Finish – Chapter 4 – Gun-Kote
Spray-on Finish – Chapter 5 – Teflon-Moly
Spray-on Finish – Chapter 6 – Aluma-Hyde II
Of the four featured products, Gun-Kote, sold by Brownells under license from KG Industries, offers superior corrosion resistance, and is probably the most popular of the four products for use on rifles. Gun-Kote was originally developed for the military and was first used by Navy SEALS. Gun-Kote is an “oven-cure” finish applied to pre-heated metal. Though it goes on thin, Gun Kote cures to a hard coating that resists abrasion and won’t wear through as easily as bluing or chemically blackened surface treatments. Brownells Gun-Kote is offered in a wide variety of colors, shown below.
January 24th, 2008
Forum member Dan W. (1bamashooter) has a sweet-shooting 22LR that proves just how accurate a 40X-based rifle with an original barrel can be, when fitted in a modern BR stock. Dan notes: “This is a Remington 40X with factory heavy barrel, Hoehn tuner, and 2 oz. Jewell BR trigger. It now has a Weaver 36x scope on it. I bought the rifle and stock from Ron Lewis, an active rimfire BR shooter who has introduced me to the world of rimfire benchrest. Smith Mark Stillwell did the work on the rifle.”
The action is fitted to a handsome 2-lb. Shehane Baby Tracker in black/white Obeche wood laminate. Obeche (pronounced OH-BEE-CHEE) is lighter that most laminates, and we think it exhibits excellent vibration-damping. Experts agree that vibration control is a key factor in rimfire accuracy. The Shehane Baby Tracker is obviously working well for Dan. Shown below is a TEN-shot group at 50 yards with another five-shot group in the upper right. Pretty impressive.
Gunsmith Mark Stillwell told us: “Ron’s match gun started life as a CMP 40X. I slugged the barrel to find the tight spot. At that measured length the barrel was cut-off and re-crowned, followed by fitting and pillar-bedding the Shehane stock. After final grain-fill on the stock, followed by hand polishing, the Duce looked great. It’s now a bag-riding machine. As you see from the target samples, the little fellow tends to shoot ‘em where you point it. We’ve invited several custom gunsmiths and action-makers to test Ron’s 40X. All were pleasantly surprised….”
Bill Shehane, designer and builder of the Shehane Tracker stocks, notes that “Trackers aren’t just for centerfire rifles. We can inlet for most of the rimfire precision actions including 40X, CZ, Hall, Turbo, and UltraLight Arms (ULA). The stock in the photo is a Black and White Checkerboard Obeche. This pattern, along with Red and Black Checkerboard Obeche, are available on a special order basis — it takes about four weeks for delivery on the Checkerboards. Other Obeche patterns, that I keep in inventory, are French Walnut, Patriot, Indian Blanket, and Indian Paint. The Baby Tracker in Obeche, inletted, weighs just under two pounds.”
For rimfire sporter shooters, Bill noted that he has an even lighter-weight sporter stock based on a modified Baby Tracker. It weighs about 1.5 pounds inletted. That’s light enough that “you can definitely make the 7.5-lb weight limit with a 6X scope”, according to Bill. The sporter stock (shown above) has a narrower fore-end with a slight radius on the underside so it complies with all ARA, IR 50/50 and RBA sporter-class rules. It is available with either a swept-back grip like the Baby Tracker or a more conventional drop pistol grip. Bill inlets his rimfire sporter Obeche stock for the three favored sporter-class rimfire actions: Hall Aluminum (with magazine), ULA Sporter, and the Anschutz 5418. Shehane Obeche Rimfire Sporter stocks retail for $495. Obeche Baby Trackers are the same price.
January 21st, 2008
Here’s a remarkable video clip demonstrating state-of-the art CNC production of precision gun parts. In the video, created by STAMA America, an HK pistol gun breech is crafted from bar stock through a totally automated drilling/milling procedure. The breech is made by STAMA’s Model MC 726 MT, a unique five-axis, CNC milling/turning center. The five-axis machine is designed for continuous production of complex parts from bar stock and multiple different parts, including weapon components.
The process shown in the 5-minute video actually takes 50 minutes to craft the breech, starting with a 60mm diameter section of 42 CrMo 4 steel. Amazingly, the 5-axis machine employs 25 separate tools in the operation!
STAMA states that its milling/turning machines “can produce even short runs of complex weapon parts in one operation with superior quality, finish and cost efficiencies. Typically, Model MC 726 MT can result in up to 70% reductions in part processing time, according to current customers.”
CLICK HERE to PLAY 5-minute YouTube VIDEO
January 16th, 2008
There’s a new tool available that should make the gunsmith’s job quite a bit easier. It’s such a logical, clever design, you wonder why somebody didn’t think of it years ago.
Co-Designer Nat Lambeth reports: “The photo shows a new tool called the Lambeth/Kiff Micrometer Adjustable Reamer Stop (Patent Pending). This is a add-on device that controls the depth a reamer can cut. It uses the reamer itself as the micrometer pinion and the barrel tendon face as the anvil. It does not matter where the tail stock or carriage is located, it measures off the reamer. It functions with a floating reamer holder too. These new Micrometer Reamer Stops have 50 indexing marks and will allow for .0005″ adjustments. The gunsmith can preset the Micrometer Adjustable Reamer Stop to about .020″ out and ream without worry. Then re-measure, adjust once, and make the final cut right on the money.”
These tools are available from Dave Kiff at Pacific Tool & Gauge, Nat Lambeth at NLambeth [@] embarqmail.com, and several gunsmith tool suppliers.
January 15th, 2008
Gunsmith Gordy Gritters and Grizzly Industrial have joined forces to produce an excellent DVD on chambering and fitting match barrels. In our Jan. 5 Bulletin, we ran a segment showing Gordy completing the headspacing of the barrel. That video was a bit hit with our readers. Today we offer another segment from the Grizzly DVD. In this clip, you’ll see Gordy dialing in the barrel using a Grizzly G0509G 3-Phase Gunsmith Lathe. Once Gordy finishes that process he’s ready to align the threaded shoulder and pre-drill the chamber.
CLICK HERE to PLAY VIDEO
(8 megabyte file — Quicktime Plug-in Required)
Click HERE for YouTube FLASH Version (Faster Download)
 On the full DVD, available from Grizzly for $59.95, you can see Gordy do the complete job of chambering a barrel from start to finish, including fitting the barrel to a custom action. Gordy gives step by step instructions for all important operations: 1. Dialing in the barrel; 2. Threading the barrel; 3. Aligning the threaded shoulder; 4. Predrilling/preboring the chamber; 5. Reaming the chamber; 6. Checking and setting headspace; 7. Crowning the muzzle; and, 8. Stamping and polishing the barrel
CLICK HERE for more photos from the DVD. The full DVD can be ordered from Grizzly’s Web Site.
January 5th, 2008
Gordy Gritters is a highly-respected benchrest gunsmith who has built many match-winning and record-setting rifles. Gordy has teamed up with Grizzly Industrial to produce a high-quality gunsmithing video on DVD. In the video, Gordy shows how to chamber and headspace a match barrel using a Grizzly G0509G 3-Phase Gunsmith Lathe. Below is a segment from the DVD showing Gordy fine-tuning the headspace as he fits a BAT Machine ‘MB’ action to the barrel. Working with precise indicators, you can see Gordy set the headspace to within a few ten-thousandths of an inch.
CLICK HERE to PLAY VIDEO
(6 megabyte file — Quicktime Plug-in Required)
Click HERE for YouTube FLASH Version (Faster Download)
On the full DVD, available from Grizzly for $59.95, you can see Gordy do the complete job of chambering a barrel from start to finish, including fitting the barrel to a custom action. Gordy gives step by step instructions for all the following operations:
1. Dialing in the barrel
2. Threading the barrel
3. Aligning the threaded shoulder
4. Predrilling/preboring the chamber
5. Reaming the chamber
6. Checking and setting headspace
7. Crowning the muzzle
8. Stamping and polishing the barrel
CLICK HERE for more photos from the DVD. The full DVD can be ordered from Grizzly’s Web Site.
January 2nd, 2008
 So what does a “worn-out” barrel really look like? Tom Myers answered that question when he removed a 6.5-284 barrel and cut it down the middle to reveal throat wear. As you can see, there is a gap of about 5mm before the lands begin and you can see how the lands have thinned at the ends. (Note: even in a new barrel, there would be a section of freebore, so not all the 5mm gap represents wear.) There is actually just about 2mm of lands worn away. Tom notes: “Since I started out, I’ve chased the lands, moving out the seating depth .086″ (2.18 mm). I always seat to touch. My final touch dimension was 2.440″ with a Stoney Point .26 cal collet.”
Except for the 2mm of wear, the rifling otherwise looks decent, suggesting that setting back and rechambering this barrel could extend its useful life. Tom reports: “This was something I just thought I’d share if anyone was interested. I recently had to re-barrel my favorite prone rifle after its scores at 1,000 started to slip. I only ever shot Sierra 142gr MatchKings with VV N165 out of this barrel. It is a Hart and of course is button-rifled. I documented every round through the gun and got 2,300 over 4 years. Since I have the facilities, I used wire EDM (Electro Discharge Machining) to section the shot-out barrel in half. It was in amazingly good shape upon close inspection.”
Tom could have had this barrel set back, but he observed, “Lately I have had to increase powder charge to maintain 2,950 fps muzzle velocity. So to set it back would have only increased that problem. [And] I had a brand new 30″ Krieger all ready to screw on. I figured it was unlikely I’d get another full season on the old barrel, so I took it off.”
January 1st, 2008
Dave Kiff of Pacific, Tool & Gauge (PT&G) has been making complete replacement bolts for Remington 700 actions for quite some time, but many of our readers may not be aware of this PT&G product. Why would one need a replacement bolt? First, this allows you to have different bolt-face sizes for the same action. For example, with two bolts you could shoot both a .308 Win and a 300 WSM from the same action. Second, the PT&G bolts are precision machined to the internal dimensions of your action. If you are having your Rem 700 action blue-printed (accurized) by a gunsmith, a new bolt from PT&G completes the job perfectly, and will give you a more precise-fitting bolt with less internal slop.
As Vince Bottomley explains, it may actually be more cost-effective to purchase a new bolt, rather than have your existing bolt milled and machined in the blue-printing process: “Accurizing a Rem 700 action is not a simple or cheap process. A lot of the work will be to the bolt itself — truing the lugs, skimming the bolt-face, fitting a Sako style extractor, new bolt-knob and maybe a new firing-pin. Even then, unless you have the bolt sleeved, it will rattle like the old clunker it probably is! Don’t waste your money! Go for one of the replacement bolts from Pacfic Tool & Gauge. PT&G offers a new bolt complete with new bolt-handle, firing pin, spring etc and the bolts come in different diameters so that you can get one to exactly fit your Remington action. This of course requires some accurate measuring, so it’s best to get your gunsmith to order the bolt. They are [a great] value and will cost a lot less than up-grading your existing bolt.”
Rem 700 replacement bolts start at about $125.00 for the bolt body only (complete bolts are also offered). PT&G bolts are available with either a standard Remington extractor or a Sako-style extractor, with .223, PPC, .308, or magnum bolt faces. The tolerances rival that of the bolts found in custom actions. You can order direct from PT&G in Oregon, (541) 826-5808, or you can purchase through vendors such as MidwayUSA.com, (bodies only, search for “PTG Bolt Body”). If you want a custom spec bolt, it’s probably best to have your gunsmith deal directly with Dave Kiff at Pacific Tool.
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