Adventures in stripper clip guide removal.

.223Rem

.223Rem

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Ontario, K-W area.
After work today, I decided to fiddle with my M-14 for a bit. I tested the fit in my USGI stock, and after that worked without a hitch I thought I'd try my luck at removing the stripper clip guide.

Well, I got it off but it was something of an adventure.

First off, for anyone who hasn't done this yet: finishing nails look like they'll be the perfect size to use as a punch- and yes they are but be warned: a spring pins are hollow and I
hammered a nail inside of the damn thing :p

IMG_3795.jpg


It didn't move the pin at all and just made it way tighter lol. (I was using a screw head on top of the nail head to make it long enough to hit). This was after bending a bunch of nails
trying it different ways.

The head of the nail, I knew wouldn't have this problem but I couldn't find a way to extend it so I could reach it with my hammer. At thiss point I wasn't giving up simply because I
live in an apartment and have no real workshop. I was determined to get the damn thing out with the tools I had at hand...

This is what finally worked...

IMG_3789.jpg


And worked damn well I might add! :D

The moral of the story is, buy a $4 punch from the hardware store kids. Hope you can have a laugh at my miss-adventures!!
 
funny, mine came out with finishing nail- but mine was somewhat shorter than yours and i HIT IT SQUARE- some of those are GLANCING BLOWS- 1 inch and i went from the top down, with the bolt removed- just enough to allow a set of visegrips to grab the end of the pin, then pulled straight out from there- i also GROUND OFF THE TIP so it matched the roll pin exactly
 
I believe you are supposed to drive the pin from the top (the guide) into the rifle. I used a drill bit that promptly broke and ended up having to chaise the roll pin and the broken bit out using another drill bit. Boy was I panicked. Removing the guide from the dove was another challenge. Is was wedged on there real tight. So tight, that I have never replaced the roll pin since re-installing the guide. Gave up on scoping, will stick with the irons.

Live and Learn eh.
 
If removing the stripper guide is an adventure.. i wil lump it into the same adventure category as brushing my teeth.. or playing with my balls..

seriously.. drift the roll pin out from the top down.. drift the guide out towards the charging handle side ..

done
 
Another hint, remove the bolt from the receiver before you start to drift the pin down from the top. Hint, definitely do not retract the bolt to the rear, lock it there and then try to tap the pin down from the top.

Do not ask me how I know this is a recipe for disaster, but I can conclusively say it is such. At least make sure you have a dead blow hammer handy.
 
Thanks to all of you for sharing (quite openly, I must add) your mistakes and then lessons learned. And that's why I'm further ahead on the learning curve than many of you. I too, started out with a variety of nails and 25 years later, I've since bought (and broken) many, many punches from Brownells. :evil:

Here's to learning by experience! :cheers:

Barney
 
I sawed off an allen key to use as a punch. Today I found out that was the one I needed to adjust my 870 express deer barrel 2 days before I go hunting. It's only shooting slugs about 5 inches high at 25y, what's the worst that can happen right? At least it'll be zero at 100!
 
I used a finishing nail head first, light taps, came out easily.... problem I had was getting the sucker off... they are tapered but mine was on there dam good.
 
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