I use both styles of wrenches. When pulling down a Lee Enfield, internal wrenches just don't work. 1888 Commission Rifles, 1889,91,93,94,95,96 all require a different internal wrench.
The wrench Gunrunner8 makes up covers a pretty wide spectrum. For most people it likely covers anything they will ever do.
If you need one for the other actions I mentioned, it wouldn't take him long to reduce the profiles enough to make one up.
Guntech is right about collapsing the receiver ring with an outside wrench. Last year, I picked up two Swede 96s and a 95 Mauser that the person taking the rifles apart, had used an action wrench made up from a roller chain with added rollers, that tighten around the receiver on the round ring. There were roll dents all the way around.
One of the Lee Enfields I was going to re barrel last fall, had what appeared to be seized threads. I didn't apply much torque but small flats on the bottom are quite soft and collapsed beyond repair. The wrench I have for this is made up for a fairly snug fit, with brass shims and fits the contours of the receiver all the way around. When I finally relief cut the barrel, it quickly became obvious that a shim had been used to get correct alignment. The barrel and receiver were toast anyway but I still had to find out why it was so darned tight.
One other thing about outside action wrenches, if they don't fit properly, even with brass shims, they can and do slip, causing all sorts of problems. That being said, if you take your time to do it right, they usually work quite well.
The wrench Gunrunner8 makes up covers a pretty wide spectrum. For most people it likely covers anything they will ever do.
If you need one for the other actions I mentioned, it wouldn't take him long to reduce the profiles enough to make one up.
Guntech is right about collapsing the receiver ring with an outside wrench. Last year, I picked up two Swede 96s and a 95 Mauser that the person taking the rifles apart, had used an action wrench made up from a roller chain with added rollers, that tighten around the receiver on the round ring. There were roll dents all the way around.
One of the Lee Enfields I was going to re barrel last fall, had what appeared to be seized threads. I didn't apply much torque but small flats on the bottom are quite soft and collapsed beyond repair. The wrench I have for this is made up for a fairly snug fit, with brass shims and fits the contours of the receiver all the way around. When I finally relief cut the barrel, it quickly became obvious that a shim had been used to get correct alignment. The barrel and receiver were toast anyway but I still had to find out why it was so darned tight.
One other thing about outside action wrenches, if they don't fit properly, even with brass shims, they can and do slip, causing all sorts of problems. That being said, if you take your time to do it right, they usually work quite well.
