Looking for a 6 48 tap and 31 drill

Woodsman

Woodsman

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I'm putting on a scout mount on a pre64 Winchester 94 that has no scope mounts holes. The kit I received has two screws requiring a 6 48 tap. I went to a tooling store and the fellow had 6 32 and 6 40 taps, but not 6 48. He said it was extremely rare and inquired about ordering one but the price was ridiculous.

Any suggestions where can I buy this tap and drill?

My other solution is to get two new 6 40 bolts and go with a 6 40 tap, but I presume a 6 48 holds better due to it's finer thread.
 
Every gunsmith I know has a few 6 x 48 taps as it is the most common thread size in most rifles. It is a National Special thread size. Why don't you have your friendly gunsmith do the job, it doesn't cost much.
 
The tap ordered from KBC Tool will run you $13.46 and a #31 (.120) drill $2.75. But, do you really want to mess with this? It’s not as easy as it looks and
"your friendly" gunsmith is a much better option:D
 
How are you supposed to learn if you never try? The guy just wants to drill and tap a few holes. It isn't rocket surgery.

BB
 
I like doing my own stuff when possible, too, but that partic. tapping job is a bit dodgy.

The barrel and action need to be levelled and held firmly on v-blocks on the table of the drill press or milling machine and the holes spaced and drilled EXACTLY right, as well as at TDC (Top Dead Centre). You will also need a jig of some sort (like the B-Square) for making sure the tap goes in straight, or else use a piloted tap handle with the pilot held in the jaws of the chuck. (B-Square makes a very expensive one - around $60 US but Busy Bee Tools has them for less than $20 Cdn.)

In addition, since the holes for a scout mount are drilled into the barrel and are therefore "blind", this makes controlling the hole depth critical (to put it mildly!) You will also need a plug and/or bottom tap to get the threads to the bottom of the hole, rather than a taper tap. (You can make a plug or bottom tap by carefully grinding the taper off a taper tap, though.)

Easy for a gunsmith with all the right tools but a bit scary for the rest of us who may not be so well set up.

Brownells has excellent inexpensive taps but the export documents charge and shipping to Canada negates this, unless you have a US post box to ship to. I think KBC has a $25 min. order but you could probably find a few other things you can't live without on their website :D Taylor Tools may charge you an arm and a leg (and possibly a few vital organs) as I believe they make up such things from scratch.

I may have the same project coming up, puttng a good rear sight on my BSA-sporterized P-14 and I'm having some serious doubts about trying it myself.

If you decide to go for it, I'd strongly suggest practicing on a scrap barrel first! As the SAS motto says, "Who dares, wins"... but only if they get it right!

:) Stuart
 
If it really is a pre-64, drilling and tapping it will drop its value. However, if you insist, listen to guntech and have a smithy do it.
 
Got her done! My dad had some metric screws and a tap and drill. Worked real well with both of us looking and keeping things straight. We're both very mechanically inclined and have hands and eyes of a surgeon.

I'll post some pics later when I get a scope or red dot for it.
 
Woodsman said:
Got her done! My dad had some metric screws and a tap and drill. Worked real well with both of us looking and keeping things straight.
Click to expand...
Congratulations! :dancingbanana: Next project: rebore to .35 Whelen using grandad's brace and bit...:p
We're both very mechanically inclined and have hands and eyes of a surgeon
Click to expand...
Maybe I should talk to you about my gall bladder problem... :eek:

:) Stuart
 
skit said:
brownells has everything you need and will send them no problem. there is no restrictions on tooling.
Click to expand...
True, but their shipping charges to Canada include charges for export documentation (unless you have a US post box) which will make a small order for a few taps pretty pricey. (According to their catalogue: "Parcel Post to Canada, by air, not over 1 lb: $14.00. Surface: $16.00" ) Western Gun Parts in Edmonton carry the Williams tap & drill sets and will probably be less expensive in the long run.

:) Stuart
 
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