My trade rifle nears completion...

[Claven2]

Not ure if any of you guys have been over to my build thread on MSC, but my trade rifle is nearing completion. Still some work to fab up a ramrod, finish polish and brown my parts, bu on the whole, coming along very nicely IMHO

h t t p://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=24744&page=1

 

[mrclean89]

wow awesome, when i get back from gunsmith school next year i want to build these.

great work

mclean

 

[fugawi]

That's quite the impressive build you've got there Ron, Congrats!

Pretty soon you'll be rammin' the ramin.

 

[Waterloomike]

That is a great tutorial.

What is the problem with zinc? I see you burned zinc off a screw(?) with muriatic acid.

 

[Claven2]

Zinc is fine for a normal screw in a cabinet or whatever, but on a rifle you can't brown or blue zinc. So you burn it off so that it will take finish

 

[Waterloomike]

Ah, I see. Thanks for responding.

Your mill is impressive looking. How long have you been using a mill? Is the language to use the cnc difficult to learn? What's a mill like that worth?

I've given thought to building a fowler. I think a mill would simplify matters by a great deal.

 

[Claven2]

I think I paid about $3K for the mill plus another $1K in upgrades like DRO. G-code isn't that tough to learn if you have a use for it. Sadly, my mill is NOT CNC - though with oodles of effort it could probably be converted, but I have no need of that capability.

For most basic smithing, a lathe and mill are HUGE enablers.

 

[Waterloomike]

Is that price new?

I watch a lot of auction notices. Often lathes are available. I'm guessing being in the right place at the right time would get one a pretty good deal on a pretty good mill.

What's DRO?

 

[Claven2]

DRO = digital readout, in my case, 3 axis DRO with programmable controls. The mill itself was about $3K on sale from Busy Bee tools, new. It's a 6x26" knee mill.

 

[Skinny 1950]

Claven 2 you are doing a fine job on that rifle and the wood is gorgeous. I also like the steel hardware... a refreshing change from the usual brass.
I built a CVA kit and had fun doing it but your project is in a whole different class.
Are you going to post a range or field report when it's ready???

 

[Claven2]

I hope to, but admittedly progress is slow amid all my other commitments

 

[Waterloomike]

Understood.

Let us hear when you have an update.

Thanks!

 

[Claven2]

If you check back to the MSC thread now, the build is completed I'm happy with how it turned out

 

[Waterloomike]

You Sir, are a highly skilled craftsman.



That is one beautiful piece of work.

Let us know how it shoots.