need educating

[woodchopper]

I'm thinking of building a receiver. Not that I need another project but I like to have a challenge.

Now what I'm thinking is something fairly simple, falling block, like the Savage 44 1/2, or Ballard falling block, and there are several other fairly simple falling blocks out there.

I would think that I would look at chambering it in something sane 32-20, 25-20, 38 special, levels (it will depend on what barrel I end up with)

what I'm lacking is a good understanding of metallurgy and choosing an appropriate steel to use based on its machinability and how easy it is to harden.

So I’m looking for some guidance, or point me in the right direction.

 

[SkytopBrewster]

Try the Homegunsmith forums, amazing what some of those guys have built from scratch.

 

[superted]

4140 steel is commonly used in 1911 pistol recievers - good machining qualities and readily available. Machining manuals would give you the specifics on its hardening qualities. The calibers you indicated are not really high pressure and I know of guys that have successfully converted single shot Cooey shotguns into those calibers by installing barrel liners on bushings into the 12 ga "bore". There's lots of info on the Internet for a project like yours AND there is at least one CGN currently in the process of building a falling block rifle using those smaller calibers. Do some rooting around on Google for ideas and probably even plans. All these suggestions are based on the assumption you are comfortable running a milling machine...? Good luck.

 

[woodchopper]

I've used lathes, millingmachines, and shapers so no problems with that aspect of the project.

I did a search and did not find any threads on building a falling block here.

 

[superted]

Just read your post again. If you went for a Winchester 1892 barrel in 32-20 or 25-20 - I have the drill and tap to use in the reciever AND a round 1892 barrel with a 25-20 chrome barrel liner ready to be loctited in place, cut and chambered (also have the 25-20 chamber reamer). Stuff has been sitting on my shelf for a long time and could be wrestled outta my hands without too much of a fight ...

 

[fish_e_o]

they make barrels out of 4140 i think you'll be fine with that

 

[saskbooknut]

Frank de Haas designed several different falling block type actions for home machinists, and some were in a book he published - Mr. Single Shot's Book of Rifle Plans. contact Mark DeHaas at (660) 872-6308.
There are also action designs in Home Shop Machinist and/ or Model Engineer magazine.

 

[Blastattack]

Make sure that 4140 is heat treated. You want 26-30 Rockwell C (Rc), not the soft annealed 18-22Rc.

 

[coyote]

^^ like Blastattack said get the steel in the hardness range you need , for a falling block receiver many have used prehardened 26-32RC 4140 with great success.
Getting the higher end of the scale would be a plus imo, if at all possible try and get some resulphured 4140 it machines really nice.

I make barrels and use lots of 4140 and it machines nicely and gives a good surface finish this is the resulphured stuff though.
Seeing you are in Edmonton I think it will be easy for you to find some good luck.

About 15 years ago I bough frank Dehauss book on single shot actions it has good information in there on the kinds of steels to use for the different parts , trigger groups and such along with springs pins and such, worth every penny I think.

 

[jomarz]

I have made several falling blocks from Frank De Haus's plans 2 vaultlock actions one in 6mm benchrest and one in .308 I also built 2 of his Chicopee models one in 30/30 and one in 22rf.Here's a few pics.

This one is the .308

 

[fingers284]

Outstanding job!!!!