Smith or handy gun repair guy wannabe

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ShawnRich

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Hi

I picked up some projects this week. One is a Remington 525 that needs a bolt. I posted an ad on the exchange but wondering how one would go about making a bolt? I have a small lathe and milling machine, but personally, am just a hobbyist. It does sound like I have nothing to lose though by trying, and a whole bunch to learn.

Would you need an original to take measurements? Reverse engineering?
Are plans available for bolts?
Is it special steel that is hard to get?

Just kind of wondering what you experience Smiths would do? My drive comes from an interest to learn how to refurbish rifles. I don't actually have an interest in accumulating them. I know that might be weird on this site. I have a well equipped shop and have just retired and want to use my shop for something interesting, and guns are it. And I hear we need people to have that skill set so these projects are ideal. Gotta start somewhere.

Any input or info would be great.

Thanks
Shawno
 
Making such a bolt would be a possible but challenging project.
Doubt that you would find machinist's drawings anywhere. A 'net search should produce a schematic diagram.
Copy one or reverse engineer.
An clean machining mild steel would work. Areas subject to wear could be case hardened.
 
tiriaq said:
Making such a bolt would be a possible but challenging project.
Doubt that you would find machinist's drawings anywhere. A 'net search should produce a schematic diagram.
Copy one or reverse engineer.
An clean machining mild steel would work. Areas subject to wear could be case hardened.
Click to expand...

Thanks Tiriaq. I did find a parts diagram of the whole rifle on the numrich site and they show a bolt, but no stock. And they won't ship to Canada anyways. I will try to find one locally that I can use as an example.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/493460B
 
As per tiriaq above, it's not really rocket surgery or brain science. :)

But it would be a lot of careful work.

The path of least resistance is to find one, and like as not, they will be out there. Personally, I would choose something like 4140 or a similar Chrome-Moly steel in a "pre-hard" condition, which is already been heat treated to a hardness harder than fully soft, but not so hard that it cannot cut well.
Get at a sheet of paper and make a rally ugly sketch of the shapes needed, and start measuring off the action, to come up with some suitable dimensions to use.
The odd internal feature than cannot be directly measured, you can use modelling clay or such, to take an impression, and use a caliper and a magnifier to carefully pull off measurements.

Then make a 'nice' drawing with the dimensions you actually wish you use, including some tolerances, as you feel are appropriate.

Not a super complicated job, and each cutting operation is pretty simple, but you will need to have a pretty solid idea of the series of simple operations that will need to be strung together to end up with a positive result.
 
CIL marketed a very similar rifle that they called the model 171 and the bolts should be interchangeable and a darned sight easier to locate. I happen to have a Remington 525 if you need a picture of the bolt for your search references. David.
 
Sorry, I would prefer TV over making a bolt for a 525.

But that is my choice... The op can certainly give it a go... he may get tired of it down the road... maybe not...
 
7WGkSu6.jpg


thats what they look like
 
I have built a lot of stuff in the winters that made no damn sense time /money wise, but it was fun, but I don't know about this one.
 
Thanks for the photo BigBubba.

If Numrich had a bolt available, I would just buy one. Or if I can find one, I will do that. But I like finding projects for the lathe that interest me. I am still very much an amateur so look for projects that will be practical or interesting (or needed is the best reason, of course). So that is a large part of pursuing the possibility of making one. It would be one of my most challenging projects to date. (And honestly, without input, out of my league) The gun is not worth much but will be a great opportunity to learn many facets of this hobby. In the lot of guns I got was this one, 3 Winchester 3030's, a 12 gauge and a whack of pellet guns, most in rough shape. I figure the 22 is a good starting point.

This guy was rough on his stuff. A stock duplicator got added to the "tools to build" project list too! ;) I think every stock has cracks in it! I will start threads for each one probably, as I get to them. Hoping those with more experience can kind of guide me along and watch the process. I know there is a vast amount of experience in the membership here and appreciate being able to participate in the group. And I think a lot of members like to see what others are doing.

So, in short, is the gun worth the time and effort? No. I am guessing in decent shape, maybe $200 if I am lucky? Is the experience and opportunity to get better at machining worth it? And all of the other steps I will need to do to make this rifle something I am happy with? For me, yes, absolutely. And I would rather make chips or sawdust than sit on the couch. I just fall asleep there.

I hope that does not sound snarky. I did not intend for that. I appreciate all of the input! Thanks guys!

Cheers,
Shawn
 
There are many parts in the bolt assembly. Scratch building one would be an interesting challenge. Meeting the challenge would be the only reason to attempt such a project. Makes no sense from a practical standpoint.
Put an ad in the EE for a bolt. You might get lucky.
Call Western Gun Parts; they might have a bolt.
 
tiriaq said:
Scratch building one would be an interesting challenge. Meeting the challenge would be the only reason to attempt such a project. Makes no sense from a practical standpoint.
Put an ad in the EE for a bolt. You might get lucky.
Call Western Gun Parts; they might have a bolt.
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree
I emailed them. Nope. Yes, have the ad in EE

Thanks
 
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