getting started

[flatlander]

I am thinking of getting started doing some of my own gunsmithing. What books or other resources would you recommend? I have an old beater swede that isn't much use as it is right now (it's a long story) so I don't feel bad about using it for some practice. I'm planning on setting it in a new stock, chopping and recrowning the barrel, bending the bolt and changing over the safety, and drill and tapping for scope mounts. I might also go ahead and bed it as well. I hoping to have a decent hunting gun when I'm done. I'm definitely not demanding sub-moa. Just enough accuracy for deer at the rifle's effective range but if it shoots tighter, that's even better.  Any suggestions? Thanks.

[John Traveler]

The National Rifle Association is a wonderful source of info for your gunsmithing project.  They have a large assortment of pamphets and manuals specializing in your models of interest (military mauser, Lee-Enfields, etc).  Try writing them for an availablity list.

Most of the larger gun shows will also have these manuals and books, as well as some of the better-known volumes by by Baker, P.O. Ackley, Carmichael, Nonte, etc.

Your local sporting goods store or large bookstore chain should have, or can order for you, the paper-back volumes of BDI (Digest Books, Inc) that are general gunsmithing references and specific sporterizing references for your mauser.

I started with M93 Spanish mausers and gravitated towards M98 mausers of every description.

Best of luck in your project, and above all, have fun!

John

[springer222]

The Mauser Bolt Actions - A Shop Manual by Jerry Kuhnhausen

[gunnut69]

There are many books you really need...  'The Modern Gunsmith' by Howe, 'Professional Stockmaking' by David L. Wesbrook, 'Gunsmithing Tips and Projects' by David Wolfe. The list sould go on almost forever.  You must have the 'Gunsmithing Kinks' books (Vol. I,II,III,IV). They contain the solutions to many of the problems a gunsmith will face. Later when the stockmaking bug is well evtrenched, 'Checkering and Carving Gunstocks' by Monte Kennedy. Not just for Kennedy's writing but the old master stock makers that contributed to the book, tom Shellhammer was a favorite as was Len Brownell. Finally get a copy of the Brownells catalog. Not cheap but some things found almost no where else.. and some very specific tooling and materials.  There'll be more I'm well on my way to a filling a third bookcase and sometimes feel really lacking. Beware of a gunsmith who doesn't have a bookcase or two, full!!  good luck!

Just as an aside, I've used several of the M96 Swedes as the basis for sporters. I don't believe I'd rebarrel to high pressure rounds but just left as swedes they are amazingly accurate andmake really nice light sporters. I'm about to build one for my son with all the bells and whistles and I'm sure it'll shoot wonderfully.

And of course you're always welcome here if you've a problem and need help or just to show of your project..

[flatlander]

Thanks. I'm definately going to leave it as a 6.5x55. I just need to get the barrel shortened (the 10" at the muzzle has corroded) and put it into a new stock. That should let me see how it will shoot. Hopefully it will be usable. If not, I haven't really lost anything since it was part of a trade and I've got my original $ back after selling off the other stuff.

[gunnut69]

The ones I've sporterized all had great bores.  If yours doesn't shoot original military barrels are available relatively inexpensively and can be fairly easily installed.  They are usually short chambered and so would require a reamer as well as headspace guages to install but that cost can be amortized over many years of use or the tools can simply be rented.  Good luck a keep us informed of you progress..

[rodgervich]

Mausers are great starter guns. The books mentioned above are necessary, and any other gunsmithing books you can find. I have an older "NRA Gunsmithing Guide-Updated" book (updated in the late '70s I think) and a book called "Hobby Gunsmithing", it is an excellent book for beginners. I'm still a novice but both of these books, plus "Gunsmithing Kinks I" and the Kuhnhausen item have gotten me instructed well enough to do what I am capable and know what I am NOT qualified for.
I started with an old Romanian .22lr training rifle and did a polish/re-blue (cold blue) on all the steel parts, refinished and recontoured the stock, installed an old cheap recoil pad and glass bedded the action. All of this is pretty safe and more work that I thought it would be! Turned out great though. I have done some other work, mostly .22lr and small caliber items, but I am working on a Mauser right now that is pretty involved (for me, a novice). Get all the books you can and read them a dozen times before you turn a screw. I would disassemble, clean and reassemble the whole thing to firing condition, at least once, before disassembling for modification.
The link below is a page that a fellow has posted of his Mauser projects, some inexpensive and clever work, check it out for ideas!

http://www272.pair.com/stevewag/
and my page  http://webpages.charter.net/Rodgervich/Paul/paulindex.htm

Have fun and be safe.