gunsmithing books?

[bluebayou]

Can anyone point me in to some decent gunsmithing books?

I bought "Gunsmithing Made Easy" by Bryce Towsley as it had good basic info and was cheap.

Does anyone have any recommendations?  Are there any textbooks?  I understand that experience with machine work is desirable, as is a real shop.  But what about for the casual DIY kind of guy?

I see some books by a Roy Dunlap and Gunsmithing at Home:Lock Stock Barrel by Traister.........if anyone has some input then please let me know. 

I am on a budget but would like a decent book on gunsmithing.  Not "how to install a recoil pad" like the Towsley book, but more like "how to remove silver solder parts" and "how to stone an action". 

[Rangr44]

Respectfully, I have two words for you, if you actually intend to do gun work: Baby steps.

If you're at the point where you need gunsmithing instructions, a "casual DIY kind of guy", it's not a good idea to jump right into advanced areas of gun work, where errors are potentially lethal - like stoning action or trigger parts, etc.

It's one thing, and sometimes pleasurable, to read about it - books give folks empowerment -  but quite another to be able to actually do it correctly on your own, sans mentor.

[Nobade]

It really does depend on what you'd like to do. Dunlap's books are great as an overview, including how to set up a shop and general work. For specific things you might look elsewhere, such as if you want to learn how to deal with silver solder you may want to look to welding textbooks and others related to the job at hand. As for action stoning, you run into two things. One is, if you are a good mechanic i.e. able to look at a mechanical assembly and see how it works then you don't need any book. Or if you are doing something specific like maybe a 1911, then books like Kunhausen's are top notch because he will point out things that you maybe hadn't though of as to how it all fits together. As you will see, there are many things that are relatively universal - finishing wood or polishing metal. Other things are specific to the job at hand, so it really does depend on what you want to do.

Given that you probably don't want to set up things like a bluing room or sandblaster or machine tools at your home, you are somewhat limited in the scope of what you are equipped to tackle. But there are lots of satisfying home projects that can be done still, like stock work or epoxy bedding that don't require more than hand tools and a good well lighted work bench.

[Jim See]

If your on a budget, I would say try some gun shows. I have always found many old tattered books for a buck or two. They may be a little dated but they will get you started and help you determine if it's something you want to tackle.

[navylawdog]

If you are really serious about doing this you can take some courses from education direct or PCDI. You can make very manageable monthly payments and they send you all the books for you to keep. They also send you other information on starting your own business and things like that. I took the education direct course and it was good but a friend of mine took the PCDI course and I think it was a better course because it gets even more specific. They even get down to make and model type specific. For example they have a course on nothing but the Marlin model 336. Even if you do take a course or read a book I would advise getting some hands on training from a professional.

Navylawdog

[gunnut69]

For wood working especially stock checkering- Monte Kennedy's book, 'Checkering and Carving Gunstocks' is great.. The NRA books are also interesting and usually quite cheap on EBay. Reference books are always needed. I once heard it said to never trust a gunsmith without a large reference library.. Brownells catalogs and catalogs from parts suppliers such as GunParts also contain parts diagrams which may be all there is on some of the older weapons. And of course you can alays ask here if there is any doubt?? The most difficult part is knowing your own limits..

[bluebayou]

Thanks for all of the, um, "cautious" opinions.  LOL

I didn't know about PCDI.  I will take a look at them. 

That is a good suggestion about gunshows.  I didn't think of that.  Ebay has nothing, Amazon Marketplace and Half.com (from Ebay) have quite a bit, but I don't want to spend on books that I haven't looked at or had endorsed.

My plans are for parkerizing tanks, sandblasting box, general woodworking bench. 

I am competent with woodworking.  I have neurological issues so I can't do checkering I don't think.  If I have a jig or a vise for stoning then I am fine, but I can't hold steady enough for detail work. 

I appreciate the cautions, but I taught myself to handload and to work on cars without a mentor.  I figure that I will indeed go slowly.

If no one has any good book opinions then I will try elsewhere.  Thanks, Nobade.  I will keep eye out for metalworking books too.

[navylawdog]

Blue,

Sorry I wasn't able to help you out more. I have a bunch of gunsmithing books but none of them are at my current location and I don't remember what the names of the books I have are at the moment. I hope you have some luck in your search though.

Navylawdog

[cap187]

You might want to check out the American Gunsmithing Institute armorer videos.  Lots of good information. 

They're available for rent in DVD format from:

http://smartflix.com

They're a little expensive to rent, but a lot cheaper than buying them.

[koginam]

Brownell's has several if you look at their catalog you can check used book sites to find them cheaper.  this is one that is very useful if you want to blueprint actions, it includes fixtures as well.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=6915&title=THE%20COMPLETE%20ILLUSTRATED%20GUIDE%20TO%20PRECISION%20RIFLE%20BARREL%20FITTING

[bluebayou]

Hey, that's cool.  Between my brother, the machinist, and I then that will help.  I will look for that book, koginam.

Thanks