Sporterizing/Modernizing/Improving your Milsurp

[TrenchMud]

I know this is probably going to get some Growls and Grumbles but I know most of us here
have a Milsurp that just isn't exactly what we want! Mine is a Turkish Mauser that shoots great
but is really not a good hunting rifle for more reasons than one. One is the sights, Fine for targets but terrible in the woods. Another is the cosmoline saturated wood. That smell is not coming out,
I do not care what you do to it, game is going to know right where you are from the stench!
I am about to make this rifle evolve into something else slightly different. I can do all the work myself
so all it will cost me other than a Synthetic stock is some time. I have another Mauser ( a 7mm Chilean) that has a bulged barrel. Instead of re-barreling, It is going to be shortened and made into
something resembling one of the Remington XP 100 pistols. (I will keep the original stock though).
Most rifles I would not do this to, But The Turk is so plentiful that I do not think the value will increase that much anyway. (not in my lifetime that is)... I know most of us here secretly want to do something like this ! Come on folks, You can admit it. If you have already, lets see some pics
of your new creations.

[R.W.Dale]

Instead of re-barreling, It is going to be shortened and made into
something resembling one of the Remington XP 100 pistols. (I will keep the original stock though).

 What you propose is highly illegal for you to do and can land you in some very hot water with the ATF

Another is the cosmoline saturated wood. That smell is not coming out,
I do not care what you do to it, game is going to know right where you are from the stench!

 Place the stock in an old junk car for the hottest week of the year. All of that nasty crap will come oozing out of the pores in the wood. I've also heard of using a dishwasher.

 Besides the game is always going to know where you are if they're down wind from you. Contrary to what advertisments on The Outdoor Channel say, game can ALWAYS smell you.

[jack19512]

I have no problem doing this to a rifle that doesn't have that much value and probably won't.  A lot of these mil-surplus rifles have way more value as shooters than collectibles.  Here are just a couple of mine.

My Mosin Nagant M38


My Swiss K31


My pre 1893 Turkish Mauser


My Mosin Nagant 91/30

[Slamfire]

Sporterizing and modernizing are perfectly ok, but improving is something that has eluded firearms designers for more than 100 years. 

[S.S.]

I have been told that these types of modifications are illegal (Rifle to pistol) but I can not find the specifics ? I was wanting to do something similar to this but 10 years or a 10,000 dollar fine (or both)
kind of persuaded me not to. If anyone knows the specific wording of the law, do tell where it can be found.

[totallycustom]

You are correct a rifle cannot be made into a pistol.  If you want specifics talk to the atf but what you are essentiall making is a short barreld rifle or SBR for short. It requires a tax stamp and some paper work.

-TC-

[rockbilly]

To get the grease/oil out of old military wood (or any wood for that matter), I acquired a 8 inch dia. PVC pipe, 5 feet long.   I bought a cap and glued it on one end, and a screw cap on the other.  The opening is still eight inches.  To degrease, I remove the wood from the gun, place it in the tube, fill the tube with dry cleaning fluid (or varasoil) and let it soak for several days.  Remove the wood, dry it as much as possible, then set it up and let it air dry for several days.  Most of the time one soaking will get all of the oil out of the stock.  If necessary, repeate the process.  This also works great for the action to remove all the crud that has accumulated over the years as well as the cosmo and grease from depot storage.

The smell from the dry cleaning fluid will disapate after a few days, and you will not be able to detect it.

[DWTim]

I've used a heat gun to sweat out grease from wood (and melt it off the metal). It works in a hurry, but it will also remove the top of the finish.

[Lost Okie]

To remove the oils in my Swede stock I soaked the stock in the bathtub using HOT water and TSP soap powder.  Since I planned on cutting the stock down the minor warpage I got on the end did not bother me.  I did this twice and then cleaned the tub just to keep peace in the house.  After drying, I milled (using drill press and end mill) a flat spot behind the trigger guard, added a block of wood, shaped into a pistol grip then did the same on the back of the stock to raise it up.  After that I soaked the stock with diluted Formby's tung oil.  When that dried I use Krylon gray primer, then created a rough finish on the pistol grip and forearm using Plasti-Kote's "Flec-Stone.  Then using paint pens, created my camo, then put two coats of clear satin finish on.  Hopefully the pic will work.  Considering I live in an apartment, not too shabby. 

https://www.gboreloaded.com/mhp/images/LostOkie66/swedewithcamostock.jpg

[cetme]

a rifle must have a 16" barrel and 26" over all length. If you go shorter you have to register it as a short bbl rifle. Your better of getting a new bbl from SARCO and keeping it close to stock condition or re-barrel to a new cartrige.