Ithaca 51 magazine tube repair

[greer]

I have an Ithaca 51 semi auto shotgun the shop that has been having problems feeding shells from the magazine. I finally noticed that the magazine tube had come out of the reciever about 1/8". I tapped it back in and fired a round and it  moved back out. I then put the reciever in a padded vice and pulled the mag tube out. It looks to have been soldered in. I'm not sure if it was silver soldered or not. The tube goes into the reciever about 3/4". I need to figure out how to get the tube reattached to the reciever and whether soft solder would work or not. The blueing is in good shape and I'm sure silver soldering would discolor the area. It would be great if there was an epoxy that would work but I doubt it as there is a pretty good pulse driving forward that acts on the mag tube when the gun is fired. If anyone out there has had any experience with this I would appreaciate some advice. Thanks alot.   greer

[gunnut69]

greer I don't know what the original solder was but soft solder should work fine. I'd use Force44 from Brownells High-Force 44 silver bearing solder. It flows at 475 degrees and should not danage the bluing if the flux is kept off it. Since you would be sweating the mag tube in place that should be do-able. Remember with any soldering job, surface preperation is where its at.

[greer]

Thanks alot for the reply. I'll sure give it a try. I have never done much soldering other than soft soldering wires and such.  I suppose I need to scrap off the old solder and clean everything well.  Thanks again.       greer

[gunnut69]

Other than the flux required this is very similar to soft soldering. You will be sweat soldering the tube in place. The surfaces are cleaned and fluxed before putting the tube in place. Be certain of the tubes orientation and attitude being sure it's square with the receiver face. Apply the heat to the receiver(thicker part of joint) and alow it to bleed into the thinner tube. When solder touched to the other side(top) of the tube it will be drawn into the joint and fill it nicely. Wipe the excess off while still hot as buffing it off later will leave marks. To avoid solder flow where its NOT wanted chalk will protect the steels surface.. Be sure to use the flux reccomended by the fluxes maker..

[greer]

Thanks. I ordered the solder,flux, and a stick of the talc from Brownell's this morning. It sounds like map gas will be fine for a heat source.   greer