Breathing New Life Into an Old Scattergun
Although replica guns are readily available for cowboy shooters, restoring a bargain-priced original can provide more satisfaction.
Gunsmith Magazine
Article library
Full web articles from the American Gunsmith archive, organized for search and connected back to their original issue pages.
Working the Remington Single-Shot Rolling Block Pistol
The 1870 Pattern, produced originally for the U. S. Navy, became the Model 1871 Army, before giving way to the revolver. These instructions cover both the original Remingtons and the Uberti replicas.
Reader Forum
S&W 686 Reassembly I need some help on getting the handtorsion spring back in place with the hand in the trigger assembly on the S&W 686. It is a .357 Magnum. I’ve looked in all the books I have. I just can’t…
House Passes “Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act”
” Law-abiding gun owners won another major victory today when the U. S. House of Representatives voted to pass H. R. 5013, the NRAbacked “Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act.” Shortly before we went to press, the bill passed with abroad bipartisan margin…
Disassembly/Reassembly of the Steyr-Mannlicher 1895 Carbine
A straight-pull bolt design, this carbine resulted from Europe’s sudden realization that repeating rifles deliver a distinct military advantage.
The Causes and Cures for Doubling on Krieghoff Shotgun
Once you understand the three possible reasons for doubling on these high-end sporting guns, the problem can be eliminated with some relatively simple but necessarily precise modifications.
Smoothing the Thompson/Center Encore
The performance of the Encore, billed as “a gun for all seasons,” can be easily and safely enhanced with some judicious stoning and polishing.
Tuning Revolver-Cylinder Lockup
Tuning Revolver-Cylinder Lock When problems arise on revolvers with the older-style two-point lockup, they can usually be returned to service with a simple “tuneup.”
Get the Lead Out!
Of three methods tested for removing lead fouling from a barrel, all are equally effective, but one method is cheapest, one is fastest, and one is easiest. You make the choice.
Reader Forum
Anschutz 141 Disassembly I’m looking for a schematic for an Anschutz 141 (#509149). My customer has had this gun since the mid-60s and has never had it apart, even to clean it. The safety quit working properly and I need to disassemble…
Gun Sales Rise As Crime and Accident Rates Fall
New statistics show that firearm and ammunition sales are on the rise, coinciding with steady downward trends in gun crime, suicide and accident rates, in the U. S. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the shooting, hunting, and…
Disassembly/Reassembly Of the Kahr P45 Pistol
Though similar in its precision, the construction of this .45-caliber pistol differs from its earlier, smaller-caliber relatives.
Installing a Forend Barrel-Tuning Device
Various forms of controlling barrel vibrations or harmonics can be used to enhance rifle accuracy, including methods of adjusting forend-tobarrel pressure. This method proved to be simple and effective.
M1911 Safety: Thoughts on Triggers and Firing-Pin Blocks
In any business, “the customer is always right.” In ours, however, we must also make sure he is well informed first, and right second.
Stippling: Checkering’s Ugly Cousin
Hand checkering and serration can be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive, but there is a simpler and equally effective alternative.
Making Blackpowder Revolvers More User-Friendly
Some simple mods, shown here on a Colt 2nd Dragoon, can improve accuracy and make cleanup a snap.
Reader Forum
Shotgun Tips I think a couple of suppliers and one association should get some publicity for helping me out recently. Several months ago, I got in a Winchester Model 24 on which the owner had removed a screw behind the top lever.…
Bloomberg Strikes Again
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been making quite a name for himself with his anti-gun antics. (The first name that comes to my mind has seven letters and begins with an “A.”) His latest media event was the unveiling of his…
Taking Down the AK-47
More than 70 million of Kalashnikov’s World War II-era 47s have been manufactured inside and outside of the former Soviet Union.
Gun Kote: A Precision Coating
TR Gun Kote allows the gunsmith to easily apply an attractive, corrosion-resistant finish inhouse, and best of all, it doesn’t interfere with close tolerances.
Installing Blended Adjustable Sights on Auto-Loading Pistols
An adjustable rear sight on the slide of a largecaliber semi-automatic pistol must be strong and sturdy, and the installation must be equally solid and secure.
Changing Calibers: Revolver Cylinder Reaming
Revolver chamber alteration is a big job that you can actually do in a very small shop with a limited inventory of equipment.
Fitted vs. “Drop-In” M1911 Barr
In many cases, there really is such a thing as a “drop-in” barrel. Nevertheless, in most cases, the fitted barrel produces superior results.
Reader Forum
Misfiring Winchester 1300 I have a Winchester Model 1300 12gauge shotgun serial #L27660XX that occasionally misfires. The misfires show light primer hits. The cartridge usually fires after the second attempt. I have replaced the firing pin, and the problem still occurs. Comparing…