Reader Forum

Back Issues Available I have a complete set of American Gunsmith and Gun Tests from 1993 to current. Contact me for details. Thanks for the info. Back issues are also available at Norwalk, CT 06856-5656. Or call Savage 110 Problem Looking for assistance with a technical issue concerning the Savage 110. I’m getting blow-by when I shoot but it doesn’t happen all the time. I took the rifle to a local gunsmith and he shot eleven rounds of factory ammunition with no blow-by.

He has no idea why it’s happening with me and not them. Any insights you might have would be appreciated. Warren Grey Chino Hills, CA Are you using reloads? Base on what you’re telling us, a difference in ammunition would be the most likely culprit. Since the rifle has no problems with factory ammo, as experienced by your gunsmith, you’d best lay out the bucks for good, brand name ammunition to totally avoid present and future troubles. Pistol Info Where can I get disassembly and assembly info for a Star Model 30M?

Also, I’ve been searching for a firing pin safety for a Firestar .45. Richard A. Foster MSG, USMC (ret.) We could find nothing among the usual suspects on the Model 30, only the Star PD. Then we scoured the Internet, which usually comes into play when other sources strike out. The site we found after entering "Star Pistols" into our search engine was "Star Bonifacio Echereverria, S. A. Armas.

Firearms." On that site in large, red letters was information on "Star Manuals." They can be purchased in spiral bound volumes or downloaded for free as a PDF. These manuals cover the Models 28, 30 and 31, as well as the Firestar and Megastar. Unless your Spanish is excellent, make sure you select your downloads in English. There was nothing on this site specifically for Firestar .45 parts. Those, we fear, will require a search of the aftermarket.

You can kick it off with a complimentary copy of Brownells Parts Source List. Charles Krall Shotgun Restoration A friend of mine brought me a shotgun that his father owned. He wishes to restore the gun for his son. The gun is missing the complete bolt assembly, ejector interrupter, ejector screw, magazine follower and spring and magazine shell. I have already searched Numrich and Jack First, among other dealers, but to no avail.

The gun is marked on the barrel "410 GAUGE – 3 INCH CHAMBER; EIG – EIBAR – SPAIN; 3 – SHOT REPEATER." The gun is similar to the Mossberg Model 183 .410 bolt action shotgun, but without a choke assembly. Eibar was a primary source for Spanish-made shotguns. The one you’ve been handed was obviously made there, but who imported and marketed it?

An answer might be forthcoming from the National Firearms Museum Fairfax, VA 22030, nramuseum.org) if you send them a few photos of the piece along with a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. What you discover, however, will probably do you no good. No importer or manufacturer will sell you a complete bolt assembly. By the time you might be able to locate and purchase the parts you list, if you ever do, the questions of proper assembly, headspace and safe operation remain.

Oceanside, CA Tell your friend thanks, but no thanks. He, his son and you would be far better served with the purchase of anew break-action single shot .410 from, say, New England Firearms. Specifically, the Pardner. N. E. F., by the way, has joined Remington, Marlin and Bushmaster, among others, in the rapidly expanding Freedom Arms Group. Llama Max 11 I own a Llama Max 11 .45 that was burned in afi re. I have restored the pistol and completely rebuilt it except for the grips.

So far, I have tried Ebay and Jack First without success. In fact, upon calling Jack First I was directed to a message that the number was no longer working! Any recommendations on where I can obtain grips for this pistol? Kenneth Floyd Jr. kennethfl Alexander, AR We called Jack First The call went through and we got no recording. For grips try Eagle Imports and Tom Forrest Winchester M90 and Suppressors I have two questions.

First, a family member has a .22 rifle that says Winchester Model 90 on the tang but the barrel says Stevens. Where the barrel goes into the receiver, part of the Stevens name is hidden, as if the barrel was into the receiver too far. What is it and why won’t it unlock when you pull the slide back? The user has to push the firing pin forward and then the slide will unlock. I don’t see anything else that will cause the slide to unlock.

Kirk Theetge Hornsby, TN Second, a different family member has a legally-registered Jonathan Arthur Ciener, Inc. suppressor on a Ruger Mk II pistol with a bull barrel similar to the government models. How do you take the suppressor off? I took the set screw out and the front cap off but the suppressor tube seems

stuck. What technique can be used to loosen it? Ciener hasn’t answered my phone calls. We don’t think your .22LR ever saw the inside of a Winchester factory and believe it might be a Savage Model 90 or Savage/Stevens Model 90. You may get a better fix on it by photographing the rifle and sending the pictures to the National Firearms Museum Fairfax, VA 22030, nramuseum.org) along with a query on the rifle’s identification along with a stamped, self-addressed return envelope.

Being along out-of-production rifle, you might try to get in touch with Steve Simon at the Small Arms Shop, Inverness, FL. Last phone known to us was open between 5:30 and 9:00 PM. He used to provide parts for old Savage guns and still is the person Savage refers people to for problems. As for the suppressor, we wonder why one is needed on a .22 LR target pistol that shoots best on standard velocity ammunition.

That being said, we called the Ciener operation in Cape Canaveral, FL and got a recording despite calling during their listed business hours seeking their procedure for removal as we’ve never dealt with one. No response for us, either. Ernie Bennett Sear Stoning Fixture In using a sear stoning fixture to perform a trigger job, what about new and used sears that need to be stoned for the right let off? How would you know if you had stoned too far past the case hardening?

With new sears, we advise not to stone the hammer hooks lower than 0.020 on the first fitting trial between sear and hammer. Many such fitting trials are to follow before the job is complete. Each of these trials should be followed by a function check with dummy rounds to see what you have accomplished, or failed to accomplish, with your work on the engagement surfaces. Always perform a final check out using live rounds before returning the gun to its owner. As for used sears it depends on how well used or abused.

Has the one you refer to been hacked upon by unskilled or unpracticed hands? If so, there may not be enough original material remaining and you, along with the gun owner, would be far better off with a fresh replacement. For your case hardening query, you’re dealing with a thin "skin" or case rarely measuring more than 0.008 inches deep and usually measuring less than that. If you fear you have gone beyond the limit, re-harden the finished job with Kasenit, give the sear a light polish and test fire again.

M1888 Marlin I recently acquired an Model 1888 Marlin that is in need of some TLC, however, considering the rarity of the piece is this worth restoring? I can find diagrams for the Models 1881, 1889 and 1891 but so far have found nothing on the 1888. Do you know of any source that has a diagram or exploded view of this model?

Ken Willis Due to the popularity of several pistollength black powder cartridges, Marlin relented on its objections to these less powerful loads and began production of new lever action rifles. The tube-fed M1888 was the first among them. It was invented by L. L. Hepburn, who had previously created many designs for Marlin. Hepburn admitted his patent, #371445 dated October 11, 1887 on which the 1888 was based, had "many of the same general characteristics" as patents he was issued for earlier Marlin lever actions.

Jerry Spadorcio We could not locate a schematic for the M1888. As a result, Hepburn’s own words lead us to believe the drawings you have for the ‘81, ‘89 and ‘91 would be perfectly safe to follow. However, if you contact the Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, DC you can purchase a copy of the patent identified above. The cost is minimal. The patent itself has no schematic but does include clear, sectional drawings and a detailed verbal description of how the rifle operates. AG