Reader Forum

Marlin Barrel I plan on installing the barrel on a Marlin 70 and would like to know how to drill or file the barrel retaining pin without damaging the barrel or aluminum receiver. In examining the two Marlin M 70 schematics we have on file it appears the barrel retaining pin must be drifted out. However, we cannot determine from the drawings whether it drifts to the right or to the left. The pin may be tapered. If so, it must be drifted out toward its wider end and reinstalled smaller end first.

Measure both ends of the pin while it remains installed to determine drift direction. Seecamp I recently purchased two Seecamps as part of a collection. They seemed OK, but when trying to sell them I found problems seating the mag and working the slide. Seems you have to action the slide first to insert the mag. The slide drags on the follower to the point of stopping when worked on an empty mag and stops half open when actioned with the magazine out.

One Seecamp has a tight fitting mag that requires a screw driver to pry it loose for about 1/4 inch before removal. The mag in the other is also tight but can be pulled out by hand. I have not opened them up yet as I have never shot or seen a Seecamp before, although they are expensive and seem to have a good reputation from conversations at gun shows. Both are "restricted editions" made in small numbers. Any ideas, common problems, etc? Do you know anyone who specializes in their repair?

We’re going to assume the pistols you’re speaking of are double action conversions of the Colt M1911. At the time they were introduced (1973) they were the only commercially available DA .45 ACP semi autos in the world. L. W. Seecamp & Co., Inc. started life pistolsmithing, turned to miniaturizing them in 1978 and patented a spring system presently used in practically all locked breech mini semi autos.

The company made its major directional change in the early 1980s when it turned from gunsmithing to gun manufacture. Their products are all DAO, small, not inexpensive, light, of traditional blow-back design, well made, ideal for CCW and available in .25 ACP, .32 ACP or .380. Robert Johns Seecamp no longer makes the DA M1911. One rumor has it that Colt acquired the patents and allowed them to lapse. However, Seecamp remains in business at Milford, CT 06460.

Technical inquiries have a dedicated phone: Since we can only surmise as to what the trouble might be with your ill-fitting magazines, other than they were not originally produced for the pistol, we suggest you seek a more definitive answer from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Henry Ejection Problem I’m having problems with ejection on anew Henry .22 lever action rifle. It will eject .22 shorts only and not longs or long rifle cartridges. I need a breakdown diagram for this rifle.

We don’t feel a diagram will help but a schematic ought to be included in your owner’s manual. There may be something amiss with your ejector but always remember .22 caliber ammo rim thickness often differs between brands. This frequently causes problems with extraction since the extractor cannot be "tuned" to function properly with all possible rim variations. Naturally, if the round fails to extract it probably won’t come into contact with the ejector and be kicked out.

One possible resolution is to use the same brand of .22 LR ammunition as the .22 Short. Joe For the moment, we’ll assume you are doing so and are still having problems. If your Henry has other than a built-in ejector, say, one that is integrated within the receiver, you may be able to remove and replace it. Frankly, this AG Staff member’s aging mind has forgotten the exact ejector configuration in a present day Henry.

Related to and complicating that last truth is the fact than Henry Repeating Arms has changed its manufacturing locale and its phone/FAX number. Current contact information, however, should be included in your owner’s manual. If an ejector is not available due to factory restrictions we recommend the rifle be returned to Henry for corrective service under the warranty.

One final note, be advised that excessive use of .22 Short ammunition in a .22 LR chamber can erode the chamber over time causing Long Rifle extraction problems since the LR brass expands on firing to fill in the eroded area. J. Stevens No. 70 I have a J. Stevens No. 70 that came into my shop. There are several parts missing, like the firing pin, mainspring and the piece that connects the slide bar to the breach bolt. I am looking for a schematic and the parts so I can make sure there isn’t anything else missing.

Any reassembly help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Gary Smith June Jones Congratulations! Your customer has handed you a "Miserable Loader," so renamed from Visible Loader by gunsmiths who had the misfortune of working on it.

It was tagged "Visible" by Stevens, later taken over by Savage, because the last round exiting the magazine was visible to the shooter, a feature not present in other pump .22 rifles of the day, reportedly patented on April 30, 1907, and should NEVER be fed modern high velocity .22 ammunition. Outside of that, there is no schematic of the rifle but a parts drawing does appear in Jack First’s Catalog,

Volume II and parts are available from Bob’s Gun Shop in Arkansas. On the brighter side, type in "Stevens Visible Loader Rifle" in your browser. When the list shows up scroll down to "Blueprints and Plans—Stevens Visible Loader" which purportedly includes assembly instructions. In addition, we covered the Visible Loader June 2011 and there’s reference to an article than appeared in American Rifleman in 1986 written by Pete Dickey.

You’ll be able to access some of it on your computer, but calling the Rifleman at NRA might get you a copy of the whole article. Winchester 1885 I have a Winchester (Miroku replica) Model 1885 in .22LR, serial number 000EFH08XX. It has a firing pin problem of some kind. It usually misfires and the firing pin doesn’t move freely. Where could I get take-down instructions and/or a schematic diagram? Stan Shaw, Stan’s Sports From the information provided we think you may have a broken firing pin or spring.

There also could be a burr present in or very near the bolt face firing pin aperture or the pin may be heavily fouled within the bolt. Try this: Remove the bolt, flush it out several times with mineral spirits, warm the exterior to dry the interior, lightly lubricate the interior and test for free movement of the pin and spring. If there are no hitches, both pin and spring are probably OK. Otherwise you’ll likely have to replace them.

Call Nu Line Guns, a former Winchester Service Center, at and ask to speak with Jerry Stevens. He may have the replacements needed. J. C. Higgins(FN) Sight Removal I have a J. C. Higgins Model 50, which I think is a Model 98 made by FN, with a chrome lined chamber and bore. I would like to remove the front sight ramp and rear sight base, which I assume are silver soldered on. I would like to know if I can apply enough heat to loosen them without damaging the chrome lining of the bore.

El Paso, TX Savage, High Standard, Marlin, Sako and Browning all provided shotguns for the J. C. Higgins line-up. Our cross reference files show no mention of FN. Better check in with the NRA Museum (Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, nramuseum.com) with a note asking who was the original manufacturer of the Higgins Model 50. After you get that information, contact the specified manufacturer. The front sight may not be soldered on. It could be threaded or press fit.

They could also advise you on the metallurgy of the chrome lining and how much heat it could stand if indeed the sight is silver soldered on. Include a stamped, self addressed return envelope with your query to the museum. It might better assure a prompt reply. CZ70 I recently purchased a CZ70 pistol kit and I have some questions about fitting the hold open latch and ejector (part 12 in the parts reference guide for the CZ70.) There is a tab on the bottom that is bent 90 degrees.

From the top of the ejector to the bottom of the tab should measure how much? How far into the magazine well should the tab extend? The slot in the frame the tab fits into should be how deep? Ronald H. Whittaker Your query causes us to bring up a few questions. If CZ is the maker of the kit we are curious as to why the measurements you request were not included with any instructions that have, or should have, accompanied it. Or aren’t said details really that critical?

If they are, they were never brought to our attention by CZ-USA technicians during conversations held in preparation for publishing article(s) on disassembly/ reassembly of CZ pistols and we have no other data beyond those conversations. However, your stated concern is worth following up. As long as the kit was produced for sale by CZ and no other entity, CZ technical types ought to have no objection to providing the dimensions you ask.

Big reason: CZ- USA is as eager as all other providers of firearms, in your case a kit, that might be assembled incorrectly and result in litigation. AG Don Finch