Reader Forum

As an extra safety check, I cock the empty rifle with the safety off and slap the side hard three times with the muzzle up, then drop the butt about a foot onto a padded surface three times to insure it is safe for hunting. The customer was instructed to fire the rifle before taking it afield and reported it was noticeably better. Author RK Campbell responds. Thanks for reading American Gunsmith. Your procedure seems good, and I am going to add the safety drill to my own work.

You are correct, often painstaking work with the existing parts produces good results. These days we are more likely to simply install aftermarket triggers. After reading RK Campbell’s Remington 700 article I was left wondering if the author is unaware of the history of unintentional discharges occurring with the Remington/ Walker trigger.

If so, I strongly urge him to read Unsafe By Design: Forensic Gunsmithing and Firearms Accident Investigations by Jack Belk (independent.academia.edu/JBelk) and also do an Internet search on the Remington/Walker trigger design. Jim Corolewski Ramsey Gunsmithing Author RK Campbell responds. I have used the Remington rifle for some forty years. The US military has used them for thousands of sniper rifles over many decades of service.

While any rifle may have the occasional problem, the Remington 700 is a good product. There have been improvements in the action just the same. Also, the safety test must never be neglected in any rifle. Gunsmith Lists I’m anew member from Carlsbad, California. I’m investigating a second career in gunsmithing when I’m done with my "day job" and am ready to pull up stakes and move.

I heard about your Association last March, immediately signed up and am glad I did, having received Learn Gunsmithing, The Troubleshooting Method as well as the monthly publications. I’m already much better informed though not even close to staying caught up on my reading assignments. There is a huge learning curve but I’m motivated and trying to be methodical. "Thank You!" is what I think I’m trying to say. Daniel P.

Horn Huron, SD I am pricing out a few possible new purchases over the next couple months (two rifles and a revolver at least) and maybe two of which will no doubt need tuning plus a few upgrades. Thought I’d offer the business to a local, independent gunsmith instead of longhunt.com or similar outfit, especially if he just landed his Type 01 license as I’d be happy to help support his entry into the profession.

I know I’d love the opportunity when I’m breaking in someday, but it’s really difficult to find gunsmiths out here who aren’t tied in with an established business, especially if you’re trying to stay away from the national chains. Does AGA publish lists of Type 01 license holders? If not, could you tell me how to find one?

If there is no such list available, maybe you could put me in touch with one of your members within 50 miles or so of my Carlsbad, California home or Orange County office who runs his own shop, even if it’s just it is a by-appointment only operation. It would be great to meet someone who can make suggestions on my pending buys, help me with the purchases, handle FFL paperwork, tune the guns when they arrive, and hang out when they’re ready to take for a spin.

Stephen Blaine Carlsbad, CA We’re publishing your letter so interested gunsmiths can contact you. While we don’t maintain a formal list, there are a few resources available on line. Visit usacarry.com/directory/category/gunsmiths, goal. org/gunsmiths.html, and gunsmiths. regionaldirectory.us.

Marlin and S&W I have two guns recently brought into my shop. The first is a Marlin 39A made in the mid 50s that the lever locks open when working the action, From what I can see the carrier rocker is hitting on the cartridge stop. It looks like the cartridge stop sticks out just far enough to let the carrier hit bottom edge of it. Should I stone the edge so it is a little more rounded and let it slide by or is there something else I’m not seeing causing the problem?

The second gun is a Smith & Wesson Model 10 that lost the hammer nose bushing out of the frame. I’ve tried replacing it, having purchased two different sizes. One is a little smaller than the other and falls right out. The other seems to fit a little tighter but after firing a out, causing the cylinder to jam. Should I use Loctite to put this back in or is there another size bushing available?

You can try smoothing up those contacting parts but the 39A is getting up there in years and likely to have seen considerable use. Add to that the possibility of a certain amount of abuse. The most common to come our way in lever action rimfires is a tendency by the operator to see how fast the lever can be cycled to set up the next shot. When the force exerted on the lever becomes serious enough, the lever will tend to loosen and behave in a somewhat sloppy manner in the receiver.

In fact, the lever may even become bent and the best cure for that is replacement. We know for a fact that many lever gun owners have the hankering to hang on to the lever and swivel the whole rifle on it to extract/eject the spent round, chamber anew one and cock the gun. They’ve seen it done on TV Westerns dozens of times. Unfortunately, all lever actions were never built to be recycled like a yo-yo.

Closely look over the interior of the receiver, paying special attention to the area in or near the firing mechanism and any signs of serious wear in the lever linkage. Smear some Dykem or even magic marker on suspect areas. Polish up the cartridge carrier, cycle the lever, then examine it and the suspect areas. If there’s been any transfer of the indicator, lightly stone and mildly polish them away. Mark Wiggins As for the S&W, check with the factory for a still-larger bushing.

We doubt that red thread locker, stubborn as it may be, will not be strong enough since the bushing may be a press fit. In that case, the gun will have to be returned to S&W since the frame itself is involved with installation of anew bushing and recertification of its proper function with pressure loads.

Brownells At SHOT I’d sure like to send along my sincere thanks for mentioning our new twenty-round .308 magazines and our new Edge program in your article, "SHOT 2015" in the March 2015 issue of American Gunsmith. Thank you! Going to SHOT is always an exciting experience. Where else cana gun person see so much and rub elbows with others who truly love our way of life? You’ve done a fine job of telling folks about the latest and greatest at the show this year. Well done! Thanks again for writing about us.

It’s very much appreciated. Frank R. Brownell, III Chairman, Brownells.com As always, you’re welcome. Thanks for reading! Mossberg Have you ever heard of the rim of shotgun shell cutting a ridge in the top of the receiver, as if the brass on the shotshell is stronger that the steel of the receiver. Verlin Weaver Mountain Man Gun Works Never heard of brass being tougher than steel. Are you certain the bolt isn’t slamming into the receiver for some unknown reason?

Might be a good idea to contact Mossberg about the problem. Since the receiver is involved the gun should be returned for factory service. It may still be under warranty. AG