Reader Forum

Bedding Remington Receiver Rings I do enjoy the gunsmithing articles Norman Johnson is so well-known for and this time it’s no different. Of course, I’m referring to "Bedding The Model 504 Remington Receiver Ring" in the May 2015 issue. I’d like to send along my most sincere thanks for writing about our Steel Bed. I think some people area bit intimidated by doing any kind of bedding work but your article shows and tells exactly what needs to be done, how to do it, and why.

Your job on this receiver ring is certainly clever. What a great resource to refer to and use in the shop. Frank R. Brownell, III Author Norman Johnson responds. It is commendable that a company of such stature will take the time to contact magazines and writers. Thanks for reading my article! AR-15 Sight Alignment Tool I’m writing about "All About AR-15 Sights" by Joe Carlos in the August 2015 issue. He shows the use of a "simple pointer gauge" used for the initial front sight horizontal alignment.

I have been trying unsuccessfully to locate one. Can you advise where I can obtain one? If it is a locally manufactured tool, what is the diameter, length, and other pertinent specifications? It looks simple to make but no need to reinvent the wheel by trying to reverse engineer from a photo. I would also like to thank Mr. Carlos for his excellent articles. The details provided plus the reasoning and results are far ahead of any others I have read on the AR platform.

I agree 100% the only way to zero a rifle is to put lots of rounds down range to find out where it shoots, hot, cold, and with different ammo. When I saw the photo it was exactly what I was thinking of to get the initial alignment. Author Joe Carlos responds. Thanks for your kind words about my articles! The pointer that was in the article was one I purchased from DPMS about a quarter century ago. I checked their web site and couldn’t find it, so I called and asked for one of their tech representatives.

He said he has been with the company about seven years and has never seen one, so it appears that DPMS is no longer offering this. At the time I was buying my pointer from DPMS I remembered Arma Lite offering a similar pointer. I got on their web site next and found Part Number 15901133 called "Front Sight Alignment Tool." I spoke on the phone with one of their representatives and he described the shape and use of the tool and I believe it is what you are looking for.

Montezuma, IA I have tried almost everything out there from simple bore sighting, to inbore lasers, and this pointer. I have even live fired customer’s firearms. In spite of all that effort the most common complaint I get is that the customer has to spend a few minutes and a few rounds of ammo to get a proper final zero on their rifle. So the final onus lies with the gun owner to arrive at his specific zero. All the gauges and lasers can hope to do is get the rifle somewhere on paper.

Rebarrel Remington 760 I have a 1951 Remington 760 Gamemaster chambered in .30-06. The rifling at the muzzle is gone, probably due to years of cleaning from the muzzle. Needless to say, it won’t group for crap. I am unable to rebarrel this myself. Where do you recommend I send this rifle to have it rebarreled? Start by calling Remington in Ilion, NY. Ask for Customer Service remington.com/pages/ support/repair-services.aspx).

If they can’t do the job reasonably soon and at reasonable cost, Brownells freeupon-request parts source list has some contact information on rebarrel- Ken Angst ing services. Numrich (gunpartscorp. com, lists the barrel and Jim Green (downeastgunworks.com, works on these. Repairing Broken Stocks Norman Johnson’s article "Repair And Restoration Of Broken Stocks" was a superb feature article in your August 2015 issue.

Not only is it concisely written, the photos accompanying it enhanced the clarity of the repair process. It’s reportage such as this that makes American Gunsmith a must read for all firearms enthusiasts. Keep up your commitment to excellence! Maj. Kris Vasilo U. S Air Force (ret.) Thank you for the amiable comments on my article. As writers, we really appreciate such comments; particularly those submitted by individuals who know what’s been done.

I broke my first gunstock on an M1 Garand while performing bayonet practice in the Marine Corps. The armorer just tossed the stock in the trash pile. Sir, thanks for taking the time to comment. Norman E. Johnson USMC (ret.); Life Member, DAV Recoil Pads For Synthetic Stocks Reading RK Campbell’s "Recoil Pads For Synthetic Stocks" (August 2015) I was somewhat disturbed by the installation of the recoil pad using epoxy. Mr. Campbell may be assuming he will never see that stock for a pad again.

On hard used guns these pads may only last five to ten years. I have replaced many Remington factory Limbsavers before guns reach ten years old. Epoxy is permanent. Bruce Millheim Bath, PA I have read with interest the articles on pad installation on synthetic stocks that have been cut down thinking someone had a better way than how we do it. Next one I do I will take some pictures and write a short piece on it as our procedure allows changing pads at will when worn out or if a different length of pull is needed.

I really do like Mr. Campbell’s idea of the filler but the epoxy just makes me shake my head and hope one of those don’t come into my shop for me to remove. Randy Iles Iles Custom Gunsmithing Author RK Campbell responds. Your point is well taken. As for epoxy, well, this is how I was taught and it is stable and isn’t going anywhere. I can always learn a better way. As for the filler, glad you like it, it works.

H&R 999 Sportsman I am trying to fit anew lever and spring assembly on an H&R 999 Sportsman and I am having a problem with the spring. I have followed the instructions from Numrich Gun Parts Corporation but the spring always breaks and comes loose from the lever. Are there any special methods or tips for doing this correctly? Samuel Garrison The 999 is listed among many other obsolete H&R revolvers in Volume 2 of Jack First Gunshop’s catalog.

The schematic there-in shows the lifter (hand) assembly is a one-piece affair that includes the spring. An extremely small pin, not identified in the drawing, secures the spring to the body of the lifter. We don’t mean to cast aspersions of the serviceability of components received from Numrich or your budding abilities, but small, flat springs can be very prone to breakage if improperly heat treated or roughly mishandled. We see three options.

First, you could take the matter up with Numrich and order a replacement unit. Second, drift out the retaining pin in a broken unit you have on hand with a very small drift punch or short length of drill rod. Finally, you could retrieve the remainder of the spring from the lifter, have it tack-welded back on to the spring, grind and polish the weld true smooth, then reinstall the spring with its retaining pin to the lifter.

Allen, MI Easier, and quicker is to call Jack First explain the problem you’ve been having and order a fresh lifter assembly for the revolver. Gun Oil Stu A number of years ago you ran an article about making a homemade product similar to the submersible Dunk- Kit cleaner. As I remember, it had kerosene, Marvel Mystery Oil, and two or three other things. It worked great, I gave much of the formulation to friends, and put the copy of that issue away so I wouldn’t lose it. Yep, it is so safe that now I can’t find it.

Any chance of rerunning the formula or doing an update comparison? Ray C. Bouffard April 1998 was the issue. The formula is: 2/5-parts kerosene, 2/5 mineral spirits, 3/20 Marvel Mystery Oil, 1/20 Rislone. Provided as you requested but with a caution. This mix includes several petroleum-based products. Depending on the polymer employed in making plastic for a gun component, these petroleum products can have a negative effect on the plastic causing it to fail.

Conversely, Dunk-Kit contains no petroleum-based elements. It was developed by Bill Laughridge of Cylinder & Slide (cylinder-slide.com, for cleaning polymer frame pistols without fear of damage to their structural integrity. S&W CS9 I have a S&W CS9 Chief Special that malfunctions with the slide failing to return to battery. Do you know were I can get an owners manual or detailed disassembly information? Mark Ernst The popular back up was once a caliber .38 revolver, the Model 60 Chiefs Special.

It was eventually replaced by the S&W Third Generation CS9 pistol and is presently no longer available to the public. Detailed Third Generation disassembly information is in The Gun Digest Book of Automatic Pistols Assembly/Disassembly or you can secure an owners manual from S&W Customer Service From what we’ve seen on the S&W website, the manual contains no schematic. We know S&W has discontinued including schematics for some of their handguns but Customer Service may be able to turn one up. AG