Making and Installing Decorative Metal Overlays
Overlays on a gun or its stock can enhance its appearance as well as its value, and you don’t have to be a metalsmith to get the job done.
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Articles by Norman E. Johnson
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Mounting the Holland Adjustable Picatinny Scope Rail
When the ultimate in accuracy and durability is required, the combination of the Picatinny rail and precision scope rings fills the bill.
Using a Stock-Drilling Jig For Pillar Bedding
Pillar bedding is a proven means of improving rifle accuracy, but it must be performed with precision to be effective. Here’s how to simplify the job and eliminate costly mistakes.
Making a Custom Rear Sight For the “Slugger” Shotgun
A fully adjustable rear sight on a slug shotgun certainly beats having to aim down the bare rib of the barrel. But a custom sight might require some ingenuity when fitting on a ventilated-rib shotgun.
Maximize Your Profit: Making Target Knobs for a Scope
A pair of custommade target knobs can be a simple and profitable add-on to a scope-installation job.
Scoping the Benelli Nova Shotgun
The Benelli Nova shotgun has a few unique features to consider before mounting a scope base, but these tips will make the job go smoothly and easily.
Micro-Lapping Winchester Model 70 Locking Lugs
When accuracy really counts, many factors must be considered, and this includes truing up the locking lugs on bolt-action rifles.
Chamber Throat Reaming with A Precision Touch
A special throating reamer can be used to lengthen the throat or change the leade angle, resulting in greater flexibility in bullet seating and ultimately in improved accuracy.
Converting the Remington Model 700 to Single-Shot
Benchrest competitors and varmint shooters have come to know the inherent advantages of the single-shot bolt-action rifle. Here’s how to make one such conversion.
Micro-Lapping the Remington 700/40X Receiver Bed
The precise fit of a cylindrical rifle action in its stock bed can be improved and glass bedding may be eliminated with the simple application of this do-it-yourself bed-lapping tool.
Timney Trigger Installation on the Winchester Model 70 Rifle
As a practical measure, installing an aftermarket trigger on the venerable Model 70 Winchester will greatly improve its performance.
Making a Barrel Chamber Neck and Leade Section
A partial chamber reproduction of the neck and leade can serve a number of useful purposes for your customers. And everything you’ll need to make one may be right at your fingertips.
Simple Crossbow Mods for Improved Performance and Safety
The energy behind the projectile might come from a different source, but many components of the crossbow are similar to that of a firearm and can benefit from the attention of the innovative gunsmith.
Make a Spring Compressor For the Remington Model 700
Disassembling and reassembling the Model 700s firing-pin assembly can be tedious and tricky. But this handy shop-made spring compressor makes the job safe, simple, and quick.
Finish-Crowning the Rifle Barrel
The “major” recessed or concave barrel crown is only the beginning of the job. For good accuracy, the rifle or pistol barrel also requires “finish” crowning as a necessary part of the overall muzzle finish.
Correcting Feeding Problems in Marlin Lever-Action Rimfire Rifles
Proper cycling and meticulous maintenance is required to avoid a little-known safety issue with the lever-action rimfire rifle.
Micro-Lapping the Remington Model 700 Recoil Lug
The symmetry of the recoil-lug surfaces plays a vital part in the accuracy chain, and should not be overlooked when preparing a rifle for extreme accuracy.
Installing a Timney Trigger on the Ruger Model 77 Mark II Rifle
An aftermarket trigger can eliminate creep and over-travel as well as providing a means for adjusting pull weight. Some, like this Timney, can be fitted with hand tools, although a mill is helpful.
Scope-Ring Alignment: A Critical Accuracy Factor
The best scopes call for the best mounting methods, and that means the use of special tools and techniques for ensuring the proper alignment of the mounting rings.
Add an Adjustment Screw To the Ruger MKII’s Trigger
With some gunsmithing and a few pennies’ worth of parts, this rifle can be modified to produce a lighter yet safe trigger, with a crisp let-off and a controlled pull weight.
Lap Fitting of Rifle-Bolt Locking Lugs
Symmetry of the bolt locking lug surfaces must not be overlooked when preparing a rifle for the ultimate in accuracy. Both the testing and the correction are simple enough for the do-it-yourselfer.
Buttplate Restoration with Epoxy
Sure, you can replace a broken buttplate with an aftermarket part. But when restoring someone’s family heirloom, repairing the original part is often a better option.
Making and Installing a Barrel/Receiver Coupler Sleeve
On some rifles, adding a coupler sleeve to strengthen the junction between the barrel and receiver can improve barrel stability and accuracy. The Remington Model 504, used here, is one of these rifles.
Rebarreling the Remington Model 504 .22 LR
Some rifles are easier to rebarrel than others. The Remington Model 504-T requires a little extra thought and a few extra steps, but the end result is a fine-shooting rimfire rifle.