Recently added articles from American Gunsmith:
Getting the story straight.(The Editor's File)(Editorial)
Jan 01, 2008; ... As an editor, I've spent the last 25 years or so trying--successfully most of the time--to ensure that my writers have their facts and figures straight. But, when I read a magazine or newspaper article, I'm well aware of the fact that some editors have a better track record for accuracy ...
Scouting out the Remington SPR 18 rifle: Remington's new single-shot rifle looks like it costs a lot more than it does. Here's what you can and can't do to service it.(Maintenance/Repair)
Jan 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There's a little village in Russia that's so small you might not find it on your world map. Remington says it took them a long time to pin down its location during a worldwide search. As it happens, the inhabitants of this formerly-behind-the-iron-curtain ...
Time management for the gunsmith: you might assume that your lathe or milling machine is your business' single greatest asset. But no, actually it's your time.(Shop Talk)
Jan 01, 2008; ... It costs money to do business, whether you rent a place and do gunsmithing full time or you work at home part time. And in the gunsmithing business--as in any business--time, of course, is money. Let me explain why your time is so important and why you must learn to manage it carefully. ...
Solving problems with .22-caliber conversion units: owners of M1911 pistols seem to encounter problems frequently with .22-cal conversion kits. Here's what you need to know to come to the rescue.(Back to Basics)(Product/service evaluation)
Jan 01, 2008; ... Not long ago, I tested an Arcus Model 94, a 9mm pistol based on the Browning Hi-Power. The pistol is robust, accurate, and reliable, and as Chick Blood pointed out in his article in the November 07 issue, many Hi-Power parts, including magazines and grips, will fit the pistol just fine ....
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.(Fine Tuning)(Marlin 39 rimfire )
Jan 01, 2008; ... Before we get into the causes and cures of feeding problems on the tube-fed Marlin rimfires, I should start with a few cautions. First, with any exposed-hammer-style rifle, whether it's cocked on action-opening or by thumb, careful practice must be followed in letting the hammer down to ...
Working the S&W top break .32 single action model 1-1/2: with almost 100,000 manufactured just prior to the beginning of the 20th century, the Model 1-1/2 was the first of many small Smith & Wesson five-shot revolvers.(Troubleshooting)
Jan 01, 2008; ... Smith & Wesson's smallest top-break revolvers were built on what was known as the Model 1-1/2 frame--S&W's smallest size--and began in 1878 with the introduction of the .32 Single Action Model 1-1/2. This five-shot revolver in .32 S&W centerfire caliber was built along the general lines of ...
Remington EtronX conversion.(Reader Forum)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 01, 2008; ... The Remington "EtronX" novelty seems to have come and gone--fast. As such, there are many in the hands of shooters which are not being used and sitting in gun racks. I have a customer who is inquiring about converting his .243 to a standard Model 700 configuration. As best I can tell, all ...
Marlin Model 27/27S info.(Reader Forum)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 01, 2008; ... I'm looking for any information on the Marlin Model 27 or 27S pump-action rifle. Specifically, I need info on takedown and reassembly, as well as any diagrams that are available. I'm not worried about ammo; I know it's obsolete, as they were only manufactured between 1913 to 1916 ...
Misfeeding Winchester 9422.(Reader Forum)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 01, 2008; ... I'm trying to resolve a feeding issue with an almost new Winchester 9422 .22 Magnum rifle. It appears that the cartridge lifter does not lift the round high enough to enter the chamber in a straight line. It fails about 25 percent of the time. When it fails, the round attempts to chamber ...
Different shotguns/same problem.(Reader Forum)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 01, 2008; ... I have the same problem with both my Savage Model 30 and my Remington 870 Wingmaster. Both are pump guns in 12 gauge. Every other time I rack them, a shell will fall to the ground. I replaced the shell stops, but that didn't change anything. Can you tell me what I need to replace to make ...
Remington 700 Integrated Security System.(Reader Forum)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 01, 2008; ... I have a bolt-action Remington Model 700, over two years old, equipped with the so-called Integrated Security System (ISS). Upon cleaning the bolt assembly, the machined stud composing the basic system came out appearing to be defective, and no retainer was observed. There is no ...
Beretta sight replacement.(Reader Forum)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 01, 2008; ... I just recently became a member of the AGA and am about to tackle my first project--a simple one, I hope. I have a Beretta Elite 2 and want to replace the front sight with a fiber-optic sight. The instructions that came with the sight said to push out the pin in the front sight, but I ...
Remington bolt problems.(Reader Forum)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 01, 2008; ... I have had a couple Remington 742s in for service and had trouble removing the pin that holds the bolt handle in place. I've bent punches and the pin has not moved. How should that pin be removed? I also have another Remington 742 where the bolt is about a half inch from being ...
Jammin' Ruger .22.(Reader Forum)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 01, 2008; ... I have a Ruger Mark II pistol (serial #215-05301, .22-cal LR) that works flawlessly when cycled through by hand, but when live rounds are shot through it, it jams. Either the bullet gets damaged or the casing gets bent and no longer will fit. Any ideas on correcting this problem? Thanks. ...
Generic cleaning info.(Reader Forum)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 01, 2008; ... Can you please provide me with any information regarding the field stripping and cleaning of a Sterling Model 400 Mk II in .380 caliber? Thanks. Mitchell Hayes mehay104@cox.net The slides on pistols like these can usually be removed by drawing them to the ...
Ahnold, we thought we knew ye.(The Editor's File)
Dec 01, 2007; ... If you recall, last month I reported on the California Senate's passage of a bill requiring "microstamping" on firearms sold in California. Microstamping is a patented single-source process by which a firearm's make, model, and serial number are laser-engraved on the tip of the firing pin ...
Disassembling and reassembling Taurus' new 'The Judge' revolver: this new Taurus wheelgun could be the best dual-purpose personal-defense/varminter ever created. It's certain to be popular with subscribers to the "bigger is better" theory.(Maintenance/Repair)
Dec 01, 2007; ... Once in a while an existing revolver design with a fine track record takes a new turn that gets me excited. Smith & Wesson did that when they introduced the 500, Colt did it with the Python, Ruger has done it more than once, and now Taurus-USA has joined that list with "The Judge." ...
Problem solving with aluminum-frame 1911-type pistols: some aftermarket parts and special techniques can help to keep an aluminum-frame pistol from succumbing to wear or to repair one that's already surrendered.(Back to Basics)
Dec 01, 2007; ... The development of the different materials used in firearm manufacturing is an interesting study. The move from iron to steel in the last century changed the face of the industry. Then aluminum became the wonder metal of the late 1940s. In the 1960s, it was stainless steel. And then came ...
Maintenance and troubleshooting of AR-15-type rifles: whether built by Colt, another quality gunmaker, or assembled on the owner's kitchen table from parts, some simple procedures and helpful aftermarket parts can keep the AR firing smoothly.(Troubleshooting)
Dec 01, 2007; ... When first introduced to our troops as the M16, the AR-15 was scorned as a combat-rifle replacement for the M14. It's taken four decades, along with changes in bullet weight and barrel twist, but the AR-15 has come to earn respect from military units, hunters, law-enforcement agencies, and ...
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.(Benchwork)
Dec 01, 2007; ... Depending on your customer's needs and budget, the full blueprinting and accurizing process is not always required--or warranted--with many of today's modern rifles. Fortunately, however, it's possible to show a significant improvement in accuracy as a result of some very simple and ...