Krps Projects

test fired the 7.7 Jap 99... 174 grain bullet, 1/2 grain under max loads from 1993. I didn't load em....LITTLE punchy, but not too bad....HORRIBLE trigger pull !! Like about 15 .lbs ...I'm not too finicky about trigger pull, but this S.O.B. is bad.
Sooo, Took it back to the bench, and started feeling on it. Determined the firing pin spring was MUCH too heavy. Took a Dremel and cut-off wheel, and took a full wind off the spring. This took quite a few pounds off the trigger pull, and made the safety much easier to work.
It's by no means a target trigger? But a load better than it was. I think I can live with it. May work on it more.
Fixin to get into a MAJOR reloading session. Found my sized and de-primed 7.7 brass from mil-spec 30-06 brass, NOT head stamped, Need to clean, and maybe trim it, and commence to reloading. Gonna anneal it too.
Have some major test firing and custom reloading coming up.
Have a 7.62 Cetme 93/95 Mauser at Thorsby, MANY have looked at it ? But when you tell them it isn't a 308 ? and try to explain that's it's a 308 cartridge, Loaded to 300 Savage loading ? Their brains turn to mush. I'm getting to the point that if no one can figure it out ? and I have to load ammo for em ? Screw it, I'll keep the rifle and use it myself.
 
I don't know if they are too lazy to do it or too dumb or a combination of both. The gun is beautiful and is perfect for someone that needs a little less recoil and all the ummph to kill a deer.
 
I got the Savage apart as far as I can get it with the stuff I have available, and except for a slightly broken plastic trigger guard everything seems to be in order. This thing started life as a 110E in 30-06 with a birch stock. It won't finish that way. This rifle building stuff is addictive.
 
I know it hasn't been 16 weeks for Shaw, but has there been any communication about my build?
 
Nope, but that's not unusual. They won't or don't give an estimated time. It's kinda like childbirth, It happens when it happens.
 
Talk about it takes a community to raise a child. It's taking people around the US for this baby. lol
 
Thought I'd post this here....
Brownell's....Has some time in the past sold...And things aren't looking good. The bolt handles I've used for years ? Gone....No longer available.
Ordered some #31 drill bits for drilling and tapping scope bases ? FRIGGIN JUNK !! Smoked 4 of them and got 1 hole drilled.
Ordered a different style bolt handle ? Got lost in the USPS black hole of shipping....
STILL wondering if the effort is worth the aggravation. Bolt handles are getting to be a problem to find.. No one is making anything in the classic style handles anymore, The handles I ordered will have to be altered before welding.
The gunsmithing trade is going the way of mechanics. You just change parts. Plastic fantastic cheapo firearms.
Just realized the engineering genius of the Savage 110 rifles. Always liked the out of the box accuracy ? but didn't really look at the engineering that they used. This was most likely the first of the quick change actions made. Just didn't look at it too hard.
Now it looks that the 110 is now getting to be the high $$$ line in Savages, and may be getting phased out. They are doing the same with the 110 as with the AR line of rifles. Adding the Axis and Axis II actions plus others. Once you understand the engineering ? Pretty much a change out of parts along the AR line.
Wood and high polish blue are about gone, and the prices paid for the ones that exist are high. Mauser 98 actions for builds are almost history, and for the most part, anything available is garbage. Starting to look to the 93/95 Mauser actions ? But they have caliber limitations. The Arisaka actions are drying up, and prices for any parts is getting stupid.
Looking like I'll finish with the actions/rifles I have, and give it up. Start shooting the collected firearms I have, and scale down the collection.
 
I would say you are right Krp. The days of what you do are going by the wayside. No newbies are getting into those type of measures. They take an AR and swap out parts and rearrange parts and then act like they built a gun. Anybody can hang a picture on the wall but few can actually paint the picture.
You are the old school at this point and just be glad that you have the experience and knowledge of having done so.
( you still have mine to play with. has it been 16 weeks yet? lol)
 
There shore ain't a lot of guns made out of wood and steel anymore that's for sure. everybody wants a "mountain rifle" or a "lighter quicker composite stock with a cerakote finish and a carbon barrel."
 
Alright then. The 93/95 Mauser has been determined. Was a tossup between the At One or a Boyd's Prairie Hunter. Nutmeg laminate. Only because I don't own one. The At One was ordered.
The step barrel has been cut to 24" and sights removed. This pretty much determined the stock. Decent open sights are a thing of the past, and I'm getting tired of the search to find anything worth crap.
In my mind, what little is left, decided that a rifle in the PH just didn't seem to look right to me. Without open sights. The barrel is also somewhat heavier than a standard sporter contour. Put a Weaver 6X on it, This will be a combination of new/old school. The styling will be subtle, Something you'll have to look closely to appreciate. Just over a plain jane utility rifle, made for function for hunting, With a little style.
While the lines of the At One don't really appeal to me ? The function of the stock does. The adjustable L.O.P. and cheekpiece make it a good stock.
Wish Boyd's would have these features in a classic style stock.
What I'm trying to accomplish, Is getting the Boyd's laminate colors, in different styles, displayed in the shop. At least the colors that ain't butt fugly.
Pink, neon green, blue, purple, lemon yellow ? Ain't happening cap'n. The Blaze Orange was a long time considered before buying, a risk that worked out. I'll let someone else risk the other colors.
Unless something in my energy department changes, the rifle building is winding down. It's finally occurred to me that I won't live long enough to hunt the builds I've done in the last 2 years, not to mention the ones done over the last decade. I'm starting to get behind in the normal course of things for everyday living, and getting stretched too thin on time......getting old. I hate to admit defeat ? But the pain level of age is increasing to the point of unmanageable, and I'm falling behind. Time to start enjoying the firearms I've built.
I've always built in cycles, The urge seems to be getting spaced farther apart. And the build process is turning toward the AR style of building = parts swapper.
With the military surplus drying up, so are the Bubba'd rifles I used as a base for many rifles. So, a parts changer will be all that's left to do.
 
I know what you mean about old age pain. I am afraid my heavy work days are over. I am looking at both knee replacements and possibly a left side hip replacement down the road. Three disc's are degenerated in my back and arthritis is setting in where I have had so many broken bones in the past. At least with guns I can sit at a bench and play with them. I got the stuff to mount a Weaver fixed 6 on my Rem 721 and it is a cool old school gun. Talk about a strong action on these things. I know that's not anything close to what you build and transform but it is really enjoyable to sit in my gun room and do my thing.
I am currently looking at a new gun to set up for 22 shoots. Will it be any good....I don't know but we will see. It's the Browning T-bolt (with curly maple stock :) ). It does have a 20 inch bull barrel. One of the few newer guns that got my attention. I do love the maple stocks. I have a Rem model 7 in one (257 Rob) and I think they look sharp next to walnut and blue guns.
I guess what I am trying to say is that every gun doesn't need to be built to the extreme to get enjoyment out out of them. I don't think you will ever get tired of playing with guns and working up loads. You might not want to get so involved with certain builds but thats ok too.
 
You got the getting old stuff right. I am still working on my daughters house running vinyl soffit. It seems like it has taken me 3 months to do what I use to do in a day and a half. Of course when I could do it in a day and a half I had two guys working the ladders, a saw man for the vinyl and I broke all the metal. Linda tries to help but I swear if I get through this without a divorce it will be a miracle. She said I have gotten so ill to be working around she is going to throw a hammer at me. I guess I am so ill because I know what I use to do and I can't get anything done. I spent all day yesterday up on two ladders. I would go up on one and tack something it to hold it and come down and go up on the other to nail something in and then come down and go back up on the first to attach the piece permanent. Three trips to do one thing. I am so sore this morning I can hardly take a deep breath.
I have fallen in love with the Savage receivers. One because it doesn't take a heap of brain power ( that I don't have anymore) and two if you choose correctly you can turn a single gun into a whole gun cabinet full of calibers, plus the fact that with all the ready made parts available it's so easy a cave man can do it. I have a 110 receiver in the shop that I fully intended to have to sell for a industrious person to make their own custom gun and now I keep eyeing it and a Shaw barrel with a blaze orange Boyds stock to make a 7x57. I don't need a 7x57. I can't shoot all the ones I have now but I keep getting that yearning every time I see that action laying there in the case.
I like the Mauser actions but the Savage 110's are really easy to work with. That and the fact that every one I have messed with lately the trigger is about as good as it gets and since Krp discovered how to work on one, after it fell out of an action, they keep going up in status. I know it's not exactly a "special made, one of a kind, never to be seen again" item but I also love the big knob on the bolt handle that can be put on, for me it makes it easier to use since the dumbass dr made my trigger finger permanently locked at the knuckle. I really like the Crazy Ivan, bolt handles on the Mauser's but Krp can't find the guy who made them or at least was making them and quit.
 
I have had to do that too Belve. Attach a point and rearrange everything to get the other side attached. Takes forever. Ladders are almost a thing of the past for me.
Inside a gun safe is nothing but gypsum board. One sheet gives 30 minute rating. Two sheets give an hour rating. You might know this from your construction days. You get a 90 minute safe, that would be three layers of drywall. A two hour fire....?......you are screwed.
 
I was looking on Shaw's website and they are now 5 months out for their barrels.
 
Yep, we're in the same place body/pain wise. And after time it wears you down.
IF I can find the Bubba'd military arms, I'll probably continue to do a few reworks. Going back to where I started from. One talent I have is to visualize what a rifle can become, from what is present. When dealing with reworking a original military stock, there are always failures and limitations to what can be accomplished.
Going to try and get the 7.7 Jap carbine sighted in today = truck gun. A different looking little beast. And seems to have potential as a shooter. Reloaded some 150 grainers for it yesterday. Shot some OLD 174 grain round nose yesterday, just a few shots. Accuracy looks good, a little punchy on recoil. 150's may just do the trick. 17" bbl. 3x7x32 Redfield TV scope. This and the 06 double rifle are being considered for where I may be hunting this year. I think I may go scout the area this morning. But from what I've seen ? I'd like to use the Jap ? But the double rifle will be a better choice. May have to set up for cross pasture shots, and the double rifle will be better for this. May even have to go with the 300 WSM. I've seen in the past how this deer travels, and may have to set up for the long shots IF he doesn't switch movement.
 
Got to gettin on reloading...7.7 Jap ..7x57...284 Win...REALLY good results on Savage 110 build 284 Win = deer whacker. Working on the 7x57 build...Not good results, But I'm fairly sure it's the scope. Just got done working up 145 grain loads for the 284 and 7x57. The first one is a 139 gr. Hornady SST. The second is a Speer 145 gr. spitzer boat tail. 2 loads because the bullets used are unfamiliar to me.
The Jap I went with 150 gr. Hornady spitzer. I didn't have the 174 gr. rn. Hornady Interlocks I know work well. As the rifle is short barreled, I wanted the 174's for brush work.....WTF
 
After quite some time...The 416 Ruger on a P-Enfield is DONE !!! Front sight is finally on, and it was a biotch....The steel on Shaw barrels is harder than anticipated. But it's DONE...11.lb rifle unloaded, 22" heavy contour spiral fluted barrel. Original rear peep sighted action. Custom hooded front sight. Some type of custom fiberglass stock. This rifle is chubby and stubby. At first glance looks like a bolt action slug gun. No doubt different looking. a style of it's own....The barrel is a tapered bull. Someone, at some point, worked on the 2 stage trigger. Works nicely.
Now to see if I got the sights right, and if I can hit anything with it, without getting bitch slapped. I've shot it once, and seemed manageable. If anyone grabs this rifle to shoot it ? The look and feel ought to be enough to warn just about anyone, This is a heavy recoiling rifle.
 
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