Building resources for full figured bolt guns

[Taylorz1]

Growing up I feel like there was an almost endless selection of parts, stock blanks and articles related to modifying Mausers and Springfields into fine sporting rifles. As interest has shifted to black guns, not only is the parts market for building fine bolt guns vanishing but the knowledge is as well. I wanted to poll the audience and see where people were sourcing things like extended bottom metal for magnum mauser builds (i can think of sunnyhill and swift) and stock patterns to accommodate a beefy magnum build with said extended magazines (i dont know who cuts a stock like this anymore). Also would be interested in articles/books people might suggest on topics like extending magazine boxes, adding square bridges, lengthening actions, fabricating quarter ribs etc etc. Duane Wiebe still produces his great booklet on action modifications but im not aware of much else out there. Thanks to all and best

Zack

 

[Josh P]

That pamphlet is one I still need to source, but I spend more time than I’d like to admit trawling through the archives of discussion forums, bookmarking relevant resources, and using some basic internet sleuthing to buy less expensive physical copies and even (questionably sourced) digital copies of often out of print materials.

There’s no telling how many pages of classifieds, gunbroker/guns international, and auction listings I’ve plowed through in search of appropriate donors, sights, components, etc. Sometimes I’d probably be better served sourcing what I need for the projects in hand, but I can’t help but be on the lookout for several potential projects ahead.

These methods are much more time and financially acceptable than burning fuel chasing the gun show circuit. The local gunsmith knows the type of things that catch my attention and is kind enough to alert me when they pass through. I try to help others find the more vanilla items for their own projects and they alert me of their relevant finds as well.

It’s one big treasure hunt and I do not look forward to having every last part and page accumulated.

 

[Taylorz1]

I talked to Duane just the other day and his pamphlets are still available. There isnt. Better guy to do business with. The kind of information Im looking for tended to be published in old gun rags and gunsmithing books. I know somewhere I read a book chapter on cutting and welding two standard mauser actions to make a magnum and a kurtz. Where that article is I cant seem to find. Same for information on making extended/drop magazines, welding on square bridges, different mill setups to make both integral and separate quarter ribs etc. It seems like a dwindling number of gunsmiths still know how to do this type of work and the printed resources seem to predate the internet.

 

[Josh P]

In the past I was able to find digitized entire runs of magazines like Soldier of Fortune, but I didn’t have the foresight to save the ones that had gunsmithing info. The cool factor of the kinds of things you describe now far outweigh the cool factor of SoF content. I may be able to go back and scrounge some of that up though.