As Jack Belk said: "It's not perfect."

We'll add some notes here from time to time, and eventually get a page added to our web site about the gremlins that got by us and how we'll solve them.

First is the .330 hole spacing. It's gone in the short action, replaced by a three-hole arrangement that offers the best in 1-piece and 2-piece base flexibility.

For the Long Action, it was a bit tougher to cut in a change. We chose this week, when the machining center paused for maintenance on the ES450. Stainless Steel receivers begin on Friday and at that time, we'll do away with the rear hole on the .330 pattern. While retaining the front hole, we'll add a .862 pattern that will allow all bases from Leupold, Talley, Burris, Weaver, and Warne to be fitted. Thanks, all, for pushing this one forward.

Custom Triggers: Late in the game, one of our vendors pointed out that our spec for the sear pin hole in the sear was undersized (.154 instead of .160 like USRAC). We had 5500 sear pins in stock and this part has a long lead time. Also the first two waves of receivers were already machined for the smaller pin.

Specs: the pin is .155 +.000/-.002. The hole in the receiver is .154 +/-.001. The hole in the sear is .156 +.001/-.000.

From the above you can see the nature of the problem. Installing a Timmney or other trigger means reaming the inner receiver hole from .154 up a few mils - no larger than .159 please. This is necessary as a the larger hole in the custom trigger requires a large pin diameter to maintain the M1999's precise trigger/sear geometry. A USRAC sear pin can be used or you can wait for our replacements and get them free of charge when they arrive in about 12 weeks. We'll cut in an ECO on the receiver when the new pins are available.

Drag on bolt rotation: We've noticed that some firing pin springs try to slip over the nose of the shroud. This is a result of the rounded surface of the rearmost coil and the limited area of support on the shroud. The spring expands and drags on the interior of the bolt when this happens. We solved the problem by grinding the bottom coil flat, but some wave-2 receivers where shipped before this fix was implemented. Serial numbers below C02-1075 could be affected.

M1999 actions tend to be very tight when new and working the action out of the stock can be deceptively stiff. The actions in our shot-show rifles work like lightning, now that they been "fired" by untold numbers of interested people at the show.

Thanks a bunch for sharing this with us Rod. It is just incredible how up-front and honest you guys are about your product. It is such a rare thing these days - in particular in the firearms business. Your customers will reward you for listening (or at least, they damn well should! ).

- mike

Knowing a lot of folks will want to install a customer trigger on their M1999, we decided to try a Jewel to see if there were any issues beyond the known sear pin issue listed in the opening post.

We discovered one more. The .375 receiver through-hole for sear is .040 farther to the rear in the M1999 than in the M70. Can't say how we missed this one, but it's not fatal. Today, we cut in an immediate change with the 4140 receivers being machined. Cut over serial number to be supplied later.

For the earlier receivers, the fix is this. Mill (or file) the front edge of the sear through-hole forward until the Timney, Jewel, what-have-you fits without interference.

The sear on a M1999 is .250 wide. On a Jewel its more like .180. You don't need to use a full width (.375 diameter) file or mill to effect this modification. A .250 mill or file extending the front edge of the through-hole down the cocking piece channel is the ticket.

This is standard procedure on some Canjars (single set). Do not go further forward than necessary. There is a step in the bottom of the channel to hold the M1999 sear back so that it does not touch the bolt body. This step is currently .140in in length. Moving the hole forward .040 will take this down to .100in, which is plenty.

Any questions, give us a call. (406-755-4867)

A list of 'smiths who could handle these issues would be nice. I have a local smith but would rather ship the gun to someone familiar with this receiver who is "up" on all the quirks.

Thanks.

Are we to presume that the changes are necessary for only the 4140 receivers and that the short action SS receivers will NOT be affected?

Well, guys, after posting the above, I went to install the Jewel in a M70 and guess what? The sear interfers with the front of edge of the Win hole too. Like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. About five minutes with a square jeweler's file cut the "corners" needed to let the sear come back up on recocking the action. This really is a simple fix. ANY gunsmith could do it. Anyone who installs aftermarket triggers has probably done it before.

Long actions from yesterday and all LH short and Long and all RH short will have the sear hole moved foreward by .040. As the above proves, this minimizes the issue but may not solve it entirely.

[ 04-04-2003, 22:21: Message edited by: Rod@MRC ]