The Accurate Reloading Forums
Cleaning up a receiver
23 February 2012, 21:48
tin canCleaning up a receiver
This one:
Emery cloth, wet/dry, stones- how would you approach it?
Thanks.
23 February 2012, 22:16
J.D.SteeleI'd probably begin by removing the clip guides on the rear bridge. They are strictly military and I believe they're soft-soldered.
I would then begin to use India stones in a coarse grit; with a VERY few receivers I've had to begin with coarser carborundum stones but I don't like to use them because they're soft and so will quickly wear. The India stones are hard and stiff, so they keep the flats flatter and the rounded parts more ripple-free.
Then on to finer-grit Indias and then emery cloth with a backer to even-up the surface finish and polish lines.
Some of these old Mannlichers look mighty spiffy when case-colored. Brownell's sells 3 different shapes of butter-knife bolt handles and the one I used welded very well. Most of these old military rifles have a comparatively stiff bolt lift as-issued but they can be made to be just as smooth and easily-operated as any commercial Mannlicher-Schoenauer. Simply lap the cocking cam(s) with increasingly-finer grades of garnet lapping compound, and I PROMISE that you'll be amazed and gratified at the difference!
Regards, Joe
__________________________
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23 February 2012, 22:40
tin canGot an opinion on placing this aperture sight on top of the bolt shroud?
In order for the windage function to work (it pivots on the front mounting screw, the rear screw rides in a slot) it would have to be mounted on a milled flat, or a contoured "table" to fit the shroud. So it seems to me, anyway.
thanks.
Also- can I take the above-line pitting out on this one without compromising the receiver ring strength?
-and, to case the receiver the clip guides would have to go, yes?
&thanks again.
24 February 2012, 01:10
J.D.Steelequote:
Originally posted by tin can:
Got an opinion on placing this aperture sight on top of the bolt shroud?
Sounds good to me. It will slow the lock time but IMO that's immaterial.
In order for the windage function to work (it pivots on the front mounting screw, the rear screw rides in a slot) it would have to be mounted on a milled flat, or a contoured "table" to fit the shroud. So it seems to me, anyway.
thanks.
Also- can I take the above-line pitting out on this one without compromising the receiver ring strength?
IMO yes, little to no problem.-and, to case the receiver the clip guides would have to go, yes?
Yes, but IMO they need to GO anyway 'cause they're ugly!&thanks again.
HTH, regards, Joe
__________________________
You can lead a human to logic but you can't make him think.
NRA Life since 1976. God bless America!
24 February 2012, 01:22
tin canI'm mourning the loss of my clip guides already...

24 February 2012, 04:04
SR4759Tin Can
You have some mis-matched parts I believe.
The receiver with the clip guides should have a slot in the left side for the cartridge feed rail. That I think you have.
The trigger guard magazine assembly should have slats on each side to take up the lateral space left by the packet clip on each side of the cartridges. The slats project out of the magazine well and up into the bottom of the receiver.
So you need a different receiver or trigger guard assy. Let me know if you decide to replace one or the other.
Your trigger guard should look like this.
You rifle was modified to use the stripper clips so it has no need for the packet clip latch.
24 February 2012, 04:07
craigsterThis receiver looked much like yours when I started. I pretty much used the method Joe suggested.
24 February 2012, 04:28
tin canquote:
Originally posted by craigster:
This receiver looked much like yours when I started. I pretty much used the method Joe suggested.
So- when you were stoning it, it's long strokes with the stone parallel to the bore, radii &curves use round stones, crannies can be got to with soft stones that conform, then finer and final work with emery?
Nice job.
24 February 2012, 06:02
craigsterThanks.
That's pretty much it. When I get to the "sanding" point I use wet/dry paper and mineral spirits for the wet.
24 February 2012, 18:07
Toomany Toolsquote:
Originally posted by tin can:
...how would you approach it?
Thanks.
A cutting torch?

John Farner
If you haven't, please join the NRA!
24 February 2012, 18:11
D Humbargerquote:
Originally posted by craigster:
This receiver looked much like yours when I started. I pretty much used the method Joe suggested.
So let me get this straight. If you rub that thing lengthwise long enough it will turn into a M98?

I just couldn't resist.
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
24 February 2012, 18:30
tin canquote:
Originally posted by D Humbarger:
So let me get this straight. If you rub that thing lengthwise long enough it will turn into a M98?

I just couldn't resist.
No, but it puts hair on your stones.
24 February 2012, 18:36
GhubertJust don't go blind.
24 February 2012, 20:28
Mike BromleyHow I cleaned it up , would have something to do with the finish that was going to be applied ! If you're using anything other than blueing , there's no need to polish . Into the cabinet it would go . You could beadblast and go with a flat blue . Many options !
Don't forget to have your Liberals spayed or neutered !
25 February 2012, 05:29
NakihunterI am not a gunsmith or even very competent with DIY projects.
I have wanted to try rust bluing and have been trying to clean up my old Remington 22 scoremaster for over 3 years. It has a fair amount of surface rust and some fine pits. I first took the barrelled action off and removed the sights. Then I tried to scrub it with steel wool but it failed to clean up all the pits. Then I tried a 240 grit wet & dry but again it was not really tidy enough. It did remove most of the rust but it looked so rough and the pits were still dirty. Scrubbing with steel wool just polished it up and exposed the pits even more.
Then I got this idea of using a brass / steel wire brush attachment to my drill. This worked well in removing the rust from all the pits and the letering on the barrel. Now the rifle looked "white without any rust but it was very scratched up. Polishing with 240 grit wet & dry helped. Finally I got an idea to polish the whole thing with finer wire wheels on my Dremmel tool
Here are the pictures
Now the pits are a lot smaller and not as obvious. The wire brush / wheel does get into all the corners and nooks. it also does not leave spots as long as I keep moving it and am uniform in appluing it to the barrelled action.
I'll give it another wet & dry scrub and a stell wool polish to remove all the streaky marks and then I'll wash it with soda bicarb before trying rust bluing.
I would appreciate any comments on this idea. Should I try this on my good rifle?
"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."
25 February 2012, 09:01
craigsterSee how it turns out and then decide what you want to do on your "good rifle".
25 February 2012, 13:54
Big EarlSlick over the curves with 800 emery and grind the straits. Earl.
01 March 2012, 03:07
Lord FrithStep away from the Dremel.
Stephen
01 March 2012, 05:11
craigsterquote:
Originally posted by Lord Frith:
Step away from the Dremel.
Stephen
There's nothing wrong with a Dremel
if you know how to use one.
01 March 2012, 07:44
kcstottElbow grease and EDM stones
www.KLStottlemyer.comDeport the Homeless and Give the Illegals citizenship. AT LEAST THE ILLEGALS WILL WORK
02 March 2012, 16:39
disassemblyMy suggestion would be to observe someone who already has knowledge and "control" of the tools polish a receiver as there is already a sufficient supply of screwed up receivers available on the market.