Has anyone had any luck with Wheeler drill and tap jig kit, listed in the new Midway catalog. its advertised the the new catalog priced and $49.48. would it be cheaper to buy the kit and do it my self or have someone do the work. Just wondering

All one has to do is suffer the penalty of one broken tap in a hole and the cost of having someone else do that particular job looks extremely cheap.

Agree with Vapodog - breaking a tap will ruin your day.

That particular kit works pretty well in my experience - I have one. The only disadvantage, which I think is by design, is that the barrel must be off. I think they made it that way so that people don't drill through the barrel shank and into the chamber. IIRC the hole layout is such that all of the holes end up being all the way through (or could be without hurting anything), so you don't have to worry about bottoming out a tap so much.

Todd

I can't imagine using a fixture like that. With your fixture for holding the action, just use the scope base for a template and line it up in the mill to be level and on center.

I have used that Midway fixture for several years. I have been well-satisfied, and I have always had bases perfectly centered and holes correctly spaced (for Leupold One-piece bases at least). I would advise you to buy your drills and taps by the half-dozen from Brownells. You get a price break that way, and you need to use a fresh drill and tap for each receiver that you do.

Clemson

I have used the Wheeler fixture for years on ~25 different Mausers and one Arisaka.
It cost me $40 and I have got $400 worth of good out of it.

The fixture needs a couple modifications to do the very short 1903 Turkish actions.

Not using that fixture is a big pain in the ass, as then I have to think. Getting every hole in the right spot with a milling machine takes longer, is a headache, and can produce errors. I can drill and tap on the Wheeler and a drill press in my sleep.

The fixture is made so the barrel must be removed. The fixture can be modified to fix that, but then the mistake can be made of drilling into the chamber. Don't be so lazy, pull the barrel.


drilled and tapped VZ24s


drilled and tapped Turks





The drill bushing is a different size than the tap bushing. Both came in my kit. This picture shows them both being used at the same time, which would never happen.

I don't even consider removing the barrel and I would be willing to bet I can drill and tap a Mauser quicker than you and the mill is MUCH more accurate.

I've been using one of the wheeler jigs and it works great. I've broken one tap off in the hole and I just shattered it and picked it out with a dental pick, no big deal.

Weagle

Jim,
That's becuase you are a REAL gunsmith [the M70 type safety and shroud you just sent me is excellent].
I am 56 and just bought a mill and lathe 5 years ago.
At work I am an electrical engineer with technicians that drill all the holes for me.
I heap praise on any tech that gets the holes so line up in an Aluminum box.



What does it all mean?
Most people cannot get the holes in the right place.
Most people will screw up a blind hole in drill and tap.
Most people think 3.2% alcohol is an ingredient and not a ratio.