Brownells-Trinidad American Firearms Gunshop

Trinidad State Junior College Gunsmithing program added a third year to their program with the assistance of grants from Brownells.  This program created a retail gunshop where students operate the store for the purpose of building real world skills in operating all facets of a store, from customer service, to inventory, to gunsmithing, you name it.

Recently Pete Brownell received a rifle built in this unique gunshop just for him.  Below is a picture of Pete on a successful hunt with this rifle built by the staff of Brownells-Trinidad American Firearms Gunshop.   719-846-5000

Here is a great place to print targets.

Lots of different targets to choose from. Something for every discipline.

www.reloadbench.com/pdf.html

Custom 338 Lapua

Here is a rifle built for a client.  Pictures are worth a thousand words, but I will add this.  I personally like Classic Style stocks but a wild thumbhole now and then cleanses the rifle builders soul.

8×57 (8mm Mauser) Headspace Gage

Here is one of those little things that can make life as a gunsmith tough.  A SAAMI drawing from 11/12/1938 shows a shoulder angle of 20 degrees and 48 minutes.  There is a later revision in 1947 that retains that 20 degree angle. Jump forward in time to4/21/1980 and SAAMI issued a drawing with a 19 degree shoulder.  Its less than two degrees so what is the big deal?  Well the problem is the differnce in angle will cause confusion if not understood.  The 19 degree gage, if used in an old style chamber will contact at the junction of the neck and shoulder, thus causing the headpace to appear tight, or tighter than it really is. You can chamber cast to see which chamber you have if need be.   Is this a big deal?  Not really, just one of those things that forces the gunsmith to check more details.  You might have to check your gages because most are not marked as to shoulder angle.

Benjamin Franklin Knew it was Inevitable

To members of the Constitutional Convention, “Sir, though we may set out in the beginning with moderate salaries, we shall find that such will not be of long continuance. Reasons will never be wanting for proposed augmentations; and there will always be a party for giving more to rulers, that the ruler may be able in return to give more to them. Hence, as all history informs us, there has been in every state and kingdom a constant kind of warfare between the governing and the governed, the one striving to obtain more for its support, and the other to pay less. And this has alone occasioned great convulsions, actual civil wars, ending either in dethroning of the princes or enslaving of the people. Generally, indeed, the ruling power carries its point, and we see the revenues of princes constantly increasing, and we see that they are never satisfied, but alway in want of more. The more the people are discontented with the oppression of taxes, the greater need the prince has of money to distribute among his partisans, and pay the troops that are to suppress all resistance, and enable him to plunder at pleasure.”

Quoted from “The 5000 Year Leap Principles of Freedom 101” Skousen 1981

Restocking a Rifle by Alvin Linden

Published originally in 3 separate booklets.

1. The Inletting of Gunstock Blanks and
   Modifications of the 1903 Springfield
2. The Shaping of Inletted Blanks and
   Alterations to the Winchester Model 70
3. The Finishing of Gunstocks and
   Conversions of the 1917 Enfield Rifle

Published by Thomas G. Samworth originally.
In 1969 the one-volume book was published by Stackpole Books.
Library of Congress #69-16152

This is a book that is not vary common, but if you’re interested in building stocks for rifles it is extremely valuable.  Alvin Linden was a talented stock maker and sketch artist.  This book teaches you how to work from a blank a skill that is dying way as most gunsmiths cannot charge enough to cover the time required for this work.  Most work from pre-carved blanks.  I know several gunsmiths including myself who make our own patterns and then either farm out the carving work with our pattern, or own a pantograph duplicating carver.

There are plenty of illustrations in the book so that Linden is able to show what he means when it comes to techniques that the novice might not understand if only described in writing.  A number of tool and methods are shown in the text which can make the job of working a blank of wood much easier.

If your book is found complete, there will be three full scale posters, printed both sides.  These were drawn by Alvin Linden in support of his writings.  If you were left with any questions from the text this material should answer those questions.

While there are only three guns covered here there is certainly enough material for a creative wood worker to build a stock for just about any action.  I am aware of one other item that is a great supplement to this book as it lays out the dimensions for a modern classic rifle stock in a way that can be applied to any action as well.    Here is a link to the source for that material.

In short, this book by Alvin Linden is a must have for anybody interested in stock making.  But if you a gunsmith or a gunsmithing student, you should jump on this book if you see one.  Good Reading!

Montana Firearms Freedom Act

This is the law the made Montana manufactured firearms independent of federal law so long as they did not become involved in interstate commerce.

I saw an article this week that a U.S. District Court Judge tossed a test case for this law out of the court. Will see what happens next.

Apex Tactical Announcing New Product

John Allchin, Gunsmith & World Class Shooter

I went to Gunsmithing School with John.  Not only is the a great shot, he is one of the funniest guys I have ever met.  John also own a company that manufactures various gun related parts.  He is inventive and have come up with some pretty cool products.  Check them out at:  www.allchingunparts.com

New Print Edition of the Hawk Reloading Manual!

Years ago I put together a reloading manual for Hawk Cartridges.  It has been available in CD from Z-Hat Custom ever since.  Over the years I have added to it and clients have long requested that I produce a print version of the manual.

I have the print edition almost ready to go to the publisher.  I added data for three cartridges that in new for this edition.  The 348 Hawk, 9.3mm Hawk, and the 411 Express.  Some pressure data is added as well for many of the cartridges.

Another important addition will be the Chamber dimensions.  In the past they have been held by reamer makers.  It has come to my attention recently that some of the tools being made for Hawk Cartridges have been incorrect in some dimensions.  Since we provide ammo and formed brass it is important to clear up these errors.

Drawings for the manual will include dimensions and case capacity.

Several of the Hawk line of cartridge appeared in the 11th edition of “Cartridges of the World”.    RCBS has been making dies for all of the Hawk line for many years.

Articles in the manual include material for several different authors who have used and tested Hawk rifles in the field.  It looks like the print edition of the manual will run 170 pages or more.

The information for the 411 Hawk is greatly expanded to include a powder profile the suggest not only the best powders to use, but some to stay away from for the 411.  In addition there is a article about lead bullet loads for the 411 that will save you a ton of experimenting and head you toward the best results right from the start.

I will announce the publication date right here as soon as I know for sure.