OT:Cleaning up dads old bolt gun

[draperjojo]

Back in the early 40's my dad bought a Model of 1917 Remington from the NRA for $8. The gun was manufactured in 1918. He sporterized it and then left it at home in W Va when he went into the Naval Academy. His brother hung on to that gun and mounted up a Redfield 4X scope on it and used it to take deer and elk in Colorado and Idaho. A couple years ago he sent it to me along with a Model 37 break barrel that belonged to dad.

I decided it was time the ole rifle got some TLC. I Murphy Oil Soaped the stock and cleaned it up. I ground a new recoil Pad (that looked identical to the old one that had dry rotted) and installed it. I steamed a couple small dings out of the Superior brand stock with an iron and a damp rag, then went over it with Truoil and stock sheen. I fiberglass bedded the receiver and floated the barrel. I reblued the metal except for the shiny part of the bolt.The original trigger was inconsistent, so I installed a Timney trigger set at 2-1/2 lbs...and man is it a crisp break!! I installed a .020" shim under the rear scope mount to steal a little adjustment and then I loc-tited down the scope mounts, and I took off the Redfield 4X scope and remounted a 3 X 9 with turrets for the 180 grain 30-06 cartridges. I dropped my laser down the barrel and bore sighted it. Now I'm gonna look for something to clean up the original strap...maybe dark brown shoe polish...It cleaned up pretty nice! Maybe I'll clean up that old 12 gauge break barrel model 37 next, it could use a little TLC too.

[FWiedner]

That's a fine looking old rifle.

[.45colt]

Nice Job . It's a Great looking rifle now.

[Pop Watts]

I love that rifle and the history that goes with it.
Unfortunately I did not get any of my Fathers or Grandfathers firearms.
You are a lucky man to have that old rifle and I am happy to see you treating it with the love and respect it deserves.
I love your work.
Pop.

[Borregos]

Nice Job . It's a Great looking rifle now.

What he said

[octagon]

I am sure your Dad would be very proud. Great job on an admirable endeavor.

[Centennial]

That is wonderful. I'll bet it shoots good too.

[Griff]

1st clean the strap with a good Neatfoot's Oil. Available thruWal-Mart or at Tractor Supply. Get the crud out of the leather before you seal it in with a wax...

[3leggedturtle]

In '78 I paid $50 for a very badly sporterized 1917 with a 2 groove barrel. It shot cast boolits as well as any rifle I have had since. I really miss it. Hope you get it to the range soon. 3leg

[Rusty]

A beautiful rifle with a great history, can it get any better?

[draperjojo]

1st clean the strap with a good Neatfoot's Oil.

Thank you! I did and it looks much better, now to get to the range and test it out.

[draperjojo]

So I took dad's 96 year old 30-06 out to the range to see how bad the barrel was shot out, and I was able to sight in to the bulls eye at 100 yards with 4 bullets. SWEET! But after that, the next couple of shots weren't even on paper?????? I looked down at the rear scope mount and the 6-48 threads are stripped out and the back of the scope is floating around from the recoil of a couple of bullets.....aaagh!.

I dropped it off to a local gunsmith who had it for 2 weeks and said he could repair it, but apparently decided he couldn't. So I ordered in an 8-40 bottom tap, 8-40 screws, and the correct size drill bit and rethreaded the holes. This time I mounted up a 4.5-14 Nikon Buckmaster.....Professionals tend to disappoint me sometimes.....give me a craftsman any day over a "professional".....rant over....

So this morning I took 5 different bullets and headed to the range. The old 30-06 didn't like factory 150gr, 165gr, 180gr, handloaded 185gr Bergers, but did like the 210gr Berger handloads.....I wasn't expecting that.... I will zero the scope on Bullseye next trip to the range. I should have built more of the 210gr cartridges otherwise I would have done it this trip... When you can put 3 bullets into a spot slightly bigger than a quarter at 100 yards using a gun built in 1918, that's pretty good. Almost finished.....

[harry]

So I took dad's 96 year old 30-06 out to the range to see how bad the barrel was shot out, and I was able to sight in to the bulls eye at 100 yards with 4 bullets. SWEET! But after that, the next couple of shots weren't even on paper?????? I looked down at the rear scope mount and the 6-48 threads are stripped out and the back of the scope is floating around from the recoil of a couple of bullets.....aaagh!.

I dropped it off to a local gunsmith who had it for 2 weeks and said he could repair it, but apparently decided he couldn't. So I ordered in an 8-40 bottom tap, 8-40 screws, and the correct size drill bit and rethreaded the holes. This time I mounted up a 4.5-14 Nikon Buckmaster.....Professionals tend to disappoint me sometimes.....give me a craftsman any day over a "professional".....rant over....

So this morning I took 5 different bullets and headed to the range. The old 30-06 didn't like factory 150gr, 165gr, 180gr, handloaded 185gr Bergers, but did like the 210gr Berger handloads.....I wasn't expecting that.... I will zero the scope on Bullseye next trip to the range. I should have built more of the 210gr cartridges otherwise I would have done it this trip... When you can put 3 bullets into a spot slightly bigger than a quarter at 100 yards using a gun built in 1918, that's pretty good. Almost finished.....

I have basicly the same gun that was my fathers, the high BC bullets don't seem to stabilize. I went with nosler partion and sierra game king 150gr bullets, which have a longer body and they worked very well.

[Grizz]

Nice Job . It's a Great looking rifle now.

What he said

what they said

thanks for the memories

[walks with gun]

way to go.

[fordwannabe]

I also have my Dad's 1917, it was his deer rifle for years but he never got a deer with it. He died in January 2001 and in December 2001 I took my usual rifle out the first day. NOTHIN not a daggone thing, took Dad's the second day and about half an hour into the hunt the biggest doe I have ever shot stopped at 20-30 yards broadside and just stood there. I was crying like a baby the whole time I was dressing her out. I haven't taken her hunting after that. Good job on your rifle and if you get a chance to shoot something with it you will know you are not alone that day. Bye the Bye my Dad stocked up on the Winchester silvertip 180s for this gun and it loves them, still have 5 or 6 boxes for his grandkids to use. Tom