What's your level of gunsmithing ability?

[CleverNickname]

I can detail strip all my guns, and do minor gunsmithing work like installing new triggers, etc. I don't really have the tools, let alone the knowledge to do more.

If anyone answers the last two questions, I really want to know about it.

 

[tc300mag1]

I can do more involved gunsmithing work .. Would like to build up a 1911 havent done that yet but ive done lots of other repairs..

 

[joab]

I can do the stripping and cleaning and most repairs that don't require tools. The repairs Ihaven't done yet I can learn easily. I hpoe to find out soon if I can build a 1911 just looking for the right platform.

 

[J.P.]

I can detail strip my guns and do minor work.(springs,polishing,etc.)

 

[Moparmike]

I cannot break down the bolt of my Mauser, nor can I break down the bolts on my 12ga, 10mm, or AK. Cleaning is not a problem.

 

[FPrice]

I can do a little bit of work and hope to learn to do more.

My desire is to get to the level of an armorer, or at least to what I think an armorer should be able to do. Check out a new from the factory gun, place it in service, analyze and correct minor problems. With every gun I own.

 

[Greg L]

Since the C&R arrived I've become quite adept at detail stripping all sorts of long arms (that cosmoline gets everywhere ).

I try not to bubba things up so if it gets above my level of expertise it goes to the back of the safe for a year or so when hopefully my skill level will have increased enough to meet the task at hand.

 

[cool45auto]

Minor gunsmithing. Replace stuff, polishing, etc...

 

[cdbeaver]

I'm a retired printer. How many of you can get a press ready, set the type, place the hot metal type into a chase and get a good print?

I am a firm believer in letting the expert do the job. I don't change the oil in my vehicles, either, or re-shingle my house. I can, however, cook a wicked medium-rare steak.

 

[P95Carry]

I chose #3 ... which about covers things now.

I did tho in years gone by do quite a lot - such as making a new firing pin ... cylinder bolt ... small parts really, tho I did thread a barrel too long ago. I still have a lathe but .. do prefer to leave things to the guys who know a lot more than I on the specifics.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Good enough that people keep giving me money to work on their guns. I know, I don't understand it either...

I haven't finished an 80% reciever yet, that's my next project.

- Chris

 

[Mulliga]

I voted "I can strip my guns enough to clean them." I guess I could theoretically take apart a few of my guns (especially my AK and SKS) fully, but it seems to be a major PITA to disassemble and then reassemble the average bolt. Lord knows I had enough trouble getting my Yugo trigger assembly back in.

 

[Bainx]

Somewhat similar to Chris Rhines only, I don't sell services yet. I have made parts for my 1873 Win. lever action as well as parts for a flintlock pistol and a Trapdoor.
It's the engineer in me.

 

[MagKnightX]

Between the second and third lowest, but I chose second.

One time the entire trigger pack for my 10/22 flew apart. I put it back together, with just a few screwdrivers. I was not happy.

 

[possenti]

Around work, people come to me with broken firearms. I've installed aftermarket stocks, mounted scopes, replaced firing pins and various springs. On occassion, I've fabricated small parts - with my moto-tool, drills and files - to replace ones that I couldn't find anywhere. There's a machinist up the road who handles all of the harder stuff. He recently made a custom muzzle-brake for my MAK-90.

Everybody thinks I'm some kind of gun-whiz, but 95% of the stuff I do I think everyone else should be capable of doing. I like to tinker - sometimes extensively - with my guns, but functionality and safety are always priorities.

The attachment below is my old Marlin model 60. It sat in the closet for years with a busted stock until I decided to "repair" it. The only original parts are the reciever and barrel.

 

[Josey]

You left a choice out. I have a Grace screwdriver set and a Brownells catalog.

 

[Nick1911]

I'm Joe Average. I can do basic, and sometimes more involved cleaning - however I can't make my own parts. (Although I'd love to know how... any good books ot this sort of thing? I have a pretty vast tool collection and can do just about any auto repair.)

Quick Question: What is an 80% reciever?

Nick

 

[CleverNickname]

An "80% receiver" is a firearm receiver that's not legally a firearm yet, due to the fact that it has had 80% (or less) of the required machining work completed. Because it's not legally a firearm, there's no FFL transfer required. As far as I know, there's no law that says 80% is the magic number, it's just an ATF ruling.

 

[Nick1911]

so is it "off the books" (and thus - I'd assume - illegal?) Or do you have to get a permit of some sort or another?

Thanks

 

[Freedspeak]

Took a smithing course to go for FFl, back in the early 80's , but more to learn how to work on my and freinds guns. Dropped the ffl aspect when they got bitchy on the kitchen bit.

 

[cracked butt]

I have no fear of detail stripping, some guns are just downright interesting to strip down.

I've done some stock inletting, metal finishing, stock finishing on a muzzleloader I built, and have fabricated a taller front sight for my 03A3.

 

[Dave R]

When you buy guns assembled by Century Arms, you'd better be prepared to do some minor gunsmithing, or be prepared to send 'em back for rework.

Buying Century firearms forced me into minor gunsmithing skills. I have filed a few parts to make them fit better, replaced a few parts (extractor, & hammer, for example), and re-shaped fixed sights to get the POI I wanted.

I enjoy it. When I fix or adjust something, it makes the gun more "my own."

 

[BamBam-31]

I'm prolly in the detail strip/minor smithing category. I've learned enough to know that there's a whole bunch I still need to learn....

 

[gearbox]

I said I can detail strip and do minor gunsmithing, but the truth is that I can only clean my guns and have detail stripped one of them several times. Haven't actually modified anything, save for polishing a chamber and adjusting sights.

 

[Zach S]

I can detail strip mine, and have done some minor 'smithing. Changed and tuned an extractor, did some filing on a slide stop, and dremeled a mag catch. Think thats about it...

[edit]
Well, I've never tried to detail strip my LDA. Like an AOD transmission, its uncharted territory for me.
[/edit]