• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

M40a1 build guide


some cool info! summed up
 
  • Like
Reactions: USMCSGT0331
I sold this rifle to a friend of mine a long time ago. He called me and said he had not shot it for 10+ years and said I could have it back. I have been reading that these things go for big money now. Unfortunately I dont have the correct scope and Im not gonna pay for one either so this is the best its gonna get. When GA built it they clip slotted the action for me anyway. Just glad I got her back.

Rich
 
Ok, just remember there is no such thing as a stupid question…just stupid people. That said…for the M40A1 22lr trainer folks. Are they single shot or repeater actions?
 
Ok, just remember there is no such thing as a stupid question…just stupid people. That said…for the M40A1 22lr trainer folks. Are they single shot or repeater actions?
I kept mine a single shot... by far my favorite rifle :cool:

40X 22-1.jpg

DW
 
I just confidently went to order a set of Wichita sling swivels only to be told no swivels are available, AND the business was sold to McMillan.
I called McMillan, and they do not have any available, and have not started to make any. The lady on the phone told me to call back in August and maybe she would have an update on if/when they were going to start making them... and I thought that would be the easy part to get!!
DW
 
Welp....guess I'm doing another a1. Snuck well under what I was expecting. Not sure if smear or forest yet. Will take better pics when it gets here.
View attachment 8168127View attachment 8168128View attachment 8168129
I wondered who else was bidding on this! Glad to see it show up here so I can find out what it is!
DW
Suppose I'll need to start shaking some bushes for a Unertl and mount. Plans are invasion a1 to pair up with the painted m24
This might be an option:
 
Does anyone know of anyone still doing black oxide work? Mike Lau with tba said “it didn’t come out right” so he is putting a duracoat finish on the rifle. Originally, I was going to wait until that started wearing first. However, I am thinking about having the duracoat removed and the rifle black oxided.

Any help would be much appreciated.
 
Does anyone know of anyone still doing black oxide work? Mike Lau with tba said “it didn’t come out right” so he is putting a duracoat finish on the rifle. Originally, I was going to wait until that started wearing first. However, I am thinking about having the duracoat removed and the rifle black oxided.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Can’t recommend GUNBLACK in New York enough for black oxide and park.

Great to deal with. I have some shotty parts there now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: corsairpilot62
I purchased a rifle off GunBroker basically to get this stock. I had to replace the butt pad and install the correct sling swivels. It is a hollow civilian stock, but it was weighted by a previous owner, so it feels pretty close to the correct weight. Unfortunately, it is inlet for a stock Remington 700 bottom metal, so I will have to stray from the correct bottom metal on this build. I'm thinking a good steel bottom metal that has the standard Remington shape will be a good compromise... does anyone have a suggestion as to who makes a good steel bottom metal?
Csmear1.jpg

Csmear2.jpg
csmear3.jpg
 
I purchased a rifle off GunBroker basically to get this stock. I had to replace the butt pad and install the correct sling swivels. It is a hollow civilian stock, but it was weighted by a previous owner, so it feels pretty close to the correct weight. Unfortunately, it is inlet for a stock Remington 700 bottom metal, so I will have to stray from the correct bottom metal on this build. I'm thinking a good steel bottom metal that has the standard Remington shape will be a good compromise... does anyone have a suggestion as to who makes a good steel bottom metal?
View attachment 8174192
View attachment 8174193View attachment 8174194

Sunny Hill Enterprises makes a steel bottom metal.

Also another good option would be Badger Ordnance. Although I think Badger’s bottom metal is just thicker aluminum.
 
I think Win bottom metal will cover Remington BDL metal if you needed to open it.

Go with LRIs Flat plate/AI mag metal. It’s aluminum and will need a trip to an anodizer unless you like cerakote.

F208F6D6-9134-462A-943E-224FBA9AB648.jpeg


D4AFA3CD-D45E-4683-B525-B86F5EA965B5.jpeg


20DA0926-4E2D-4646-ADAB-0B7D7FF9AAF6.jpeg


AA1680F5-9B56-4A64-AD8F-464841A6E01D.jpeg


040D0BBB-C193-4BB6-9D08-7F55CA6E1262.jpeg


406CD596-5D1E-43F2-8307-A91C0FDB9C6F.jpeg
 
I purchased a rifle off GunBroker basically to get this stock. I had to replace the butt pad and install the correct sling swivels. It is a hollow civilian stock, but it was weighted by a previous owner, so it feels pretty close to the correct weight. Unfortunately, it is inlet for a stock Remington 700 bottom metal, so I will have to stray from the correct bottom metal on this build. I'm thinking a good steel bottom metal that has the standard Remington shape will be a good compromise... does anyone have a suggestion as to who makes a good steel bottom metal?
View attachment 8174192
View attachment 8174193View attachment 8174194

If the inletting is too large for a Winchester bottom metal and trigger guard set, just have your gunsmith completely fill in the lower portion of the inletting with bedding material and recut everything for the Winchester bottom metal and trigger guard. I've seen gunsmiths like LRI completely fill in all the inletting and recut it from scratch. You don't need to go that far, just do the bottom of the stock where the bottom metal inletting is.

If the Winchester stuff has an outline of bedding material around it, get a paint and gel coat set, and bring out your inner artist! There's guys on this forum who have been able to color match and gel coat McMillan stocks before, I think @crazynoto has done it and might be able to give some advice. If you're unable to paint/gel coat, then just leave it as is with the outline or rattle can the rifle (leave it completely painted or wear it down in a lot of areas to show the stock's unique pattern).

If the inletting is too small for the Winchester bottom metal and trigger guard, then just open it up like @pmclaine suggested. Once it's properly cut, bed the Winchester parts and if there's any odd areas that show a lot of bedding compound, get some paint and gel coat to match the surrounding area.

I have no idea if the Remington inletting is larger or small than the Winchester inletting, but it doesn't matter much. There should be absolutely no reason why you can't use a Winchester bottom metal and trigger guard with that stock, it's just going to take a little bit more work. Hell, I might even have some extra M70 shit in a drawer somewhere, let me know if you need the parts and I'll see what I have.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: deltawiskey
If the inletting is too large for a Winchester bottom metal and trigger guard set, just have your gunsmith completely fill in the lower portion of the inletting with bedding material and recut everything for the Winchester bottom metal and trigger guard. I've seen gunsmiths like LRI completely fill in all the inletting and recut it from scratch. You don't need to go that far, just do the bottom of the stock where the bottom metal inletting is.

If the Winchester stuff has an outline of bedding material around it, get a paint and gel coat set, and bring out your inner artist! There's guys on this forum who have been able to color match and gel coat McMillan stocks before, I think @crazynoto has done it and might be able to give some advice. If you're unable to paint/gel coat, then just leave it as is with the outline or rattle can the rifle (leave it completely painted or wear it down in a lot of areas to show the stock's unique pattern).

If the inletting is too small for the Winchester bottom metal and trigger guard, then just open it up like @pmclaine suggested. Once it's properly cut, bed the Winchester parts and if there's any odd areas that show a lot of bedding compound, get some paint and gel coat to match the surrounding area.

I have no idea if the Remington inletting is larger or small than the Winchester inletting, but it doesn't matter much. There should be absolutely no reason why you can't use a Winchester bottom metal and trigger guard with that stock, it's just going to take a little bit more work. Hell, I might even have some extra M70 shit in a drawer somewhere, let me know if you need the parts and I'll see what I have.
Thanks for the suggestion! I didn't think it would be possible...
DW
 
You also might try calling McMillan. I’m not sure if they offer it anymore. But they use to repair stocks. That way the gel coat wold be close.
 
  • Like
Reactions: deltawiskey
You also might try calling McMillan. I’m not sure if they offer it anymore. But they use to repair stocks. That way the gel coat wold be close.
I’ve checked before, and McMillan will not fill in existing inletting and re-cut for smaller anything. And this was when McMillan was still owned by… McMillan and still offered some custom stock work at their customers’ request. They will open up for larger inlets though, unless it’s for a stock they no longer support if it requires programmed mill work, such as the A2 or other discontinued lines.

But definitely feel free to check directly with them, as things change all the time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: deltawiskey
I’ve checked before, and McMillan will not fill in existing inletting and re-cut for smaller anything. And this was when McMillan was still owned by… McMillan and still offered some custom stock work at their customers’ request. They will open up for larger inlets though, unless it’s for a stock they no longer support if it requires programmed mill work, such as the A2 or other discontinued lines.

But definitely feel free to check directly with them, as things change all the time.
Yea good luck, they wouldn’t even install red recoil pads on 2 stocks for me.
 
I have an itch to build an M40

I reached out to Manners about getting a M40 stock for a pre-64 Winnie…

Just undecided if I wanna build off a Pre64 (it would be a 30-06) or find a 700 for this venture.
 
I have an itch to build an M40

I reached out to Manners about getting a M40 stock for a pre-64 Winnie…

Just undecided if I wanna build off a Pre64 (it would be a 30-06) or find a 700 for this venture.

I want to do the same thing with an old JC Higgins FN mauser rifle I bought for 200 bucks just wondering if it's possible or not. Building on pre-64 actions used to be a "thing" but not so much these days.
 
I just got my Weaver T10 back from getting a mildot reticle installed by Iron Site. That reticle is really handy to use on a 22lr :cool:
Time to take off my fake Unertl and head to the range!!

Fake Unertl.jpeg

This 40X .22lr M40A1 clone build is by far my favorite rifle... it has dispatched a ton of squirrels!!

New Weaver T10.jpg

DW
 
Last edited:
I just got my Weaver T10 back from getting a mildot reticle installed by Iron Site. That reticle is really handy to use on a 22lr :cool:
Time to take off my fake Unertl and head to the range!!

View attachment 8236048
This 40X .22lr M40A1 clone build is by far my favorite rifle... it has dispatched a ton of squirrels!!

View attachment 8236049
DW
So jelly of your mil-dot awesomeness.
 
What Post 64 Winchester model 70 actions have steel trigger guards? I’m having a hell of a time locating one that is steel and the wider post-64 width.

Down to just the right trigger guard and a barrel and I’ll have all the parts collected for my build!
 
  • Like
Reactions: D_TROS
Schneider barrel blanks currently available at Charlie's, get'em while they're hot. I just ordered one to get my A1 back up and running. It was the best barrels we ever got on our issued guns.

 
UPS just dropped off my Hart barrel... the last part I needed for my 6-digit build. I'm not sure on the optic I will go with, however I do plan on getting one of the LRI scope mounts. Great time to build these rifles thanks to McMillan and LRI
Hart was awesome to deal with, great company!!

A1 parts.jpg

DW
 
UPS just dropped off my Hart barrel... the last part I needed for my 6-digit build. I'm not sure on the optic I will go with, however I do plan on getting one of the LRI scope mounts. Great time to build these rifles thanks to McMillan and LRI
Hart was awesome to deal with, great company!!

View attachment 8271196
DW
Who is building it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mjh30