Gunsmithing Bead blasting an action

[dareposte]

I finally picked up a 300 RUM Rem 700 SPS yesterday. Wow they have gone down hill since I bought my first one a few years back. Talk about a rough finish!

I bought it for a project rifle to build up a 338 Edge, just forthe receiver, and planned on refinishing it anyway.

I have a bead-blast cabinet and would like to remove the finish from the action and the bolt, but it's my first time bead blasting anything of value or tight tolerance.

I figure I'll just tape off the bolt and receiver lugs and go to town on it, anything to watch out for? There's lots of experience on here and I love hearing about it before I go tear something up or make more work for myself.

Thanks in advance

D

 

[Clark]

Re: Bead blasting an action

Last month I asked my brother to TIG weld a steel mount to the rear of a 91/30 receiver.

So he sand blasted the mount and the receiver, the whole receiver!

I was worried that would make the bolt lug abutments and the bolt bore rough, but a couple strokes with the bolt and it was smooth again.

The milled and filed Picatinny rail maybe too smooth, but the sand blasted receiver steel soaks up G96 and Oxpho cold blue or paint like fresh plowed ground soaks up piss.

 

[Brain]

Re: Bead blasting an action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dareposte</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> but it's my first time bead blasting anything of value or tight tolerance. </div></div>

Value perhaps, but there isn't a tolerance on a factory 700 that can be messed up with light blasting to remove finish. A trued action is a different story.

I'd wait until machine work is complete on the new build before blasting/finishing.

 

[locked&loaded]

Re: Bead blasting an action

If you're going to coat it, I would suggest 120 grit alu. ox. instead of glass beads. Alu. ox. gives the metal more bite for the coating to adhere to.
Glass beads tend to polish the metal a bit.

Just my $.02.