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Gunsmithing what to polish?

tlg308

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 18, 2010
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United States
I was reading a review on a custom Remington 700 build and the reviewer was talking about how smooth the action was and that it was due to the builder polishing the metal surfaces. I was just curious about what surfaces those where and if its something a non-gunsmith like myself could do. The rifle was a Landtec rifle if that helps. Thanks.
 
Re: what to polish?

start cycling the bolt. you will see wear patterns. you will see what needs to be polished. thats how i did my savage. you want to use 600 or higher grey sandpaper
 
Re: what to polish?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tlg308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was reading a review on a custom Remington 700 build and the reviewer was talking about how smooth the action was and that it was due to the builder polishing the metal surfaces. I was just curious about what surfaces those where and if its something a non-gunsmith like myself could do. The rifle was a Landtec rifle if that helps. Thanks. </div></div>

Mr. Landon aka builder of Landtec SWS rifles, polished the internals on all the rifles he built (retired last year
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). He polished the rails and lugs & they run like they are on bearings. About the only thing you can do yourself is polish the rails/races for the receiver. Polishing/lapping the lugs is primarily done with the barrel out of the rifle. I suppose one could apply a light amount of lapping compound to the lugs and work it in though.

FWIW, most 700's will slick up nicely after a few range sessions.
 
Re: what to polish?

Mold stones are really the only way to polish the raceways of the action and still keep them straight.

polishing3.jpg


I've seen an action polishing bar (from Brownell's?) that you wrapped sandpaper around, but I don't see it being as accurate as the mold stones. They will break down to the shape of the surface you're polishing and do the best job for you.

polishing4.jpg


polishing1.jpg


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polishing5.jpg