I recently acquired a 1956 52C heavy barrel which, judging by the dusty crud in the bolt assembly, probably hasn't been used in decades. I want to get it going again and fit some aperture sights. Here's what I'm starting with:
It has a marksman stock that appears aftermarket, because the bottom metal holes and the stock holes don't line up well. It was inletted at the bottom forend for an accessory rail, and the barrel band was replaced with a Freeland bedding device. (This device is a click-adjusting "tripod" installed midway down the barrel. I removed it to use for another project.)
The action is in great condition, but the receiver was D/T'd with one hole behind the ejection port, 5-40 or smaller thread. I assume it had been used as part of a sight mount. Receiver blueing is perfect except on the bolt handle, which is one of many factors leading me to believe this rifle was heavily used once upon a time. Trigger seems to work perfect.
Three holes have been drilled in the bottom metal. Two holes are to access the trigger adjustments, and there's one hole in front of the magwell that I can find no purpose for.
The barrel has been cut to 26" and recrowned flat. The blueing is damaged where the barrel bedding device was fastened, and also under the front sight mounts. The bore is mirror bright, yet the rifling doesn't look particularly sharp.
I have some questions:
1. There's enough old crud in this bolt that a spritz of CLP won't work. What is the best approach to bolt disassembly/reassembly? Do I need to put together a tool to compress the firing spring, or can reassembly be done by hand?
2. Is it worth it to order a Lucas bore guide, or are the Dewey or Possum Hollow/Sinclair products sufficient?
3. I want to fit aperture sights. I am new to this; the extent of my peep sight experience is with a G3 and various M1s. Those were rugged sights, but I want this set up to be for paper punching, so I don't mind screw adjustments sticking out all over. Of course I don't want to spend and arm and a leg, but if the Lyman and Williams stuff really sucks--which is what I've heard and read, but I don't want to believe--then I'll look for something better. What mounts and sights work for you?
4. I'm considering milling new bottom metal from aluminum, and setting it up to pillar bed the action. I can see that I might have a problem in the grip area, since extending the rear action screw into the bottom metal might require the bottom metal to be really long. Has anyone tried this? Any things to look out for? Am I stupid for trying?
5. Where do you find mags and other parts?
Thank You!
It has a marksman stock that appears aftermarket, because the bottom metal holes and the stock holes don't line up well. It was inletted at the bottom forend for an accessory rail, and the barrel band was replaced with a Freeland bedding device. (This device is a click-adjusting "tripod" installed midway down the barrel. I removed it to use for another project.)
The action is in great condition, but the receiver was D/T'd with one hole behind the ejection port, 5-40 or smaller thread. I assume it had been used as part of a sight mount. Receiver blueing is perfect except on the bolt handle, which is one of many factors leading me to believe this rifle was heavily used once upon a time. Trigger seems to work perfect.
Three holes have been drilled in the bottom metal. Two holes are to access the trigger adjustments, and there's one hole in front of the magwell that I can find no purpose for.
The barrel has been cut to 26" and recrowned flat. The blueing is damaged where the barrel bedding device was fastened, and also under the front sight mounts. The bore is mirror bright, yet the rifling doesn't look particularly sharp.
I have some questions:
1. There's enough old crud in this bolt that a spritz of CLP won't work. What is the best approach to bolt disassembly/reassembly? Do I need to put together a tool to compress the firing spring, or can reassembly be done by hand?
2. Is it worth it to order a Lucas bore guide, or are the Dewey or Possum Hollow/Sinclair products sufficient?
3. I want to fit aperture sights. I am new to this; the extent of my peep sight experience is with a G3 and various M1s. Those were rugged sights, but I want this set up to be for paper punching, so I don't mind screw adjustments sticking out all over. Of course I don't want to spend and arm and a leg, but if the Lyman and Williams stuff really sucks--which is what I've heard and read, but I don't want to believe--then I'll look for something better. What mounts and sights work for you?
4. I'm considering milling new bottom metal from aluminum, and setting it up to pillar bed the action. I can see that I might have a problem in the grip area, since extending the rear action screw into the bottom metal might require the bottom metal to be really long. Has anyone tried this? Any things to look out for? Am I stupid for trying?
5. Where do you find mags and other parts?
Thank You!