Where to start?

Shotgun

Shotgun

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I've finished an AR-9 80% build. I didn't find it very satisfying. Drill a few holes and mill a pocket in an aluminum casting. Whatever. Child's play once you have a Bridgeport clone.At the same time, I have no idea where to get started safely building a complete firearm from blank stock.

Where would you guys suggest someone with moderate machining skills start?
 
I feel you. Assembling ARs like legos is not gunsmithing. It's fun but not satisfying.

Bolt guns are a lot more fun if you own a mill and lathe, but even they are simple.

I like firearm mechanicals, like scratch built AR gas systems, buffer systems, and the like, because it's a chance to design, make, and tune a system that is balanced and benefits performance. I make stuff for myself and don't want to go into business or really "do" other people's stuff, it's my hobby for me. Keep your lawyer out of my shop. I do a lot of these projects, and end up writing or posting very little about them for one reason or another. It's more my style to just hand someone a toy at the range and say try this, then show what I've done.

I have been taking a good hard look at the possibility of scratch building a Lemat revolver modernized to shoot rimmed cartridges and a 3" shell. Any part not possible to make on the mill and lathe can ultimately be made with a vise and file, just like the originals.

I also like to look at other ideas on the dry erase board on the backs of my eyelids, like how cool would it be to build a takedown lug for a SKS to make a 6-lb backpack carbine good for 300 yard coyotes?

Back in the day, guys like us would pick up cheap Springfields, Enfields, and Mausers, and turn them into completely different sporting rifles. No reason we can't pick up where they left off, with a whole generation of cheap surplus out there. Why not get a Polish PP-Sh parts kit and chamber it for 9mm NATO with a rail accessory system? Heck, chamber it for 5.7FN, why not? Anything is possible.
 
I like how your thinking, @pontiac428 , but slow your horse for a just a second. Never really built a firearm. Been happy to shoot tin cans with a .22. So, I'm thinking of a simple project. Clunky, but will throw a little piece of lead a few yards down range. And then expand out from there.
 
Youtube is full of ideas , I kind of like a scratch built bolt action 22 . A long time ago a gun enthusiast friend of mine wanted to build a Gatling gun out of 22 rifles . There was no internet back then and we had no plans and I didn't have the enthusiasm to figure it out , but now it sounds fun .
 
A 0% AR is a decent project. Make it a .458 Socom and you'll have to at least modify the upper and the barrel extension as well as chambering the barrel - all good things to learn.
The Jaco pistols are simple, as is the Chicopee. Those could be made as .22s if you were so inclined.

GsT
 
Gunsmithing isn't just taking an action and fitting a barrel to it. Or assembling a bunch of parts. There is also the stock to make, finish and checker. Mounting sights whether scope or iron is also in the mix. Bluing the metal parts is another task. Tweaking the trigger to get it the way you want is another task. Once you get some experience under your belt you can try making a rifle, pistol or shotgun from scratch. There are books and plans available online. In the end the quality of your workmanship is really what matters. Will you be proud to show off what you have made?
 
Here is a great build. She is a great gunsmith! I e been tempted but it’s a lot of little work. I recently went through acouple revolvers that were handed down to me. One of the prized ones is a army issued s&w 1917 45acp. The side plate fitment is seamless. I am amazed at the fitment and how it was done so long ago??
 
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I really enjoyed building several different falling block rifles in the past. You can scale them down to .22 or up to whatever your pucker factor can handle.

A good book on this is "Building a Single-Shot, Falling-Block Rifle Action" by Walter Mueller. There is also the de Haas "Mr. Single Shot's Book of Rifle Plans". This has several actions that can be built with common shop tools.

This, in my opinion, is gunsmithing and building guns.

I fed my family for 2 years as a "gun plumber" assembling high end custom ARs but, that is to true gunsmithing as assembling Ikea furniture is to fine carpentry.

Joe
 
Several years ago, I machined a 10-22 receiver from a block of 6061. I 'fixed' all of what is considered 'design flaws' in the receiver, including a threaded barrel instead of a clamped barrel, rear receiver mount lug, and made the top .250" thicker than factory to make the receiver more rigid.

I used an original Ruger bolt, (modified of course), an Anschutz 1" diameter barrel, and an aluminum trigger assembly from one of the aftermarket companies (I don't recall which one). I mounted all of it into a semi-inletted stock blank that I purchased from Numrich for $25, IIRC. I also bedded both receiver lugs and the rear 1" or so of the barrel.

It shoots great... and very tight with Wolf MT ammo...

I machined the receiver on my fathers Enco mill and did the barrel work on his South Bend 13... he thought I was nuts, but eventually admitted that he was pretty impressed with it.

-Bear
 
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