Table Top Drill Press?

[Gargoyle]

Pioneering my way into gunsmithing trial by fire, lol. I need to start drill & tapping receivers for red dots on turkey guns. What's a good smallerish drill press for drilling for this task?

 

[tobnpr]

Use a saddle mount...forget the Bubba approach is my advice.

 

[Gargoyle]

Use a saddle mount...forget the Bubba approach is my advice.

Can you show me a picture of a saddle mount?

 

[Mr.Spradlin]

If it was me I wouldnt go below a mil-drill.

 

[Ggmac]

Look into a Forester drill jig . Mine is over 50 yrs old and paid for itself in the first year. Brownells supplies them .
If not that then I would recommend a used small mill / drill also .

 

[hoz53]

Look into a Forester drill jig . Mine is over 50 yrs old and paid for itself in the first year. Brownells supplies them .
If not that then I would recommend a used small mill / drill also .

i didnt know they still made those forster drill jigs. i remember them.

 

[55fairlane]

A drill press is a versatile tool, but for this kinda operation, a milling machine is the only way to go

 

[shortgrass]

Forester jig would be a PIA for drilling a shotgun receiver. If you go the mill/drill or drill press you'll need an indicator and mag base to 'square' the vise to the table. I've seen more receivers "Swiss Cheesed" (by Bubba) than I care to remember , done by those who choose to 'eye ball it'. A drill press would be a PIA without some sort of jig. The best mounts for shotguns are those cantilever barrel mounted, as there is a certain amount of slack between barrel and receiver on those shotguns with slip-in barrels (870s, 1100s, 500s). I don't know of a "do it all" drilling jig in current production today. I think I own 4 different jigs and still end up at the vertical mill sometimes.

 

[LVLAaron]

Most drill presses are cheap, until you spend enough money to get into mini-mill territory... in which case I'd get a mini mill.

But for a shotgun, if you're careful and check your alignment carefully, I'd be fine with using a cheap table top drill press from horrible freight.

Drilling and Tapping Remington 870 Receiver to Install Rail (or Ghost Ring Sights)

Drilling and Tapping Remington 870 Receiver to Install Rail (or Ghost Ring Sights)

www.rem870.com

 

[tobnpr]

in which case I'd get a mini mill.

I use my benchtop mill more than my knee-mill, for exactly this type of work. With the DRO, it's extremely fast and efficient at locating center, getting precise hole spacing, and maintaining alignment.

If you're serious about getting more into smithing (or any type of machining, really) it's a worthwhile investment. Absent an X-Y adjustable vise on a drill press table (and that isn't very precise) it'll be very difficult to precisely locate top dead center of the receiver and keep the mounting holes exactly on the centerline.

Saddle mounts are no D&T mounts that use the existing pins for mounting- inexpensive and available for most makes/models.

Buy No-Gunsmith Saddle Shotgun Mounts and More | Weaver Optics

Shopping for the No-Gunsmith Saddle Shotgun Mounts - Learn more about the latest Shotgun and other hunting or shooting gear at Weaver Optics.

www.weaveroptics.com

Burris has a speed-bead mount, sandwiches between stock and receiver:

SpeedBead™ Mounts | Burris Optics

www.burrisoptics.com

I'm not a scattergun guy so my knowledge is very limited here- but my point is there's a lot of different options to look at that don't risk drilling off-center holes in your receiver with a drill press.

 

[Ggmac]

Forester jig would be a PIA for drilling a shotgun receiver. If you go the mill/drill or drill press you'll need an indicator and mag base to 'square' the vise to the table. I've seen more receivers "Swiss Cheesed" (by Bubba) than I care to remember , done by those who choose to 'eye ball it'. A drill press would be a PIA without some sort of jig. The best mounts for shotguns are those cantilever barrel mounted, as there is a certain amount of slack between barrel and receiver on those shotguns with slip-in barrels (870s, 1100s, 500s). I don't know of a "do it all" drilling jig in current production today. I think I own 4 different jigs and still end up at the vertical mill sometimes.

Yes , I was thinking of barrel rib cantilever mounts . I have done a few receivers on the jig , just a little more time and a modified vertical rear post instead of the flat topped factory one .

 

[Dusty Stevens]

There aint much meat in the front screw area where the barrel is underneath. A good epoxy under the base and pins in the back thick area is key. Be sure to have the correct reamers for your dowel pin size

 

[shortgrass]

Most drill presses are cheap, until you spend enough money to get into mini-mill territory... in which case I'd get a mini mill.

But for a shotgun, if you're careful and check your alignment carefully, I'd be fine with using a cheap table top drill press from horrible freight.

Drilling and Tapping Remington 870 Receiver to Install Rail (or Ghost Ring Sights)

Drilling and Tapping Remington 870 Receiver to Install Rail (or Ghost Ring Sights)

www.rem870.com

Yep! That's exactly how an internet trained hack would do it!

 

[LVLAaron]

Yep! That's exactly how an internet trained hack would do it!

Heh, I didn't say it was the BEST way to skin the cat....

 

[shortgrass]

Yes , I was thinking of barrel rib cantilever mounts . I have done a few receivers on the jig , just a little more time and a modified vertical rear post instead of the flat topped factory one .

If hasn't a drill press, or any other machine tools, he's not making/modifying the rear post on a Forester drill jig.

 

[Ggmac]

I guess not . I always wondered why forester didnt come up with a set of modified action supports .

 

[shortgrass]

I guess not . I always wondered why forester didnt come up with a set of modified action supports .

I guess there is a limited number of buyers who will spend for tools such as the Forester Jig. I bought mine shortly after graduating from GS school in '93. One thing about the Forester, it's easy to set-up and accurate.

 

[tobnpr]

I'm surprised they still manufacture it. I've looked for them occassionally on Fleabay, but there's always buyers that are more in love with it than I. I guess if you don't have a mill to do it, it's the only practical option for a correct job.
Most of the tooling used to "sporterize" milsurps is no longer produced due to lack of demand.

 

[Ggmac]

I'm surprised they still manufacture it. I've looked for them occassionally on Fleabay, but there's always buyers that are more in love with it than I. I guess if you don't have a mill to do it, it's the only practical option for a correct job.
Most of the tooling used to "sporterize" milsurps is no longer produced due to lack of demand.

It comes in handy for a fast check of factory rifles . Can easily tell if the receiver scope base screws are off or the receiver recoil lug isnt right . Much quicker than me setting it up in a mill . It could be made with a few improvements if someone had the desire AND a mill , lathe and the experience!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Pioneering my way into gunsmithing trial by fire, lol. I need to start drill & tapping receivers for red dots on turkey guns. What's a good smallerish drill press for drilling for this task?

If you want to do any sort of quality work, Do NOT use a drill press for anything on a rifle receiver. I would never touch any rifle with a regular drill press.

Spend the money and get a milling machine. Precision Matthews makes a great bench top mill called the PM25V. There is no drill press that will ever run straight or true enough for quality Gunsmithing work. Use arbors or a high precision arbor drill Chuck for drilling and tapping scope base holes in receivers.

A very high quality drill bit set is also very important. I prefer Cobalt steel and I only use my high quality Cobalt bits for working on guns with the milling machine and NOTHING else. Do not put them in any other machine. One use in a handheld drill and there’s a good chance the bit won’t run straight anymore.

Added benefit of a mill is you can do stock work with it as well. Inletting, barrel channels, shaping, etc.