Anschutz 54 remix.

[LongRiflesinc]

This is one of the first rifles I ever built. It's close to 11 years old now. Customer tracked me down a few months ago and said it has a sick barrel. Something got in there and fuggered the bore. So it's in for a new "tomato stake."

I had threaded this action. (factory Annies are pressed/pinned barrel tennons)Somewhere the barrel I'd fitted had been pulled off and the re-installation didn't go very well. The threads are a little rough. I'll be bringing old girl up to more current standards this morning.

Off to the mill!

Here's the various operations. Thread milling gives me some additional capabilities that aren't really feasable in the lathe. (not without live tooling anyway and that's crazy money!)

That's a little more like it. This action won't tolerate another goof like that. The threads are getting into that gray area on the major. Starting to get closer to the scope rail dovetail than I'd normally allow. I think we'll still be just fine. The interruption down in the bore is where the factory cross pins the barrel. These result in an interrupted thread which although is a bit fugly looking doesn't seem to hurt anything. I went back in with the tool I normally use for helical fluting bolts to sort of wipe the edges where the thread breaks. It's not a very elegant solution, but it doesn't really have to be. I just want some assurance the thing won't wipe a bur into the joint and cause a "yeast infection" when screwing the barrel on/off.

More to come!

 

[LongRiflesinc]

Gittin a few digits from the action so I can gin up a program for the barrel stuff.

Barrel tennon is all done. Now onto chambering the bugger.

We'll be using the Eley Reamer today.

 

[LongRiflesinc]

Chamber's cut. Were ready to cut the extractor grooves now.

Woo Hoo!

 

[LongRiflesinc]

Here's the remainder on this bugger:

Crown: Nothing special. Just a straight 11* with a turned cylinder for the barrel tuner.

Setting up and cutting the extractor cuts and the relief for the shell holder that slips under the breech. I first indicate the action "square" to the table off the tang. This gets it plenty close for something this simple. Then I clamp a gauge block to the opposite end of the barrel and zero it with an angle finder.

Then find center of the barrel with and edge finder and touch the tool off to the top of the cylinder. Don't forget to divide the flute length in half! (I've never done this. . . )

From there it's kind of a "feel deal" to get the right mix between clearance on the extractor shell holder without going too far and making the breech paper thin. This will lead to bulged chambers over time. BAD!

Then flip her over and cut the relief for the shell holder and last but not least the clearance hole for the front guard screw. Can't forget that! For light work like this I just stick a rougher in the drill chuck. It's safe for plunging on a broken surface like this (threaded) but for anything else a guy better stick it in a collet or tool holder.

Now onto the chamber engraving and my "propaganda".

Here she is mocked up. I'll have to work on the stock a bit to get the cylinder (what's left of it) to clear the bedding from the old barrel.

I think I'm gonna let this one float and see how she does. Here's the bedding. A decade old almost and still going. It's a little rough on the edges but still looks very serviceable. It's nowhere near what I'm doing now, but its kinda' cool to see "the old days" once in awhile to remind ones self that the path seems to get a little smoother over time. The carbon work was me too. This one's been painted since I built it, but whoever did it didn't do too bad a job. Could have been masked off a touch better but all in all not too shabby. I'll give it a good rubbin before it goes back to get the orange peel out of the paint.

I'm outa here! Gnite and thanks fer lookin

C

Pretty much wrapped up now. Just a buttplate and a little fluff n buff on stuff to make her pretty again.

 

[TonyR]

Great post!

 

[Hamo]

Jealous of all your machinery and all your skill. Great work and very informative. Thanks for posting