CVA Mountain Stalker drum removal today.
Soaked it for close to 2 weeks in PB Blaster. I first tried unscrewing the drum but the metal was so soft it caved in on itself and so I cut it off almost flush with the barrel and went to an easy out.
I heated up around the drum with a propane torch, installed the easy out and once it went all the way down flush, I cranked back on that sucker and the drum easily backed right out!
Now I will have to figure out how to line the hole up for the nipple. I really dont like the idea of turning it on a lathe and thinning the drum. The original drum was thin in this area where it snugs up against the barrel and over the years, I found it had developed a crack in the nipple threads. So, that's why it got replaced today.
here's where the nipple is located when snugged up. Not good, a blank drum may have been the wiser choice, then just drill and tap it.
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Also was able to get a nipple out of an OLD shotgun. This nipple made the drum job seem super easy. Will have to clean it up and drill/tap with an over sized nipple for this one.