.25-20 WCF bolt gun from scratch

[jdsingleshot]

I have carted around the country various and sundry scraps of steel salvaged from scrap bins at the machine shop where I worked in my youth. I had plans for several pieces that rattled around in my mind for decades. One of those ideas was to build a mid-sized Mauser-type bolt action for cartridges bigger than .22 rimfire and smaller than .30-06.

I was always stalled by the need to broach or edm the locking lug raceways in the receiver. A little over a year ago, I thought of a way to mill them.

The receiver and bolt are made from cold drawn C1045.

The work was done on a 1898 patent date B&S No. 0 horizontal plain mill, a 1940s Logan 922 lathe, a 1940s Craftsman drill press and hand tools. Illustrations follow:
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Another issue that had kept me from starting the project was the clearing of the metal between the lugs on the bolt. I milled most of the unwanted steel from the bolt lug area, then shaped a lathe tool to the bolt radius and used the lathe as a shaper to finish that area. Tidied up with a file and abrasive paper. That area just hangs in mid air behind the barrel when locked up, so it really isn't critical and wasn't worth the decades of avoidance.
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[Brokenbear]

I know what you are doing is awesome and I applaud you ...I will keep a watch on your progress but I must confess your skill sets, ambition and equipment are way above my pay grade ..

Carry on and enjoy!

Bear

[jdsingleshot]

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I bought a barrel blank, tapered, threaded and chambered it, used 4 wood screws and two sight screws, and made everything else from raw stock.

[jdsingleshot]

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[358429]

That is so incredibly awesome. Will you make model #2 in 357 Magnum?[emoji3][emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[Nobade]

Good on you for taking that project on. I love seeing people build their own stuff, the way they want it to be.

[elk hunter]

I like it. Neat piece of work.

[Nueces]

I greatly enjoy seeing jobs like this done well on mid-century equipment.

[Jim22]

Impressed I am.

Jim

[deltaenterprizes]

Nice work!

[ulav8r]

Nice. I would like to see a picture of the completed action out of the stock. I assume it is a single shot or did you make a magazine?

Looks like an upscale boys rifle, would be great for exploring the woods, like I did 55 years ago.

[Jedman]

Great looking rifle and all of the thinking that it took to do with old school machines. I applaud you !

Jedman

[DaveM]

This is one of the coolest things I've seen in awhile.

[lar45]

Most excellent! I like it alot.

[dverna]

I am impressed.

Keep updating with a range report.

[Te Hopo]

Heck that is a great looking little rifle, I have long been a fan of the Winchester 67 single shot .22lr and have often craved one in a larger caliber like .22 hornet or .25-20.
I'd love to see more pics of this beauty.

[woodbutcher]

:D Very nice Sir.Please keep the updates coming as you are able.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[jdsingleshot]

Sorry, got away from the forum for a while. 296055One shot kill on the doe. I really like this rifle. It is indeed a singeshot, but could be modified to be repeater. I have always tried to make every shot count, so I may well leave it as is. Thanks for all the kind comments.

[Gewehr-Guy]

I am curious how you made an extractor. Can't see it from the bolt picture. Did you thread in the bolt handle, or weld?

I wish I could post photos of some Husqvarna single shots I have collected, they made a series of octagonal barreled , single shot rifles very similar to your rifle. They were made in .25-20, .32-20, .30-30, and a large frame .45-70. Some compare their actions to the Mauser 1871 rifles, with their single locking lug.

Waiting for your next build, will it be a .30-30, or a .38-55 ? :drinks:

[Three44s]

That’s awesome!

Great cartridge too!

Three44s

[Jimmynostars]

Love your work, great skills and thinking outside the box ��️

[Ohio686]

Very cool.