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Thread: .25-20 WCF bolt gun from scratch

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    .25-20 WCF bolt gun from scratch

    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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  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy Brokenbear's Avatar
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    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

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
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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.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    Click image for larger version. 

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  5. #5
    Boolit Master 358429's Avatar
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    That is so incredibly awesome. Will you make model #2 in 357 Magnum?

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master Nobade's Avatar
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    Good on you for taking that project on. I love seeing people build their own stuff, the way they want it to be.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    I like it. Neat piece of work.
    BIG OR SMALL I LIKE THEM ALL, 577 TO 22 HORNET.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master


    Nueces's Avatar
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    I greatly enjoy seeing jobs like this done well on mid-century equipment.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master Jim22's Avatar
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    Impressed I am.

    Jim

  10. #10
    Boolit Master


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    Nice work!

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

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    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.
    Spell check doesn't work in Chrome, so if something is spelled wrong, it's just a typo that I missed.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master Jedman's Avatar
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    Great looking rifle and all of the thinking that it took to do with old school machines. I applaud you !

    Jedman

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    This is one of the coolest things I've seen in awhile.

  14. #14
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    lar45's Avatar
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    Most excellent! I like it alot.

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I am impressed.

    Keep updating with a range report.
    Don Verna


  16. #16
    Boolit Man Te Hopo's Avatar
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    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.
    There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences.
    – P. J. O’Rourke

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
    woodbutcher's Avatar
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    Very nice Sir.Please keep the updates coming as you are able.
    Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
    Leo
    People never lie so much as after a hunt,during a war,or before an election.
    Otto von Bismarck

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy
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    Sorry, got away from the forum for a while. Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	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.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails doe w .25-20.jpg  

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    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 ?

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    That’s awesome!

    Great cartridge too!

    Three44s
    Quote Originally Posted by Bret4207

    “There is more to this than dumping lead in a hole.”

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check