I have a general gunsmithing question on a bolt rifle.
I have a Ruger M77 Mark II and have a Ken Ferrell base coming in for it. I just found out that it needs holes drilled and taped for this base...woops. Is that something I might be able to do myself with a drill press and a dial caliper? There are no gunsmiths within 100 miles of me.
The base does not mount in the ruger dovetail system. It has holes in it already. My gun does not. So you think a regular machine shop could do it? What is tricky about that cast?
Well, I got the base in today and I ordered a plug tap and a bottom tap 6-48 from MSC for $50(supposed to be high quality). I talked to a friend here at work in our machine shop and he said he will try it as long as the owner doesn't mind. I emailed the owner and asked, can't hurt to ask...
The owner just stopped by my office and said I could get the gun machined here at work, but with one condition...that he gets to see it when its done. I was amazed. He is into long range shooting and guns and I have been working for him for 15 years and didn't know that.
Our shop doesn't do anything cast, mostly Aluminum and Delrin, a little SS. My friend is very good at that, but he is nervious about the cast reciever and possibly ruining a gun. I told him its not worth that much and I would not feel bad if a tap broke off in it and screwwed it up. I will keep you informed. BTW: The Ken Ferrell Base looks very high quality. Like a Badger Base.
My friend made all 4 blind and it looks and works great. He started with a .120 hole but when the tap felt tight, so he went to .127 and it went fine. I bedded the Ferrell base in JB Weld since the M77 cast reciever is not perfectly straight and parallel across each of its base landings. I sighted in last night and all looks good. Centered left and right, and 20MOA of recovered elevation adjustment.
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