Gunsmithing is the art, science, and profession of designing, building, repairing, and modifying firearms. It requires a deep understanding of metallurgy, mechanics, and ballistics, as well as proficiency in using specialized tools like lathes, milling machines, and precision measuring equipment. Gunsmiths often customize firearms for improved accuracy, aesthetics, or functionality, ensuring each piece meets legal standards and the client's specific needs.
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Polishing and honing a rifle action enhances the smoothness of operation by reducing friction between moving parts, which leads to a more consistent and reliable performance. This meticulous process can significantly improve accuracy by ensuring that all contact surfaces, particularly the bolt, fit together with minimal drag. By removing burrs and rough edges, polishing also helps in extending the lifespan of the rifle components since less wear occurs over time. Additionally, a well-polished action can enhance the aesthetic appeal of the rifle, adding both functional and visual value.
This process ensures the bolt operates smoothly and maintains precision in your rifle's action.
Start with the Bolt: Begin by ensuring the bolt achieves about 80% contact between the locking lugs and their recesses in the receiver.
Lapping and Polishing the Lugs: Use a fine-grit silicon carbide lapping compound to lap the lugs. This process will polish them simultaneously.
Post-Lapping Cleaning: After lapping, thoroughly clean all parts with kerosene or a suitable solvent to remove any remaining silicon carbide particles, which could otherwise continue to abrade the metal surfaces.
Avoid Coarse Compounds: Do not use valve grinding compound; it's too coarse for this delicate work.
Extractor Collar Groove: Inspect the groove for rough edges. Use a Dremel tool with jeweler's rouge on a small buffing pad to polish it.
Smoothing Scratches: If the bolt has light scratches or rough spots, start with a 500-grit polishing wheel to smooth these out, then move to a 600-grit wheel for a mirror finish. Remember, buffing displaces metal while polishing removes it.
Customizing the Bolt: Optionally, jewel the bolt for a custom aesthetic finish.
Polishing: Conclude by carefully stoning all contact points on the bolt. Check each bearing surface for any roughness and polish them to minimize drag. Use a hard Arkansas stone or super-hard ruby stones for the best results on hardened steel (see Final Polishing below).
Final Polishing: Begin by honing the top and bottom surfaces of the locking lugs to eliminate drag as they pass back and forth over the receiver ways. Next check the guide rib, safety lug and the extraction cam located on the forward edge of the bolt handle and hone them accordingly. The cocking-cam notch and even the lock notch for the bolt sleeve and safety locks should be inspected for burrs. Again, we are attempting to only eliminate drag; if too much metal is removed we will be left with a sloppy fit which can result in the bolt grabbing in the receiver during its cycle of operation.
The extractor, especially the front portion where it engages at the extractor tongue cut in the bolt, should be inspected carefully. Any wear marks should be stoned to reduce friction as the bolt is opened or closed. The sides of the extractor also should be jeweled if the same work has been performed on the bolt. This step will hide any minor pitting, reduce reflected light in the field and help eliminate rusting as the jeweling retains oil better than an unjeweled metal part.
