Unit 11: Customizing, Sporterizing , and Accessorizing

Lesson 36: Fitting and Shaping Inletted Stocks 

Test fitting is important when it comes to fitting certain parts to an inletted stock. Fitting the trigger guard and barrel will take many attempts to fit, the best option is lamp black to see where the adjustments need to be made. Using a chisel to remove minimal amounts of wood from the stock where the trigger guard doesn’t fit properly. Do not remove too much as this will cause gaps around the part being fitted. 

 Next would be the barrel. Although the process is mostly the same there are other techniques used to bed the barrel in the channel. Using glass bedding is the more common practice for this. Once these components are complete, the outer stock can be completed.  

 This lesson goes over all the different ways an inletted stock can be finished as well as the different issues that can arise and how to face any potential issues. This is what I like about this and previous lessons, the foresight to explain the issues before you run into them. It makes you think and plan before diving into a project. 

Lesson 37: A Personal Thing — Customizing 

The little things that make a gun a personal thing. Customizing can be done on almost any and all firearms. From Pistols to shotguns everything is fair game. The lesson concentrates on the most common to customize and that is the rifle.  

 The M98 Mauser is considered the favorite for customization. They can be converted to all different types of cartridges with the fitting of different barrels, types of sites or scopes. This leads to bolt handle adjustments and safety replacements. 

Lesson 38: More Customizing & Sporterizing 

The M1903 Springfield is another popular rifle used in conversions. There are several different models that all pose a different set of issues that can impact the conversion. The Springfield can accommodate a one- or two-piece scope without alterations as well unlike the Mauser. 

Stamped trigger guards in the A3 and A4 models should be replaced with one from an 03 model and magazine cutoff switches will also more than likely need some alterations. 

Moving through the lesson, we also see the M93 and M95 Mauser as well and what calibers they can handle. The one thing I have never thought of though was the amount of pressure in the barrel during firing. The Mausers are recommended to 45,00 PSI. If .308 is a choice, this can make the fire unsafe at 50,000 PSI. 

There are other rifles also used but not as readily available such as the Enfield M1917 or P14, difference being in these is the P14 is original English .303 and the M1917 is American 30/06. Next would be the Japanese Arisaka which is the most inexpensive for conversion but is not as easy to acquire. 

Lesson 39: Welcome Additions — Accessorizing 

Small items adapt a gun to individual needs. This is a lesson i really enjoyed as customizing “can” be extremely easy or just as extremely difficult. It depends on the request and the customization. From Butt plates to Pistol grips and triggers and everything in between there are vast opportunities to make a firearm a part of the customers/your personality. There are so many materials available to make exactly what your customer wants or needs.  

In this lesson we also see the need or want for Firearm trunks and display boxes. This is an area where if it is done right, with an eye for detail and beauty, you can really make a name for yourself, as well as some extra money. 

As with all the other lessons, there are many guides, examples and just great tidbits of knowledge in them. Mostly these are at the end of a lesson and are great for all to read. 

I have learned a lot up to this point and am looking forward to completing the rest. 

Written by J. Jacobs, The MGS Experience Student