Time for some much needed TLC!!!: Romanian M-1969 Edition 2/21/14 update

[ArmedCMT]

Well it says IMC2 1985 on it but its my understanding that this is a Romanian M-1969. If I'm wrong someone please correct me and i will edit accordingly.

This was my first gun purchased at 18yrs old about 11yrs or so ago and i have had some very fun times with it. I think i paid around $100 for it at a Big5. Might have been less but i also bought three extra mags for it. Thousands of rounds down range with this thing and many time it was almost therapeutic. Wednesday at Angeles with an almost empty firing line when i was working across the street 2 days a week was my ME time. Sadly this baby has been in storage for about 5 years and before she went into storage (yes SHE) it wasn't like she was a "safe queen" so im not sure when what damage was done. 5 years ago i sold off my guns and my gun safe but i couldn't sell this beater of a gun. I LOVE THIS GUN. Ive thought "oh it might be nice to pass this on to any child i might have.", but f%&# that, ill buy them something else. This baby is mine. And after years of neglect its time for some much needed TLC.


What im working with....

The bore doesn't look that bad but i haven't scoped it but i am looking into that. I do see some tiny little spots but im hoping its not pitting and that when i run a bore snake it'll be clean. if thats not the case im not sure what my options are but i plan on taking her out to the range soon and i guess that will tell me everything i need to know. The flip up leaf sights were already gone when i bought it and it looks like a pin that held the sight in place is missing so it would fall out. My ghetto fix was stuffing some foam earplugs inside to hold it in place. Cut them, put them in the freezer and after 5 min in the freezer i stuff them inside and when they warm they expand to hold the sight in place. Actually works very well. holds well enough that on a breezy day i can shift the sight for windage and it will hold. Thinking about redoing the earplugs and putting an epoxy over to give it a more permanent fit but we'll see how it goes. Never had the leaf sights but Ive also never needed them. I can shoot this thing 100+ yards just fine with what its got so im good with that. Tried to put a scope on it one time but that didn't go well. I still have the scope but im not sure i wanna go that way with this so it might just end up on the WTG thread http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=179324. The numbers on the barrel and the receiver match but the bolt does not. Action is smooth, safety works, mags go and stay in. They come out easy when i want them to. Front sight has some scratches but im not really worried about that right now. Right now im thinking ill start with the furniture. Its pretty bad. Scratched to the bare wood in some spots and the finish is chipped and scratched in other spots as well. Should be an easy fix that will make a huge impact on the overall look of this sweet little bolt action.

PICS







Space





What im thinking...

1) figure out how to take this baby apart.
2) follow the steps in this thread http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=321453 to refinish the stock.
3) find a place to have this bore scoped.
4) find/make 10rd mags for this.
and thats as far as ive thought.

If anyone has any pointers on how to take this gun apart that will be greatly appreciated. I CGN google searched for a schematic or something like that but wasnt able to find anything. Does anyone know where i can find parts for this? I'd replace whatever parts are needed and get spares as well.

10 round magazines....Anyone figured one out yet? ive searched the interwebs but all i found was this one guy who claimed to have welded 2 5rd mags together with a different spring and a website selling a 10rd mag but the pic is of a 5 round mag. Bootleg! Ive always wanted 10rd mags for this but have never seen one. My Google Fu is kinda weak so it may be out there but i havent found it yet. I have the connections to have them manufactured but i dont think i could afford it on my own.

I plan on following AIMSMALLs directions for the stock but i dont know if i wanna change the color or not so while i decide im gunna prep it. The points to attach a sling are pretty secure so after i refinish the stock im thinking a paracord sling for it.


Pics and updates as things progress.

[ArmedCMT]

Tear Down & Parts

Well this was alot easier than i thought it was going to be. Remove 2 screws and the whole thing comes apart. The pics are really for me to make sure things go back where they should and this post will either be changed or edited.










Founds this place for some parts but havent ordered yet. If anyone else has a lead on parts please pm with the link and ill add it.

https://www.apexgunparts.com/index.php/cPath/46_111

[jpscoot_21]

Get some sanding pads, so your fingers don't wear grooves/flat spots into the wood. When sanding you could wet the stock down so the little bits of loose wood lift up. As it dries. Sand em down. Repeat. I have a M1969 also, but haven't had a chance to take it out yet. There are spare extractors on ebay occasionally. I haven't seen any 10-round mags anywhere.

[KooLaid]

I have modified one of my original mags to do 7 rounds. It wasn't very smooth so I dropped it to 6 rounds and it works better.

If you want to try 6 real quick, slide the bottom plate forward about 1/8 of the way open so you can see the spring inside from the bottom. Stick in 6 rounds and the follower will almost poke out that opening in the bottom. 7 rounds and it should stick out. Obviously don't force it.

Its not permanent obviously and leaves no damage but if it works smoothly enough for you then I'm sure you can figure out how to modify it.

[ArmedCMT]

10rd mags

I dont want to modify the 5rd mags that i have. I want a dedicated 10rd mag. Im going to try this hard to find mags place in AZ but im also toying with the idea of making my own. I talked to an old friend/old boss and he said he's totally fine with taking my money to make legal 10rd mags, but he said i had to make sure all my ducks were in a row. I could pay him to design it but that would cost an arm and a leg so no. I think i could write the code but its been a long long time. Ive also been thinking about 3d printing as an option but still not cheap. Im hoping that when i call this mag place theyll have plenty of whatever i need and i can forget all this "making my own mags" nonsense... but if not, this will be one of those things that haunts me at night.

[ArmedCMT]

The Strip

Moved from post #2

So this is what i got from OSH to strip the stock.


Got a few different sandpapers but not really sure which ones i will use. Not sure what color im going with so i just got the supplies to strip.

Took a quick glance at finishes and here are a few im thinking about.
In no particular order
MINWAX Special Walnut 224
MINWAX Red Oak 215
MINWAX Dark Walnut 2716
MINWAX Gunstock 231

Project cost to date: $33.20


Started the strip today 2/2/13 right now its just a few min into the first round of citrustrip but ill try to get pics up sometime tonight.

5:50pm
So I think the first round could have gone better but im not worried yet. round two now in progress. The bottle says "after 30 minutes (up to 24 hours) scrapea small test area" so if after 2 or 3 rounds i might just go to something like a 4hour soak.

7:17pm
Round two went much better but it still needs work on a few bits. Round three im doing in sections. first the butt and then the forgrip. Should have gotten a medium firmness toothbrush for this

11:26pm
So round three part one and two went fine but i think i may have forgotten to take pics of one part but oh well. im working on the pics i did take and the stock is drying in the corner.

After i washed all the gunk off i found that the stock was repaired at some point. Nothing major just a sliver reglued on but now without the finish i can see it.

2/3/13 12:09am
Pre-sanding

Its darker than i expected it to be.

[ArmedCMT]

Sanding 2/21/14 update

I thought I had some pics of the stock after it was completely dry but I cant seem to find them. After letting this project sit in the closet for some time I finally got back to it and after the first hour of sanding with 100 grit paper I realized this was gunna take a long time but it was gunna be awesome when im done

Here's a few pics after the first night of sanding with 100 grit




So after getting a feel for sanding with 100 grit I went and picked up some sanding pads/sponges including an 80 grit to make quicker work of some trouble spots.
I got 80,100 and 150 grit

^^^This is also the beginning of day 2 80 & 100 grit.




Some of the remaining rough spots and the end of day two.

[ArmedCMT]

Saved

for later

[ArmedCMT]

M69's for sale and parts

So ive been searching through the jungle that is the internet looking for m69's for sale or parts for sale and ive stumbled on a few places i thought id share. I ordered a complete bolt and an extra firing pin from apex and im thinking about ordering from royal tiger but im not sure yet. I figured while i make up my mind i should at least share in case anyone else is interested.

For complete M69's

https://www.royaltigerimports.com/in...oduct=14498140all gone

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=733

For M69 parts

https://www.apexgunparts.com/index.php/cPath/46_111

Mags

Kinda pricey https://www.libertytreecollectors.co...?idproduct=293

http://www.ammoclip.com/R/romanian_bolt_action.htm

[the_midwesterner]

I also have one of these things and I love it! I have never been able to find a 10rd mag, so making your own may be the only way to go.

I have used Apex in the past to order parts and they are pretty good, although a tad bit pricey for my taste.

To answer your scope question, I drilled the receiver and then mounted a weaver rail from a 10/22 onto it and bought a Barska rimfire scope for it. When drilling into the receiver, make sure not to go too far because the holes could interfere with the bolt path and not allow the gun to cycle. You just need a recessed hole and a tap to make threads.

My gun is in Kansas, otherwise I would take pictures and post them.

[ArmedCMT]

I also have one of these things and I love it! I have never been able to find a 10rd mag, so making your own may be the only way to go.

I have used Apex in the past to order parts and they are pretty good, although a tad bit pricey for my taste.

To answer your scope question, I drilled the receiver and then mounted a weaver rail from a 10/22 onto it and bought a Barska rimfire scope for it. When drilling into the receiver, make sure not to go too far because the holes could interfere with the bolt path and not allow the gun to cycle. You just need a recessed hole and a tap to make threads.

My gun is in Kansas, otherwise I would take pictures and post them.

Ya Apex was a bit pricey but id rather have them than not. Now that i have a complete bolt and extra firing pin on the way ill keep an eye on gunbroker.com for other parts at a better price. im watching a mix lot of parts right now but i dont think i wanna pay the $50 he want for them.

You should have that bad boy shipped out from kansas and lets meet up at Angeles

[brassburnz]

If you haven't found this site yet, it contains quite a bit of information about the Romanian 1969 trainer.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/romanian1969/maintenance.asp

I have three of these rifles. I was able to scope one of them with a Weaver V-22A which uses a mounting system that fits perfectly on the M1969. Regular rimfire rings don't fit.

[Tank 57]

For 10 round mags,I would look at other rifles that use similiar mags.Probably be much easier and cheaper to modify an existing magazine.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Nice work on your stock so far! When you're done, go ahead and take the trigger housing off of the receiver, it's simple to do and comes off as a unit. Clean all of the accumulated nasty old grease, dirt and who knows what out of the mechanism. I stoned the machining marks out of the sear surfaces, but I don't recommend that you do that unless you know what you're doing. Just cleaning and lubricating the trigger mechanism will make an improvement in the trigger.

The problem that most people have when attempting to mount a scope in the M1969 is that what looks like tipoff grooves on the top of the receiver... aren't. They were used for a fixture to grip the top of the receiver during manufacture. They are parallel surfaces instead of grooves. I've been looking at milling the grooves into true tipoff grooves that any .22 tipoff mount will grasp. It shouldn't be that hard with the right mill bit, care and patience.

In the meantime, I had no trouble getting a set of tipoff riser blocks to grip the receiver. An adapter like this one might work also.

[the_midwesterner]

Ya Apex was a bit pricey but id rather have them than not. Now that i have a complete bolt and extra firing pin on the way ill keep an eye on gunbroker.com for other parts at a better price. im watching a mix lot of parts right now but i dont think i wanna pay the $50 he want for them.

You should have that bad boy shipped out from kansas and lets meet up at Angeles

I may actually have to take you up on that offer. I left it with my little brother and he has yet to shoot it. Its probably just collecting rust and it would be in much better hands out here.