Gun Maintenance Misadventures

[Rustlin’ Jack]

[norcalAF]

When I was a kid the front site on my 10/22 fell off. Off to dad's toolbox I went. That old 10/22 still has those marks from that steel hammer.

[MARKFP]

I guess telling all on this forum is cheaper than $200 an hour for a therapist to tell all so here goes.......not any one thing in particular. Grew up in a home where firearms were plentiful and were tools, tools of defense if needed but mostly tools of hunting. Dad expected us to know the process of maintaining all guns after using them. Not alot of finesse was taught, so I made my first "idiot" scratch when about 14 and did some damage to a pump shotgun or two upon reassembly. Dad never was too upset, I guess he figured the lessons of mechanics were more valuable. As time moved on and the thrill and reward of collecting took hold I look back and have some regrets but then smile and thank Dad for the practice he allowed my brothers and I. Thanks OP for the free time!!! PS, Patent pending on the "idiot" scratch. Mark

[sealocan]

I can think of two off the top of my head.
When I was very young I was taking the barrel band off a Ruger 10/22 and I didn't realize at the metal being used at that time was just cast zinc or some other pot metal. I thought it was steel. Well I bent it open a little too much and it broke into two pieces. I think they're making them out of plastic now so it won't happen unless you have one from the years they were doing that. Ruger was good about getting me a new one though.


When I was in my twenties I had a friend with a classic Remington Model 12 pump shotgun 20 gauge that he was having some issues with it functioning properly, he thought it might just need a good internal cleaning.
So enjoying guns and knowing more than he did I volunteered to take it apart clean it all and then reassemble it.
Well everything went great except for the fact that it took me almost an hour to get that last few pieces together.
This was back before the internet / YouTube and I didn't have the user's manual so I was probably overlooking something or possibly his gun did have other issues.
But that was the longest struggle to properly reassemble any gun I've ever been a part of.

Today you could just go on YouTube and see The Insider trick to making it go together easily.

[boattail]

Having the right screwdriver has been one of my downfalls. I have also found that even with the right tool damage can occur to screw heads. Recessed screws are the most challenging. They require a certain sized and shaped bit to fit the slot yet when you find that bit or blade they are just wide enough to touch the frame and scratch the finish.

I am of the leave well enough alone camp most times. I rarely take a gun apart that has screws. I am not cut out to be a gunsmith but I can fix just about anything.

My first 1911 had the idiot scratch when I bought it. By then I knew not to do that.

[omega]

after 30 years of use the front sight snapped off during use on my M1911A1 , I tried to fix it myself but the broken part was impossible to remove without proper tools, so I took it to a gun smith and they removed what was left of my old front sight and installed a brand new factory front sight I supplied

only cost $35 , but they didnt damage my slide, I would have ruined it if I tried to do it myself

[pacrat]

As a benefit of having the shop manual, I learned that because S&W used both L/H and R/H threads for the extractor rod to ratchet star connection over the years, that they put a machined groove between the knurled end and smooth part of the extractor rod when L/H threads are present. How nice it is to know that before twisting the tiny threads to shreds in taking it apart the wrong way.

I didn't know that back in the day, the first time I disassembled my 4" M-19.

[smle-man]

Too many small pins, springs, and other tiny parts dropped and lost in the garage when disassembling firearms over the years. you'd think I'd learn!

[divingin]

Early on, removing the barrel bushing on a Gold Cup, I launched the recoil spring plug across the room, chipping a just-purchased crystal salt shaker on the dining room table 10 feet away.

[Rustlin’ Jack]

Early on, removing the barrel bushing on a Gold Cup, I launched the recoil spring plug across the room, chipping a just-purchased crystal salt shaker on the dining room table 10 feet away.

I bet the pepper shaker was glad you forgot to adjust for windage.

[diveRN]

The first time I field stripped a Mark III, it may have been a Mark IV. Anyway, it took 5 minutes to break it down and 4 hours, a couple dozen swear words, and beating it on an old phonebook to get it back together and functioning.

[divingin]

I bet the pepper shaker was glad you forgot to adjust for windage.

Probably, yes. Also probably glad there was only 1 "round" loaded.

[divingin]

The first time I field stripped a Mark III, it may have been a Mark IV. Anyway, it took 5 minutes to break it down and 4 hours, a couple dozen swear words, and beating it on an old phonebook to get it back together and functioning.

A lot of people had problems with reassembling Mark I-III's. I never understood that: place the hammer strut in the pocket for the mainspring and it's a snap. I had more of a problem prying the mainspring release lever out than anything else.

I've never disassembled a Mk IV, but the single pushbutton thing was supposed to be idiot proof, wasn't it?

[bruss01]

Probably ten years or more ago... I was doing a thorough takedown and cleaning of an Ithaca 37 clone on a bench outside. A tiny spring rolled off the table and vanished, never to be seen again. I hunted all over town before finally finding a replacement. I now use a magnetic parts holder dish from Harbor freight for the small bits... cheap insurance!

[diveRN]

A lot of people had problems with reassembling Mark I-III's. I never understood that: place the hammer strut in the pocket for the mainspring and it's a snap. I had more of a problem prying the mainspring release lever out than anything else.

I've never disassembled a Mk IV, but the single pushbutton thing was supposed to be idiot proof, wasn't it?

This was a friend's gun, he lent it to me to take my then 6-7 year old son shooting. I told him I'd clean it, but he failed to mention the ensuing challenges of reassembly if you didn't get it right. I'd never broken one down before that and figured, "how hard could it be?" I had no frame of reference.

Dunno about the Mark IV. Don't own one.