Enfield make-over

[jnors06]

Got my pieces sand blasted, I am about to start working on getting the front sight mounted. I should have everything prepped for paint tomorrow afternoon.

[jnors06]

I am curious to see how that coating works out. Might have to try it.

I am curious as well! I have heard good things about it. I just have to take the time to prep well, I can be very impatient.

[Tommyh]

not done yet?!

[jnors06]

I also need to address the crown after taking a hacksaw to the barrel. I did not want to buy the 90 dollar tool so I used some abrasive compound and a brass screw.

I wasn't sure what to expect so I practiced on the piece of barrel I removed, It was very easy to keep it uniform and centered. After the screw I took some 220 grit sand paper and using my thumb I smoothed it all out.


I am using my iPhone so it can be hard to see the crown in detail but I ended up with a nice smooth crown. Shooting it will tell me how I did. I ran a cotton ball down it to make sure there were no snags from either direction.

[jnors06]

So now it is time to mount the front sight. Looking back I should have marked my center line before I cut my old sight off...but I didn't so I winged it. The sight band was a very tight fit which made this a little easier. After a ton of eyeballing, some measuring, and the use of a level I had the front sight centered up.

Through the pin holes in the front sight I makes the barrel where it needed to be drilled and removed the sight to make my cut. Using a small triangular file I made my starter cut and then moved to the thinnest cutting wheel on my dremel. The purpose was to not get the finished product but to make it easier to drill it out using my drill press.After putting the sight back on the barrel I started with the smallest bit I could find and worked my way up to my desired size. after my third pass I was able to press the pin in with a hammer and punch.
It is on there very solid, I tried to get it to move using small taps from a hammer, if it is going to move I wanted it to happen now.

[marceco]

It is probably too late now since you pinned the front site , but if you are a Good Machinist it seems you could make a scope mount that utilised the taper of the barrel on the back mount and then pinned the front mount like you did the front site . It would be one of those " forward mount " scope locations but it would seem possible . As much as I like scopes I always like to have a good iron site as a back up . . .

[Bill]

Nice. How does a brass screw cut the crown on a steel barrel? Curious here.

[jnors06]

Nice. How does a brass screw cut the crown on a steel barrel? Curious here.

The brass screw just holds the abrasive lapping compound. Since it is round it self centers on the bore and the compound does the work. It was my first time doing it, it seems to have worked well, it is by no means a target crown.

[jnors06]

It is probably too late now since you pinned the front site , but if you are a Good Machinist it seems you could make a scope mount that utilised the taper of the barrel on the back mount and then pinned the front mount like you did the front site . It would be one of those " forward mount " scope locations but it would seem possible . As much as I like scopes I always like to have a good iron site as a back up . . .

I am by no means that good of a machinist, I can usually work with what I have, but not so much when it comes to making stuff out of raw material.

[cattlelackranch]

Cool. I'm in for the ride.

[Bill]

I didn't think about laping compound, thanks. I like the hose clamp idea too!

[jnors06]

Headed outside to degrease and prep for paint. Pictures to follow.

[HainesNYT]

Awesome! Love the brass screw and compound!

[jnors06]

"paint booth" actually just a corner of the feed room that is closed off from the rest of the barn.

Parts hung and waiting.


Well now the waiting begins. The directions say it will dry to the touch in 24 hours but will fully cure in a week. I did 4 coats total, in between coats I used the wife's hair dryer to "set" the coats. I should get a good cure considering the heat and the lamp will be left on for the week.

[jnors06]

I am debating what to do with the stock. I will be replacing the stock with a Boyd's replacement, but that will not be for a few months. I have it sanded down and there is hardly any grain in the stock so I am considering the following.

A) running a torch over it to give it some character.
B) painting it with some left over bed liner.

These will both be temporary "fixes", I could do option A and if it doesn't work out hit it with option B.