[jayhdavis]

Why tinker with your firearm if it is functioning reliably? Changing sights for better accuracy, and changing handgun grips or rifle stocks for better ergonomics, are almost a given. However, why do anything else?

 

[Corndog]

I don’t.

 

[maddmatter1970]

Why tinker with your firearm if it is functioning reliably? Changing sights for better accuracy, and changing handgun grips or rifle stocks for better ergonomics, are almost a given. However, why do anything else?

For me, I trust the creed. Each weapon I own, I seek to fully understand, and in fact make my own. However, I make a change, test ad nauseum, then evaluate. As an example, the most recent one was that plastic mag release button on the Ruger PCC. It had not failed, but bugged me due to a post I read on here where it broke on someone. I run my gear hard in all temps, so I swapped it to a mccarbo aluminum one... too tall, milled .060" off the back, reinstalled. We are on the final acceptance phase of that now.

 

[JohnnyDollar]

My general rule is if it works, don't screw with it (and that is for everything, not just firearms),
But, it kinda depends on what you mean by tinker.....

For example,
I have a Marlin Camp 9 PCC, the stock recoil spring works and it worked for years,
but a heavier spring works better and improves the felt recoil of that blowback action. Saves some wear and tear on the firearm and shoulder.

I have a CETME rifle,
it has a violent ejection system, it's works fine, but not only can you hit a target downrange, but you can take out some innocent bystanders at 25-30ft with hot brass.
I added an snap on external ejection port buffer and while it still ejects with a lot of force, it's not quite as violent.

 

[SteveS]

Sadly, I am a "fixer" and enjoy working on things. If a trigger is sloppy or dragging, I will take it apart and polish all the parts and even use lighter springs to make it work smoother. Most of my revolvers have been "retuned".

I recently bought a new, good quality, semi auto that wouldn't shoot and reload 2 or 3 rounds in each magazine. I disassembled it and found several parts that weren't fitted well and hadn't been polished at all. There were some stamped numbers in the bottom of the slide that "stood out" very highly. I filed them down and polished that part of the slide, then filed all the rough corners and edges. I also polished the feed ramp with 1600 grit emery cloth to get a good mirror finish. The slide is much smoother, and I feel when I get it to the range it will make a huge difference in the way it shoots.

It seems the quality of new equipment is lacking in quality now.
Steve

 

[mark40]

Why tinker with your firearm if it is functioning reliably? Changing sights for better accuracy, and changing handgun grips or rifle stocks for better ergonomics, are almost a given. However, why do anything else?

This is where I'm at. Ex: changed the sights on our LCR and LCRx, Hogue Grip Sleeve for the Security 380, Hogue Grip Sleeve and mag finger ext. for the P32 as well as a fluff and buff. Hogue Grip sleeve for the P17. The SR22 has a Tandemkross Sentinel guide rod and spring. That's it. Nothing invasive.

My one attempt at more profound tinkering was a disaster. Ordered a Galloway spring kit for an LCPII 22LR. Watching the install video, imagined it was within my skill set. Nope, nope and nope. Ended up shipping it to Galloway to have it done. Also there was nothing wrong with it to begin with, so for me I'll stick to what JohnnyDollar said "if it works don't screw with it". But if you like to tinker and have the knowledge skills and abilities, have fun.

 

[Higgy Baby]

I don't. I'll do a basic breakdown to clean.
I may change a grip or sight-but that's about it.

 

[rammerjammer]

Not being mechanically inclined I don't tinker with my pistols much beyond grips and adjusting sights.

This man knows his limitations.

 

[roashooter]

Some simple.."thinkering"......for example....sanding/filing the rough edges of various parts ...can result in a much smoother operation...without affecting reliablity

 

[needsmostuff]

Yup , habitual tinkerer.
Collectable guns are left alone but my hardcore shooters, the ones I have truly bonded with and will stay with me forever, are subjected to endless putzing.
I have been rewarded with guns with love it or leave it appearances, some entertaining searches for "springy" parts , some endless YouTube disassembly/reassembly videos, and usually improved performance.
Several of my shooting amigos have collectively banned me from ever owning any of the Ruger MK I,II,III pistols due to my need to completely dissemble stuff.
They know it just will not end well.

 

[MitchSC]

It depends on the firearm. Almost all of my firearms are for shooting not collector items. I'm not going to change its value by making it suit me and if I do I really don't care because I've only sold one in my life and regret that.

The first thing I do to a center fire double action revolver is lightened the trigger pull. My wife cannot operate the factory 10#-12# pull with one finger so I change the trigger and hammer springs to make it 5#-7#.

On my 1911's and 1911ish I change if needed or feasible:

• Sights to fully adjustable
• Grips to self made wood
• Thumb safety to standard Colt government
• All plastic parts to metal
• Long to short trigger if it affects my accuracy

I don't shoot rifles much any more. But when I did I have changed/embedded stocks, barrels, triggers and drilled and tapped for optics.

It's not just firearms I tinker with. I do all of my own repairs for home, auto, shop, equip, etc.......
I have a lot of old rebuilt by me stuff such as my 1937 drill press and home made lathe.

 

[PaulWVa]

I'm a tinkerer ... I'm guilty ... sue me. I grew up with father who was a master mechanic for Caterpillar and an uncle who was the most senior pipefitter in the union in an area known as the Chemical Valley. (Carbide, FMC, DuPont and Bayer all had plants here, some more than one). We all fixed things, we all built things.

I grew up with tools in my hands. I built hundreds of models, ..planes, cars and boats. Even entered modeling contests. I built bicycles for me and my friends ... bikes for dirt / trails, bikes for speed, bikes for delivering newspapers. I took four years of multiple Industrial Arts classes in school. My senior year of high school I was teaching the freshman and sophomore classes while the teacher graded papers.

Today I work on guns ... just my own. I make no claim to being a gunsmith ... I'm a tinkerer, a hobbyist. I recently mounted a scope / rings and mounts, modified the stock and did trigger work on a rifle that's never been to the range yet. I enjoyed every minute of the work and I know it will be a better shooter for the time and money spent.

I've changed sights, grips, triggers, springs, barrels and polished hundreds of gun parts. I own three Dremel tools (oh the horror!) and I know how to use them ... I got my first one when I was 10.


Oh ... and I've worked on and fixed our dishwasher, electric range, clothes dryer. I've installed four sinks, faucets and commodes. I installed three ceiling fans, two rooms of hardwood floors and two with tiles. I built my own gun room ... all the heavy benches and cabinets. I built a 12'x16' deck with two staircases ...by myself.

The point to all this is ... just because you can't' do these things doesn't mean I can't ... I AM HANDYMAN ..I FIX THINGS (somethings that aren't even broken ... yet)

 

[DaddyO66]

My grandfather was a master carpenter who always accused me of having hands that were "Too dammed busy" in hindsight it was a compliment borne of frustration. I fiddle with houses, cars, motorcycles and guns.

All of my 1911s get flat metal mainspring housings, long triggers, ambi safeties and long mag release buttons.
I've swapped a dozen of blackhawk grip frames. The tinkering makes it truly mine.

 

[sbird]

Guns are like Barbie dolls, you get to acesorize them.
And I do what I can to make them reliable and accurate.

 

[rode2rouen]

It's a guy thing!

Rex

 

[rclark]

Once a gun is setup (tuned by a gunsmitch, grips changed over to a 'fitted' set, and acceptable sights, sighted in), no need to tinker further. Only tear down to clean and tighten screws when needed. Clean and Shoot. Shoot and Clean. ...For life of the revolver.

 

[SR-22 DRUM]

If it weren't for tinkers, there would be no new inventions.

I took my Colt Walther .22 rail gun and removed the guide rod and spring. I replaced it with a Nick Taylor SS guide rod and a ZR Tactical Solutions recoil spring.

What a difference! Those two mods tightened up the slide and made it run a lot smoother. Recoil now feels like it's being pushed back instead of up.

 

[bearcatter]

Some people tear a new gun apart and start replacing parts and polishing without having ever fired it ... ???

All I've ever done is Wolff springs, grips, and a nylon 10/22 bolt buffer. After I'd had the guns awhile.

 

[FlaGun]

Why tinker with your firearm if it is functioning reliably? Changing sights for better accuracy, and changing handgun grips or rifle stocks for better ergonomics, are almost a given. However, why do anything else?

My vote would be some kind of disorder or lack of something constructive to do.

 

[DQL5150]

I grew up with Fords in the 70s-80s so yeah had to get mechanically inclined. A good thing though, I believe. I maintain and repair my own cars and equipment as much as I practically can. Tinkering with guns is just fun. Satisfaction to be had doing it yourself!