[michael.nault65]

I tinker within the margins of what I'm mostly comfortable with. Sometimes I get another tinkerer to help me if I'm reaching beyond my comfort level. Other times I get help from YouTube or forums.

I switched out the mag release and bolt release on my 10-22 because my son struggled with them when he was little. I changed some of the parts on my 1911, mostly for fun and to learn about the pistol.

A couple of the handguns I have for SD have been tinkered by a friend. I know exactly what's been done and more importantly what's been left untouched. Some things like trigger return springs on DA revolvers, and sear engagements shouldn't be tinkered with IMO..

I think it was Elmer Kieth that said, a gun is a tool. Tools need care to keep working. I've replaced springs, replaced or refurbished rifle stocks, restaked plunger tubes, straightened bent revolver yokes, ungummed actions jammed with fouling, secured loose sights, and so on. All problems discovered well tinkering. Tools need to work to be useful.

 

[PaulWVa]

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

Yes, they do .. here's an example of why. I've owned a Ruger 77/44 for a few years. It came with an 8# trigger and a really light synthetic stock that makes for a very unbalanced, muzzle heavy rifle. Over time I fixed all that ... I put an 8oz weight in the stock and did a Timney kit trigger job ... much better shooting and handling gun now.

Then comes along a sweet. like new 77/.357 .. never been to the range yet ... but has the same issues ... heavy trigger and bad balance. So even though I haven't even shot it, I already know how to fix it. I've added a 7oz recoil reducer to the stock to give it better balance .. it worked great. I've already done the trigger too. Taking it from a little creepy 8+ pounds down to a beautiful, clean, crisp 2.5 pound trigger I can live with.

I didn't do this just because I could ... I did it because I already knew what the gun needed before I shot it and I knew how to fix it ... I did it before. Sometimes you know that food needs a little salt before you taste it ... you've had it before.

 

[Tacky]

It's a guy thing!

Rex

View attachment 191777

I agree, because we are men, it's in our DNA.

I m the kinda guy that see's things as they could be, from how they are. So I wrench on my stuff to improve it, until I feel it has reached its pinnacle. Then I leave it alone. Some things just take less improving than others. Some require years to complete. I also like to see how things work.

My favorite saying on this, somebody brings me something and "Says can you fix it? I then say I will fix it, or fix it so it cannot be fixed." 🤣

Besides I'm not a sitter, or couch potato, wife monopolizes the TV with hallmark channel, so after watching its christmas pretty much every month of the year, to keep my santity I retreat to my shop with the dog trailing behind me that has a look like.....what the heck was that. Usually the cat, and eventually my daughter ends up in my place of refuge as well. 🤣

 

[rickclark28]

I did a reverse tinker on a Ruger Mark III 22/45 that my family gifted me. The previous owner had multiple upgrades by various vendors. Complained about misfires, FTE's and issues with jamming. He saved the original parts, so I replaced all the parts to stock and had a gunsmith at the Bullet Ranch test and check it out. I have had x4 years of trouble-free use with this Ruger and really love the Mark III. Would never part with it because of my history with it.
*We all tinker to some extent and with safety as the first rule-> to each his own!
Clear skies to all of you!

 

[PaulWVa]

He saved the original parts, so I replaced all the parts to stock ....

The first rule of "home gunsmithing" or "tinkering" ... never modify the original parts.... buy aftermarket parts and work on them. Just stash the originals in case you do want to put them back. It also adds value if you want to sell or trade the gun later on ... you can always throw in all the original parts on the deal.

 

[Angry Hippo]

I've built a few ARs and Glock/Polymer80's but generally don't like to 'tinker' on my guns.

I've made a mod here or there. "Fixed" an obtrusive 'safety' on a few guns. Fixed a feed ramp or two. Filed down a troublesome part.

Okay... maybe I do tinker a little bit... but only as called for... and once it's working and to my satisfaction I don't constantly try to 'improve' on it.

 

[PriseDeFer]

Tweakers must tweak. It's in their blood. Why else would a guy, and it is guys, ladies have more sense, make a gun inoperable by swapping out trigger groups before shooting it in its natural state? They are past help, but their projects are interesting and make good reading

 

[pasound]

Grips and sights, only. I leave the rest alone unless something is major league wrong.

 

[jj63]

I get in my moods to work on my stuff. A couple of years ago, I did some work on my Mini 14. Had the trigger worked on, added a few accessories, & while I had it apart, I buffed all the moving parts, & the inside of the receiver to a slick finish.And before you "no no " guys start in, I didn't do anything but polish. It now works better, smoother, & shoots fantastic. I did the same on my Kimber micro 9 with the same results.

 

[Tacky]

I get in my moods to work on my stuff. A couple of years ago, I did some work on my Mini 14. Had the trigger worked on, added a few accessories, & while I had it apart, I buffed all the moving parts, & the inside of the receiver to a slick finish.And before you "no no " guys start in, I didn't do anything but polish. It now works better, smoother, & shoots fantastic. I did the same on my Kimber micro 9 with the same results.

No bad words from me, a little polish never hurts in my book.

 

[TestEngineer]

Why tinker with your firearm if it is functioning reliably?

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

This! ^^^

A lot of my guns work wonderfully just as the factory made them and I haven't modified them in any way. But some have left a lot to be desired, and modification was mandatory to keep them from ending up at the bottom of a lake.

I've tried sending problem guns back to the factory, with less than stellar results. I've tried polishing and swapping in aftermarket parts. Both with so-so results. And even though I've had to replace a couple parts when I've taken a mod a little too far, my best results have come from my own gunsmithing.

My Ruger Mk3 has over 60 individual mods that have made it both unique, and my favorite (& most reliable) firearm. One of my favorite mods is the addition of a decocker. It's something that had never been done before, and I didn't know for 100% that it would not cause excess wear on the trigger bar. If it did, I'd have had to replace both - the bolt and the trigger bar. But I had to try, or forfeit my man card. No signs of wear after 10s of thousands of rounds, so I did the same mod to my Mk2. No more messing around with snaps caps to take pressure off the mainspring, and absolutely no chance of something going wrong and causing a dented chamber mouth.

The mod is so minor - I'm surprised Ruger didn't come up with the idea themselves!

 

[Jack Ruger]

In the process of building my shop right now, 15.3' x 13.0'. I will probably end up w a 2.0' x 8.5' workbench along the one wall, so that I can do more tinkering, but mine would be more of fixing something that's broke, but we shall see. The thing I'm looking forward to is, I've opened up the area a long the back basement wall for a 45' +/- shooting lane for air guns 😎

Running new lights now.

 

[rickclark28]

The first rule of "home gunsmithing" or "tinkering" ... never modify the original parts.... buy aftermarket parts and work on them. Just stash the originals in case you do want to put them back. It also adds value if you want to sell or trade the gun later on ... you can always throw in all the original parts on the deal.

It turned out well for me that the previous owner followed that rule.
*My uncle taught us that decades ago-> ID, time stamp and store all original parts with original box etc...
*I know my limits and very glad I had a good teacher in the 1960's to lead the way.
Everyone have a great day!

 

[StinkeyPete]

Because there is a lot more to quality than "it just works."

Ruger makes single action revolvers that are a bedrock solid foundation for a custom gunsmithed revolver that can compete with the world's very best. They are heavy to soak up recoil and of outstanding design.

Anyone that shoots seriously knows how important a good trigger is for accurate shooting. Like any factory mass produced guns, the Ruger generally needs a trigger job out of the box. But since it's well designed, a home trigger job is as easy as lifting a leg off a spring or ordering a spring replacement kit. Send it to a real gunsmith to hone the sear, however!

It's fair to say that there is no better single action revolver in the world for hunting than a Freedom Arms... unless it's a Ruger Blackhawk that a top notch gunsmith has customized.

Hamilton Bowen... and so.. I sold my FA and kept my Blackhawk because... by the tiniest of margins... I think the customized Blackhawk is better.

Now, as for those kids that want to bolt extra shells, a radar detector and an automatic drip coffee pot to the front end of their shotguns... they do it because they don't know any better.

 

[Angry Hippo]

Now, as for those kids that want to bolt extra shells, a radar detector and an automatic drip coffee pot to the front end of their shotguns... they do it because they don't know any better.

I, too, laugh at those kids. Once you've been around the block it's obvious the best place to mount the coffee maker is on the receiver or stock.

 

[maddmatter1970]

Because there is a lot more to quality than "it just works."

Ruger makes single action revolvers that are a bedrock solid foundation for a custom gunsmithed revolver that can compete with the world's very best. They are heavy to soak up recoil and of outstanding design.

Anyone that shoots seriously knows how important a good trigger is for accurate shooting. Like any factory mass produced guns, the Ruger generally needs a trigger job out of the box. But since it's well designed, a home trigger job is as easy as lifting a leg off a spring or ordering a spring replacement kit. Send it to a real gunsmith to hone the sear, however!

It's fair to say that there is no better single action revolver in the world for hunting than a Freedom Arms... unless it's a Ruger Blackhawk that a top notch gunsmith has customized.

Hamilton Bowen... and so.. I sold my FA and kept my Blackhawk because... by the tiniest of margins... I think the customized Blackhawk is better.

Now, as for those kids that want to bolt extra shells, a radar detector and an automatic drip coffee pot to the front end of their shotguns... they do it because they don't know any better.

I need a coffee pot mount, is it a percolator? Where do I score one of these!!! Even a thermos holder with a straw might work!!!

 

[LocoTex]

Because it's there......

 

[303 hunter]

I like a good trigger, and very few factory triggers are good.

 

[rode2rouen]

My favorite saying on this, somebody brings me something and "Says can you fix it? I then say I will fix it, or fix it so it cannot be fixed." 🤣

My favorite is; "No worrys, I've screwed up much more complex, not to mention more expen$ive, things than this!"

Rex

 

[Tacky]

My favorite is; "No worrys, I've screwed up much more complex, not to mention more expen$ive, things than this!"

Rex

I'm gonna have to remember that one.