Mark 3 Butt / Buffer removal - How?

[Pompey_Herman]

Hi, Can you help? I'm trying to strip down a Mark 3 to remove the butt woodwork for cleaning up. I've taken off the butt plate, screws and removed the recoil spring assembly / rod. The woodwork will pull back about 5mm then it stops. What do I need to do next?

[Mr E]

all that holds the butt stock on is the tube nut that holds the recoil springs in but there is a metal washer in there too and it may be getting caught on the threads of the tube

[Peter Laidler]

Tap the butt (that means tap it and not knock seven bells out of it.......) rearwards with a rawhide mallet against the butt rear mounting bracket. That should do it. When you put the butt back, if it's partially assembled with the butt plate fitted, make sure that the return spring nut detent spring (the L shaped spring under the butt plate) clears the return spring tube. ie, it must slide under/outside the tube and not down, inside the tube. AQnd make sure that there is lashings of grease between the wood, the buffer assembly and the return spring tube.

Why not strip the gun buffer while it's partially stripped too.

[tankhunter]

If you dont have an ARMOURER'S, Mallet, Rawhide. Use a RUBBER or NYLON Faced one. Available at all good Pound Shops!.......

[Pompey_Herman]

Thanks all for the advice. I will give this a go :-)