The Kentucky Krag Rises Again

[rcathey]

The barrel has arrived and is indeed quite dark. Lots of strong rifling, though, and I think it will be just fine.
Will try threading it on this afternoon so be watching for an update!

[rcathey]

IT WORKED!

Image 1 shows the condition of the bore. Yeah, it's pitted...but it has rifling. Just as described by the seller (a member here! I'll let him reveal himself if he chooses).

Image 2 shows the barrel threaded in by hand. The gap between the witness marks here is about .100".

Image 3 shows my clamp blocks. These are just some scraps of white oak -- clamped together in a vise and a hole drilled down the seam about 1/16" smaller than the diameter of the barrel.

Image 4 shows the whole assembly in our press. Really crank down on this thing. Make that wood crackle. The oak won't mar the surface UNLESS you don't tighten it enough and the barrel spins.

Image 5 is after my first crank on the wrench. Ideally this entire would setup would be arranged so you could see the witness marks while you were tightening. The way I had this cobbled together, I had to guess and check.

Image 6 shows what I was aiming for. Yes, there are witness marks but I figured the real key was getting the extractor slot to line up correctly. If you look closely you can see just a small glint of metal that is the edge of the extractor slot in the barrel. I need to tighten it just a bit more to get that to disappear.

Image 7 shows the witness marks as they are when the slots are lined up like in image 6.

Image 8 shows it after one more slight crank. Perfectly aligned extractor slots in receiver and barrel.

The witness marks are not actually lined up with the barrel in its current position..at least not perfectly. They're darn close though and the barrel is QUITE snug.

I am exceedingly pleased

[browningautorifle]

The witness marks are not actually lined up with the barrel in its current position

As long as the extractor grooves are and the sights are TDC, who gives a damm? Let's see it all done?

[rcathey]

I'm headed home now to put it all back together....and too the range tomorrow!

As pointed out in the original thread, the stock was pretty heavily sanding so the buttplate stands proud of the wood. I was contemplating filing it down a bit to match more seamlessly. I'm not typically one to make irreversible changes like this but...I don't know. What do you guys think? Or perhaps just doing a patch?

[browningautorifle]

Don't file down the buttplate... Everyone knows the stock has been sanded, you aren't going to hide anything, just ruin the buttplate.

[rcathey]

Well, having a bit of trouble tracking down some ammo. May not get to the range this weekend after all.
I did get it put together though and everything looks great!
Thanks for following along!

[browningautorifle]

having a bit of trouble tracking down some ammo

Rats...I have dies, trim die and brass here, come over and we'll throw some together.

[butlersrangers]

Alas, the days are long past when Canadians and Americans could cross the border freely with guns and ammo to attend shoots or 'plink' on a relative's farm.

Around 1957, when I was nine years old, Canadian relatives gave me some of my great-grandfather's 'stuff' in order to keep it in the family. I hate to think of the hassle that would be involved, today, getting the rifle from Ontario to Michigan.

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[butlersrangers]

Check Cabelas and other online sellers. Remington 180 grain ammo is currently in the pipeline and available. There is a $5.00 Remington rebate.

[rcathey]

The Cabelas near me didn't have any on stock. They tell me site to store shipping is free though so I may do that.
I'm headed back to Kentucky for a visit this coming weekend. Should probably take it back to Kentucky for visit too, huh?