Unsafe to shoot wall hangers – what to do?

[tomwatts]

Lot of discussions on the forums about wall hangers and other unsafe guns we all own.

I have several, I want to keep them, and I don’ want some future generation of mine thinking its ok to recover said wall hanger and shoot it. (I am not necessarily talking about low SN guns, I have some real real 100% unsafe guns!)

Now I am not in favor of the traditional drill rifle methods, but it seems there should be a simple method of permanently blocking the chamber. I thought of filling it with lead, but that’s a lot work, or just filling it to the top with Epoxy Resins.

I know that a determined person could probably recover from both of these, but they would not be accidently shooting said wall hanger!

I read that somebody here on the forums had a note or tag on their gun, I am wondering how long that would last after I pass on to the great shoot gallery???

• What say yea, do you make your wall hangers safe, do you do something like this?
• Do you have a better idea??

Information

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[JGaynor]

“Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

No matter what you do short of melting it down or cutting it in little pieces someone, somewhere will disregard all the best advice and warnings. A tag is reasonable beyond that i don't think you need to worry too much.

Regards,

Jim

[HILLBILLY-06]

If you want to make sure nobody shoots one of them, there are several ways to to it. One way, is to mix up your epoxy like you said, run a plug of cotton or wad down the barrel to the begining of your rifling. Tape up any vent holes, or any places it could run out. Then pour the solution into the chaber and fill it completely, leaving some in the locking lugs area as well. Close the bolt, making sure the epoxy can also adhere to the locking lugs as well.
That's one way, BUT the best way is to have someone spot weld a hunk into the chamber where it will not accept any ammo, then spot weld the bolt shut. Problem solved. Of coarse you may also stinsil on the action, bolt and barrel, DO NOT SHOOT, or UNSAFE TO SHOOT, or, something that anyone holding it would plainly see, and a gunsmith wouldn't mess with it, because he can and will read. These are just suggestions of course, if it were me, I'd choose a way that couldn't be undone if I didn't want someone getting hurt or killed.

[browningautorifle]

Unsafe to shoot wall hangers – what to do?

Do you stay up at night thinking of things to worry about? Don't worry about what's going to happen after you're gone...

[kenwest516]

What about having a rod tack welded in the barel that is long enough to reach the chamber so a round can't be put in? Or maybe a short one epoxyed or welded in the chamber so the bolt can still be worked. Maybe just cut the firing pin off and weld the hole shut so it can't be easily replaced. This way when anyone with any knowlege of firearms looks at it they will know it was done to stop them from shooting it. Also if for some reason you yourself would find the parts or someone with the ability to repair the problem that made it unsafe you should be able to reverse the damage.By counterboring,cleaning the epoxy or replacing the pin and redrilling the hole.

[mdrim13]

Unsafe to shoot wall hangers – what to do?

Education of the next generation of owners is key. I plan on passing on mine someday and there is no way telling at this point who will get them, but they WILL know about every one because it will be a requirement for them to own them. If I cant find anyone, the will be donated to a museum or sold at auction, either way its out of my hands. Besides, guns are like people in the sense that neither will escape time, in the end we will both rot away.

mdrim13

[DeputyBill]

Maybe I'm missing something here but, if that which you collect causes you to worry, why collect it to begin with?
I collect what I enjoy; that's the point of having an avocation. Isn't it?

If you no longer enjoy what you once pursued as a hobby, then get rid of it, sell it, whatever.

I really enjoy my hobbies but, as already alluded to here, all our temporal "stuff" will one day be reduced to dust & ash.

[tomwatts]

I collect 03 shooters, or restore 03's to shooter status. (More restore than outright purchase!)

When you have as many 03's as I do, you will eventually end up with a nice looking wall hanger or two that are dangerous to shoot.

Now I could just break them down for parts, or make them safe to remain a wall hanger, that’s the topic at hand.

For some I am leaning towards making safe, those that have some visual beauty and are hard to replace, others will be scrapped.

Thanks for the responses to the thread, interesting the viewpoints offered!

[Mike D]

When you have as many 03's as I do, you will eventually end up with a nice looking wall hanger or two that are dangerous to shoot.

If your now referring to LN '03's, I'll take one off your hands if it has a good bore. I want to take mine to the range, but the 05 barrel is a sewer pit. I guess I could test accuracy out to 50 yds.

[Promo]

I don't get the point why you're planning to turn them into drill rifles. If they cannot be shot - fine, where's the problem? Every rifle being deactivated is another piece of destroyed history. And if you do so, you take away the possibility for future generations to learn and see with what we were handling. Also, if you already have that many M1903s, why not sell them off to someone who also does not shoot with it, but gives it a better home. If I was going to deactivate every piece that I'm not going to shoot I'd have to deactivate 99% of my collection.

There are also old cars that shouldn't be driven on road, but I do not tend to weld the doors and gearboxes so nobody will ever have the chance to so something with it.

And if you just want to have a wall hanger, take one of the rifles that are already being deactivated instead of destroying further pieces of history. And if you still stick with the idea of demilling them, at least turn them into cutaway models. Still functionable, still instructive, but it's obviously not possible to shoot. And looks even better on the wall.