M-38 rescue

[steelbuttplate]

I hope it's not too altered to post here, but I got a '42 matching M38, front sight missing, the Handguard loose, magazine would not feed, and been sanded some. I had a nightmare about somebody turning it into a 16" Varmit rifle. So I got it, put some oil on it, a front sight, bedded 6" of the muzzle and tightened the screw on the magazine spring..... now it's a sanded M-38. Could have been worse. please don't shoot me. It printed a good group first five shots at 50 yd. The dog is a rescue also. She a mean girl.

[qz2026]

[Ironnewt]

You didn't sand it, if some "ultra-purist" gets on your case for making it a usable rifle, offer it to him for it's original cost, any parts you replaced and the cost of your labor to both fix it and to return it the condition it was in when purchased. As long as you don't try to pass it off as something it isn't, you're fine.

[steelbuttplate]

You didn't sand it, if some "ultra-purist" gets on your case for making it a usable rifle, offer it to him for it's original cost, any parts you replaced and the cost of your labor to both fix it and to return it the condition it was in when purchased. As long as you don't try to pass it off as something it isn't, you're fine.

Yea, the only part I put on was the front sight, it's a matching/force matched M-38, and a decent shooter.

[Junk Yard Dog]

We only shoot you if YOU were the one to sand, chop, or whatever the rifle. Looks like it's doing OK.

[Fledge]

When I saw the first picture of the dog, I figured the dog got a hold of the rifle and chewed up the stock Glad you were able to rescue this M38.

[steelbuttplate]

I found a factory boo-boo while sighting in. The rear sight base is mounted 1 to 3 degrees off dead center to the left, making me push the front out of the base some to get it sighted in. It's pinned on like a bayonet bracket, right ? Has anybody ever had to correct one before ? This'n been throwing left handed curve balls all it's life, I'll bet it's why it got counter bored. It has better rifling than my non counter bored carbines.

[ma96782]

IMHO.....screw (in or out) the barrel a tiny bit to get the rear sight pointing straight up. Of course, it'll need to be headspaced again and hopefully, the cartridge feeding won't be affected. When, you're done .....adjust the front sight again.

If it's still shooting badly....might just be a bent barrel adding to your woes.

Aloha, Mark

[AMCHornet]

Someone else screwed it up. It's not your fault. You gave it a good home and that's the best anybody could do. No fault on you.

[steelbuttplate]

I took the pin out of the rear sight base, put the sight base in a vise, and was able to turn the barrel with a 3 ft. wrecking bar stuck thru the receiver. After correcting it the hole for the pin didn't line up so I filled it full of silver solder and melted both ends. I was able to get the rifle sighted in after this.

[Robertroadking]

When I first read this quickly my mind saw a 91/59 with 91/30 sight, then I read you put the sight in a vice and twisted it with the receiver, WHAT? Then I looked at it again and saw what you did, sounds like you made a shooter.

[Longcolt44]

When I first read this quickly my mind saw a 91/59 with 91/30 sight, then I read you put the sight in a vice and twisted it with the receiver, WHAT? Then I looked at it again and saw what you did, sounds like you made a shooter.

That good ol' boy be pullin' your chain.

[steelbuttplate]

When I first read this quickly my mind saw a 91/59 with 91/30 sight, then I read you put the sight in a vice and twisted it with the receiver, WHAT? Then I looked at it again and saw what you did, sounds like you made a shooter.

That good ol' boy be pullin' your chain.

No pulling of chain Did. Done. Fixed.

[Longcolt44]

Don't even tell me it passed headspace.

[steelbuttplate]

Don't even tell me it passed headspace.

I didn't change headspace, I was turning (rolling)the barrel within the rear sight bracket. 1-2 degrees at most. I had to go back and forth a few times to find the right zero spot, it's hard to turn without going too far. I then took it outside in a smaller vise and looked thru the bore at a vent pipe on a roof 150 yd away. The sights now line up on the same thing, I'm off to the range.

[millman]

Does an M38 not have the big dovetail under the rear sight? I don't see how you could spin it if they do. I'm a bit confused.

[steelbuttplate]

Does an M38 not have the big dovetail under the rear sight? I don't see how you could spin it if they do. I'm a bit confused.

Beats me, I didn't remove it. I think just a pressed on / pinned sleeve. The movement I ended up with was evident by a fresh rusty/oily streak on the barrel. . It moved at least 5 degrees both ways so I'm guessing no dovetail.

[Rongo]

That is one sad looking stock. It's amazing how some folks just have no common sense.

"Let's do some gunsmithun' today bubba... We will make that thar ol' Commie Gun look awful purdy".

You saved it from the gates of hell... At least it's still a shooter that doesn't look too bad.