Thread: Replacing no longer available rifle parts..

Originally Posted by Grey Kiwi

Don't overlook 3d Metal Printing.
Yes, it is a 'thing'.
Design, make the part, heat the part (to fuse everything together), job done.
These guys make a razor...3D printed stainless steel.
https://www.blacklandrazors.com/products/era
Lots of rifle metal work that you could 3D print...triggers, trigger guards, scope mounts, bolt knobs, butt plates (NOT butt plugs!), lower metal work/mag plates, etc.
Could even print metal pistol slides, frames, etc (there's plans online).
Would suit you 1911 shooters to customise that beast.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...l-1911-pistol/

There are two problems with 3D printing of metal. The first (and it is common to all CNC machines) is the time involved in creating the drawings/tool paths to do even basic shapes compared to whittling the parts by conventional methods, and the second is the weakness of 3D printed metal in comparison to forged or hot rolled metal Size for size 3D metal is just not strong enough for continuous stress loading or high impact.

At the end of the day I guess you need to weigh up the cost, spend more to get the part made or leave that once loved gun in the safe unusable?
Or get a bit of kiwi ingenuity goin and have a crack at makin it yourself

In a lot of cases it is easier to adapt something that is close. For instance the Marlin mag, could you build up a CZ mag with epoxy and make that work? I do want to try a hybrid method for magazine construction, make a 3d printed core and split die then vacuum infuse glass/kevlar/carbon. Also if you get really desperate its amazing what can be done with a vice and set of files!

I NEED a mag for a Norinco 10A (semi auto) it’s a 10 shot magazine.

It’s made of plastic and it’s splitting down the front plus the ‘lips’ are disintegrating.

Been looking for another mag for ages and it appears they’re made of unobtanium.

VTP(Victory through precision)

Make 3d printed parts like mags, stocks etc.

Flick him a message and he will do what he can. Very well made 3d printed stuff.

Firstly, we need to support professionals and small businesses making parts like this we need to value them and be prepared to pay well over what the factory spare might be. We need to keep them in business and offer them a good living. However, their work could easily be curtailed by regulation.

Secondly, we need to build up common knowledge so that do it yourselfers can make a good fist of it. The "Home Builds and Projects" subforum could be beefed up, perhaps with active indexing and public archiving outside this forum (eg 6 month hold till freely available). Even good forums can go bung.

Thirdly, when you buy a new rifle, get spares with it whenever you can: sling swivel, magazine, muzzle cap thread, bedding screws, the original stock. And be prepared to share them around if someone else is in need. Have a plan to pass them on when you die or downsize.

Originally Posted by mudgripz

We don't have much choice Milky - probably most of us have firearms in the closet that no longer have spares accessible in NZ, thanks to the govt. Bloody good rifles.. We need to find a way to reproduce spare parts as best we can here in NZ. Even if they do cost more, they'll ensure our rifles keep operating for the next 20 - and keep their value.

I bought a couple of the Marlin 22LR mags like the one above maybe 9 months ago for $60-70 each. One just sold on trademe for $124 plus post = $131. Contacted Western Gun Parts in Canada re these mags and they said no they have none but would sell thousands if they could get them. There is a small market here, but poss alot bigger one for some parts overseas.

https://riflemags.co.uk/marlin-10-ro...000-980-xt-22/

Any good @mudgripz ?

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

I NEED a mag for a Norinco 10A (semi auto) it’s a 10 shot magazine.

It’s made of plastic and it’s splitting down the front plus the ‘lips’ are disintegrating.

Been looking for another mag for ages and it appears they’re made of unobtanium.

I built one of mine up with the rapidfix superglue and powder kit - fixed the split up the front of the mag but not sure how the feed lips would go with the glue...

That's a good link caber - here's the FAQ that Brit company with Marlin mags has re export:

"Do you ship outside of the UK? Yes, we will ship to most EU and EFTA countries as well as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Please see the International Delivery section for further information."

I have sent a 'contact' message to see if any paperwork formalities their end. Question is - what formalities apply for entry of goods into NZ to me? Anyone advise? Police form, import dealer requirements etc.. - haven't brought anything in since law changes.

If buying a new rifle or shotgun ask the retailer for a list of basic parts and if they can not support the product with spares don't buy
And out them on here

I brought a Baikal single shot 12 gauge of @gundoc for a project
When I stripped it down there was a piece of paper inside the stock bolt hole under the butt plate with a spare firing pin in it
On the paper was the name and address of a previous owner in Ireland

So if you are buying a rimfire maybe buy a spare firing pin and extractor at least
Don't loose track of it in your gun room or workshop
Place it under the butt plate

https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/def...-to-import.pdf

It's the std 67b form that you use to import 'normal' firearms and associated components as a license holder. No dealer/importer license needed for this stuff. Apply for the permit, follow the police instructions in their email when they approve it and send docs to suppliers/customs agents as required. I've bought mags in from both the US and UK - it's not rocket science. The suppliers expect there to be paperwork for export/import permits so the good ones aren't fazed by it.
Just don't try and import anything that isn't legal here. Applying to import a 25 round Promag for a Marlin 795 is guaranteed to get you declined.

Originally Posted by gundoc

....There are grumpy old men like me who are happy to pass on those skills (which I learned partly from the older generation but mostly by my own determination) to those with enough interest and gumption to ask for them. Sadly, in our increasingly 'disposable' society, there seems to be a distinct lack of people who have any interest in wanting to make things from scratch.

I'll have to talk to you about this next time you swing by work for a coffee @gundoc, I'm very keen on learning machining skills. Both for personal use and the repair of laboratory equipment too.

Dedication, perseverance, and skill are the ingredients needed for success in any venture. Look at the inventions of John Browning, the world's most successful gun designer, and then consider the conditions under which those were made and tested. I have seen a display at Rock Island Arsenal, the John Browning Memorial Museum, which has a recreation of his workshop with the original machines. Believe me, most NZ model engineering sheds are better equipped! His lathe and milling machine were incredibly crude by comparison.

Originally Posted by Joe_90

I'll have to talk to you about this next time you swing by work for a coffee @gundoc, I'm very keen on learning machining skills. Both for personal use and the repair of laboratory equipment too.

Yep, no problem!

Originally Posted by No.3

I built one of mine up with the rapidfix superglue and powder kit - fixed the split up the front of the mag but not sure how the feed lips would go with the glue...

Tried the super glue idea but it did not hold when the mag got filled. I suspect oil had impregnated the plastic at the split hence the glue not holding.

Footnote: I found on the net a review of rifle identical to mine but was labeled as a JW14, on my rifle the area where the ‘JW10A’ is stamped had been ground off prior to the 10A being stamped.