Thread: Anyone welded a receiver?

My rifle has had the dovetail break off when i tightened the scope mounts, i didnt think i was doing it too hard, but may have been weakened in the past.
Is it possible to build up with weld if i got the alloy TIG welded and then machine the dovetail back into shape, or should I mill down the old dovetail and drill and tap on a new scope rail instead?

Whats the rifle

its a marlin model 60 .22

@mugripz wuold probably know

@mudgrips

Originally Posted by Old_School

My rifle has had the dovetail break off when i tightened the scope mounts, i didnt think i was doing it too hard, but may have been weakened in the past.
Is it possible to build up with weld if i got the alloy TIG welded and then machine the dovetail back into shape, or should I mill down the old dovetail and drill and tap on a new scope rail instead?

I would go with option 2, check out this guy, you can get lengths of rail, quite cheaply https://www.aladdinz.co.nz/store/foo...ail-mount-base

Do you come to dorkland. Probably got one you can have

welding aluminum is a science and stress cracks can appear weeks or months later. In aluminum cables there was always unseen problems welding which surface later. Any welding on even a 22 receiver could cause it to fail. The Marlin 99 was the same basic gun but drilled for mounts.

Originally Posted by Fssprecision

I would go with option 2, check out this guy, you can get lengths of rail, quite cheaply https://www.aladdinz.co.nz/store/foo...ail-mount-base

That looks handy, is 3/8 weaver rail obtainable at all? Im sure ive seen it around.

Originally Posted by blip

Do you come to dorkland. Probably got one you can have

Im coming up there this week for work, but probably wont have any time to catch up

Originally Posted by Tedz50

welding aluminum is a science and stress cracks can appear weeks or months later. In aluminum cables there was always unseen problems welding which surface later. Any welding on even a 22 receiver could cause it to fail. The Marlin 99 was the same basic gun but drilled for mounts.

That was my main concern, but some have suggested it was possible.
I also have a slight concern about drilling and tapping a new rail, many have done this without issues, but apparently Marlins official word is you cant do it, as there is not enough metal.
That being said, I believe the very early model 60 rifles never had dovetails and came with a flat top, all drilled and tapped with its own rail to screw on.

Also, in regards to the rings I used, this is what the shop sold me, ive now learned that a 3/8 Dovetail is not the same profile as an 11mm like is quoted for these rings.
From what im reading, both types are not interchangeable and are cut to different angles, if so, that means that it may have been potentially placing undue stress on the rail.
Whether or not its worth me taking this up with the store, im not sure, but if they sold me the wrong rings for the rifle, then they kind of are responsible.
https://www.reloaders.co.nz/shop/Gun...ail+HT08C.html

Originally Posted by Old_School

Also, in regards to the rings I used, this is what the shop sold me, ive now learned that a 3/8 Dovetail is not the same profile as an 11mm like is quoted for these rings.
From what im reading, both types are not interchangeable and are cut to different angles, if so, that means that it may have been potentially placing undue stress on the rail.
Whether or not its worth me taking this up with the store, im not sure, but if they sold me the wrong rings for the rifle, then they kind of are responsible.
https://www.reloaders.co.nz/shop/Gun...ail+HT08C.html

That part gets muddy fast, the main sticking point is that your hands were the hands that did the breaking. I see where you are coming from and have had similar frustrations, but I wouldn’t be budgeting on a retailer coming to the party in this scenario.

Originally Posted by longshot

That part gets muddy fast, the main sticking point is that your hands were the hands that did the breaking. I see where you are coming from and have had similar frustrations, but I wouldn’t be budgeting on a retailer coming to the party in this scenario.

I agree, I would not go that far, but i paid good money for rings that are not right, putting any damage aside, using the wrong rings will potentially not hold on the rail properly anyway, leading to potential slippage of the mounts.
Im no expert on this either, and Ive learned alot in the short time ive been researching.
Several shops told me this should not really happen and have not heard of this happening and told me I should be able to tighten firmly, i didnt consider myself screwing them on too tight, but a gunsmith I spoke to has heard of it happening with these rifles.

Originally Posted by Old_School

Several shops told me this should not really happen and have not heard of this happening and told me I should be able to tighten firmly, i didnt consider myself screwing them on too tight, but a gunsmith I spoke to has heard of it happening with these rifles.

You have seen it happen, that fully trumps any other theory about it not happening or should not happen.

If you stated the make/model of rifle to the retailer, rather than a wrong spec, you are essentially still entitled to a full refund for the rings, and to be annoyed. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a small gesture of goodwill on their part either. But the retailer likely has very limited liability in terms of coming to the party on the rifle repairs.

whether or not it can be welded depends on the quality of the aluminium. Since you are in Tauranga I would phone up Dean Maisey and see what he can do.

[QUOTE=Old_School;1698241]That looks handy, is 3/8 weaver rail obtainable at all? Not that know of, why not go pick then so easy to find rings etc.