Texas SOT

Gunsmith Equipment

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Texas

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,899
    96
    Texas
    While working on a project this evening, I again needed to use this micro bit set. If you have a work bench and don't already have a set of micro bits, consider this one. I gave some out as gifts last Christmas and everyone i gave one to has commented how useful it is.

    It has every micro bit you probably will ever need. It comes with a micro driver and has an adapter so you can use the micro bits in your standard driver if you need more torque or control.....it also has a flexible extension to reach odd angles or difficult to reach fasteners....

    Retails for about $20

    20220529_212617_99970325b17663a633917e864bd6db17b61d3e0a.jpg

    20220529_212718_fa7dd8c3dfd68ebb1f4b430ec39bf18a50fdce43.jpg
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,899
    96
    Texas
    B&J Machine P500 sight removal tool. I have been using this thing for years and it will do 95% of pistol sights. It doesn't work well with slide mounted de-cockers (Beretta). Excellent machine, excellent customer service when you wear out a part.....

    20220606_182140_f5079a4f25acf00fcb79aea2157b78c913382160.jpg

    20220606_182822_99894e15b7611d82521501918ff15701ebec09db.jpg

    20220606_182836_5c244680b532368dd7b209dcdfae4577763c84f4.jpg

    20220606_183112_8e3652d784878924ea8bd2e7447b226783b1c75d.jpg

    20220606_184142_ce929c01493a86b94f1ccc87a07353a2b32353cf.jpg

    20220606_184154_a47d7cae9720135c820b1c9411530798386333ba.jpg


    Challis grip bushing removal and installation tool.......


    20220606_181240_9ff0255fbcd9b26952d804f3a3feca09efc2f5b5.jpg

    Place over bushing
    20220606_181243_5eade4ed803890e0a92321efaf484d4658f5726b.jpg

    Install grip screw and tighten to bushing
    20220606_181253_b3c54c870225725a3a68d42efbc787d7ccebf38c.jpg

    Slide in bar and remove.........
    20220606_181728_e58031e929a15a17c0aacee2f71098925fae41bf.jpg

    One for regular bushings and one for slim line bushings.....
    20220606_184535_61dc1f5523baa5039d901ec533f5f0a40a20ff08.jpg

    Never worry about messing up a bushing or frame threads when installing or removing grip bushings........

    Sunex mini ratchet/bit set.....one of the most used tools on the bench.......

    20220606_185303_99ee1c3815339d97cdbaa0105afbbbbaf39c37fb.jpg

    The long black Torx bits with blue collars are T-10 and T-15 impact bits......will not strip out or break......
     
    Last edited:

    Sam7sf

    TGT Addict
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Apr 13, 2018
    12,466
    96
    Texas
    I recently completed the Penn-Foster Gunsmithing Course and I'm looking to build a work area with the basic equipment I'll need to do common gunsmithing tasks. Penn-Foster didn't help with this type of inventory. Does anyone know of a source which might help?
    Search sources for machinists tools then for gunsmithing tools brownells has a good selection of gunsmithing tools. But for actual mill and lathe work, get brand name mics, test indicators, calipers, gauges, tool holders, bit inserts for lathe work blah blah blah list goes on. Measuring tool wise if you can save up buy mitutoyo. For cutting inserts buy Mitsubishi. End mills I like m a ford.

    Good luck bud. Pm me if you’re near Palmer. I’ll introduce you to my father in law who is a gunsmith and has his own preferences not listed.
     

    Sam7sf

    TGT Addict
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Apr 13, 2018
    12,466
    96
    Texas
    A pet peeve of mine is folks calling themselves a "Gunsmith" who aren't.......

    There are a hell of lot folks working on guns (me included) who are not real "Gunsmiths"....

    Trying to figure out who really is............ and isn't........ can be an expensive endeavor.........

    When customers referred to me as the "Gunsmith", I quickly explained, I was not....was never comfortable with it....

    A lot of folks think anyone who works on guns deserves the title...........not all do.......

    jmho....
    I’ll agree with this but with a twist...

    A lot of people jump into it before being a machinist or a fabricator.
     

    candcallen

    Crotchety, Snarky, Truthful. You'll get over it.
    Emeritus - "Texas Proud"
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Jul 23, 2011
    21,358
    96
    Little Elm
    I, IMHO, dont think one can be a real gun Smith if you arent a competent machinist. Otherwise, like the rest of us, you are an assembler tinkerer or even technician who has to know their limitations lest they really phuck shit up or get someone killed.
     

    Nicholst55

    Retired, Twice.
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Sep 24, 2021
    351
    76
    Houston Area
    I believe Brownells and most other firearm suppliers wont give you a discount unless you provide them your FFL (typically Class 1). Per the ATF, you are required to have an FFL to practice gunsmithing for profit, but this allows you to get better pricing for your customers and opens more business opportunities anyway
    Brownells will give very nearly anyone a discount. It isn't all that great a deal anyway, but every little bit helps.
     

    Sam7sf

    TGT Addict
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Apr 13, 2018
    12,466
    96
    Texas
    I, IMHO, dont think one can be a real gun Smith if you arent a competent machinist. Otherwise, like the rest of us, you are an assembler tinkerer or even technician who has to know their limitations lest they really phuck shit up or get someone killed.
    When I worked for an 07 I got this spot welding kit in and tossed everything but the welder and used the lathe and mill to make the tips that would ensure the results I wanted.
     

    Sam7sf

    TGT Addict
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Apr 13, 2018
    12,466
    96
    Texas
    My biggest advice though to op is get lots of practice and focus more on looking out for and preventing crashing your machine.

    Also depending on what mill or lathe you get, if you can afford it get as big of a table for a mill as you can. Get the biggest distance between center and swing as you can for a lathe. Because when gunsmithing work slows down you can take other jobs.
     

    Sam7sf

    TGT Addict
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Apr 13, 2018
    12,466
    96
    Texas
    Op, I still have my old 123 blocks, a test indicator, and edge finder if you’re hurting.
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,899
    96
    Texas
    My lathe was made in Taiwan and is a 14X40...very happy with it. Bought from a competitive shooter who did his own barrel work......

    My mill is a Grizzly Chinese round column....I bought it new a few years ago. It does have power feed and has done everything I have needed it to do...........but knowing what I know now...I should have opted for an older knee mill like a Clausing or South Bend............
     

    Sam7sf

    TGT Addict
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Apr 13, 2018
    12,466
    96
    Texas
    My lathe was made in Taiwan and is a 14X40...very happy with it. Bought from a competitive shooter who did his own barrel work......

    My mill is a Grizzly Chinese round column....I bought it new a few years ago. It does have power feed and has done everything I have needed it to do...........but knowing what I know now...I should have opted for an older knee mill like a Clausing or South Bend............
    A cnc knee mill. Cause you can still do everything you can with a manual in jog mode.

    I started on a 1994 haas vf2 for 4k. Did jobs and replaced more parts and got better jobs.

    Best lathe I ever used was an old Mori seiki from the 80’s. Hot damn that thing was accurate.
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,899
    96
    Texas
    Yes, this old man dreams of a CNC mill......

    A friend of mine works for KNS Precision running CNC's for them in Fredericksburg......He is the Mr. AK-47 I speak of sometimes.....His work is out of this world......He started Halcyon Defense on the side and is currently into 9X39 caliber work pretty heavy...

    Check out his FB page sometime......(yeah, I know FB)
     

    Axxe55

    Retiretgtshit stirrer
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 15, 2019
    47,022
    96
    Lost in East Texas Elhart Texas
    Lesson 1. Never forget -Dremel tools allow you to make mistakes faster.
    When Dremel tools became affordable, many DIYer's thought they were gunsmiths! I have seen a fair amount of guns ruined because of Dremel tool. A Dremel tool is a wonderful tool in the hands of someone that knows what they are doing, but will turn a gun into worthless crap in the hands of someone that THINKS they are a gunsmith.
     

    G O B

    School of Hard Knocks and Sharp blows
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 9, 2017
    1,101
    96
    Hays Co.
    I recommend that everyone who works on guns, or any other complicated machine should buy a copy of "Machinery's Handbook"
    This book has been invaluable to me when working on hydraulic controllers and gear boxes, complicated linkages and every other machine, or device that has been machined.
     
    Top Bottom