FrankenMauser
New member
I am working on a project that requires a straight-grip conversion on a Marlin 336 that is currently pistol-grip style.
I don't want to go the easy route this time and pay $65+ for a M444T lever, or re-time the action to work with a modified 1895 lever; so I've committed to modifying the existing pistol grip lever (saves me from additional action work, too ).
Since I'm already modifying and need to add material, I figure I might as well go full custom with the part.
I plan to rust blue the rifle when finished. I've considered color case-hardening for the lever and some other accoutrements, but the official plan is rust-bluing.
Which brings me to the question(s):
What type of flat stock would you recommend?
Hot-rolled A-36? Cold rolled 1018? Something harder?
Most tool steels seem to be too high in nickel and require more post-weld heat treating, correct?
Is annealing or heat-treating really necessary afterward?
I would like to get away with using heat sinks and heat control paste on everything from the trigger guard forward.
Would ER70S-6 be appropriate fill material?
(Mild steel alloy -- 0.85% silicon, 1.5% manganese, 0.2% copper, only traces of other common alloy elements.)
I don't want to go the easy route this time and pay $65+ for a M444T lever, or re-time the action to work with a modified 1895 lever; so I've committed to modifying the existing pistol grip lever (saves me from additional action work, too ).
Since I'm already modifying and need to add material, I figure I might as well go full custom with the part.
I plan to rust blue the rifle when finished. I've considered color case-hardening for the lever and some other accoutrements, but the official plan is rust-bluing.
Which brings me to the question(s):
What type of flat stock would you recommend?
Hot-rolled A-36? Cold rolled 1018? Something harder?
Most tool steels seem to be too high in nickel and require more post-weld heat treating, correct?
Is annealing or heat-treating really necessary afterward?
I would like to get away with using heat sinks and heat control paste on everything from the trigger guard forward.
Would ER70S-6 be appropriate fill material?
(Mild steel alloy -- 0.85% silicon, 1.5% manganese, 0.2% copper, only traces of other common alloy elements.)