Anschutz action hardness?

[Pete Wass]

I recently tried re-threading the action screw holes in an Anschutz action and found that the action was too hard to thread with an American made tap (trashed the tap, didn't disturb the threads in the action). How hard are they? I have heard of folks threading them so that barrels can be screwed in instead of pressed, do they anneal them first or is the threading done with carbide?

Thanks,

Pete

 

[jackie schmidt]

I recently tried re-threading the action screw holes in an Anschutz action and found that the action was too hard to thread with an American made tap (trashed the tap, didn't disturb the threads in the action). How hard are they? I have heard of folks threading them so that barrels can be screwed in instead of pressed, do they anneal them first or is the threading done with carbide?

Thanks,

Pete

Pete, a few years ago, I helped a local gunsmith, (a retired policeman), remove a barrel from a Anschutz Rim Fire. I made him a mandrel to tap the old barrel out after removing the locking pins. It took quite a bit of force with a 4 pound hammer to get it out.

The actions, in my opinion, are Case Hardened after Machining.I have no idea what process they use, but most case hardening is around .010-.020 thick. Depending on the process, the Case Hardenning can be as hard as 58-60 RC.

If case hardened, you can thread with carbide tools. As you found out, a regular high speed tap will dull its self trying, as the Case might be actually harder than the tap.

McMillian Action bolts are made this way. The core is relative soft for strength ductility, but the outer surface is Case Hardenned for wear. I bushed a firing pin hole for one years ago, and high speed steel would not cut it.

 

[Rob Carnell]

Carbide will do it

I threaded an old Anny a few years ago and had no issues using a carbide insert on a steel boring bar.

Maybe I was just lucky!

Rob Carnell
Sydney, Australia

 

[Pete Wass]

Thanks Lads

I suspected such was the case. I can see how it would be next to impossible to cut new threads for a small screw but with more meat at the front of the action, possible to get through the case hardening. Prolly will try to thread er in the future.

Pete