Making of the Indo-Canadian IOF 30-06

[AgentDoubleS]

Gentlemen,

Hate to interrupt the eloquent repartee but I have bases to mount- no double meaning statement intended.
On the iof 30 thread I only read through one post suggesting filing the screws. It didn't appeal to me much due to an unpredictable outcome.

There's a lot of info on skin bedding the mounts, macks post of mounting the scope etc but hardly any info on putting the recoil pad and drilling and tapping.

Mack, my only fear of getting new screws is quality. Not sure if I'll get decent quality ones but will still look around.

AB, any suggestion on gs' in Delhi?

[AgentDoubleS]

And then he says to the gunsmith:
I am not able to screw in the hole. Please make it bigger for me!!

I'm certainly not getting the screw shortened!

[Safarigent]

Well, if you wont be modest and get a smaller screw and wont step up and mount the damn thing properly, you will just ave to get mack uncle to stand in your place.
Honestly, i have given you advice to the best of my knowledge. Bobby sidhu.
Others might have options which suit you better.
All the best

[Mack The Knife]

SS,

TVS make good quality allen screws. If memory serves me right, when the IOF .30 was launched, the screws which came with the Weaver bases could not be fastened to the receiver due to IOF using a different pitch. IIRC, the older IOF .30's needed M3 allen screws (double check this) and if I recall correctly these too needed to be shortened. I had two sets which I eventually gave away, along with the bases and rings, when I decided not to buy the IOF .30-06. If you are reluctant to shorten the screws yourself, it can be done by any competent machinist assuming the pitch is correct.

Whether IOF has retained the old thread pitch or changed it I am not sure. Prashant and Baljit should know.

Putting on a recoil pad isn't difficult. It is mentioned in my stock finish thread. In short, you remove the old/original butt pad, measure the height and width and if you find and like a butt pad with exactly the same measurements, then buy that and screw that on. If the holes in the butt of the stock do not match those on the new butt pad, fill the original holes, mark the location of the new screws and drill a pilot hole for each of the new screws. You may gradually have to increase the dia of the hole in one or more steps but since you will most likely be supplied with self-threading screws when you buy the butt pad, the hole you drill must have a smaller dia than that of the screw. Always mark the drill bit to the depth you want to drill. I use a permanent marker and this shows up quite well when the bit is turning. If you have a manual (non-electrical) drill, consider using one as it will give you more control over the work. If you only have an electrical drill, go slow and careful.

NOTE: When selecting a butt pad, please keep your length of pull (LOP) in mind. You do not want to be reaching / stretching for the trigger blade.

Drilling means drilling a hole of a certain dia to a specified depth. Tapping refers to the cutting of threads into the hole that has been drilled. If you are reluctant to shorten a screw, you better not try drilling and tapping your rifle's receiver.

[Baljit]

SS, The Weaver bases i mount on Prashant's rifle comes with really good screws, you don't need to be shortened. Only you have to do is take your rifle to good gun smith and told him to make a bigger hole on the receiver and mount those bases.This is we did with Prashant's rifle.

Make sure when you are going to see gun smith give him those bases with screws.


Baljit

[Safarigent]

Baljit sir,
You cant use phrases like 'make a bigger hole' you shall be reported to the authority.

SS, i presume you wont be doing much work yourself.
Ths rifle will be with you for atleast 5 years. Dont bug*3r it up.
Get a t.l and drive up to patiala if you cant find someone you trust in delhi.

[Mack The Knife]

Get a t.l and drive up to patiala if you cant find someone you trust in delhi.

So much easier and cheaper to get the right sized allen screws and cutting them to the correct length, if need be.

[brihacharan]

> Congrats Prashant
> A very nice looking rifle - Must be sheer pride to own one.
> Presume you'll be sighting / zeroing it with 180gr Soft nosed ammo - eager to see the results
Happy Shooting
Briha

[AgentDoubleS]

SS,

TVS make good quality allen screws. If memory serves me right, when the IOF .30 was launched, the screws which came with the Weaver bases could not be fastened to the receiver due to IOF using a different pitch. IIRC, the older IOF .30's needed M3 allen screws (double check this) and if I recall correctly these too needed to be shortened. I had two sets which I eventually gave away, along with the bases and rings, when I decided not to buy the IOF .30-06. If you are reluctant to shorten the screws yourself, it can be done by any competent machinist assuming the pitch is correct.Whether IOF has retained the old thread pitch or changed it I am not sure. Prashant and Baljit should know.

Mack, I'll look for m3 Allen screws, I doubt the sizes have changed and even if they turn out the wrong size, I don't lose much. This seems to be the easiest solution.

Putting on a recoil pad isn't difficult. It is mentioned in my stock finish thread. In short, you remove the old/original butt pad, measure the height and width and if you find and like a butt pad with exactly the same measurements, then buy that and screw that on. If the holes in the butt of the stock do not match those on the new butt pad, fill the original holes, mark the location of the new screws and drill a pilot hole for each of the new screws. You may gradually have to increase the dia of the hole in one or more steps but since you will most likely be supplied with self-threading screws when you buy the butt pad, the hole you drill must have a smaller dia than that of the screw. Always mark the drill bit to the depth you want to drill. I use a permanent marker and this shows up quite well when the bit is turning. If you have a manual (non-electrical) drill, consider using one as it will give you more control over the work. If you only have an electrical drill, go slow and careful.

NOTE: When selecting a butt pad, please keep your length of pull (LOP) in mind. You do not want to be reaching / stretching for the trigger blade.

You are right, I completely forgot that thread even though I've gone through it many times. I have got the entire BC set to put the stock through that treatment. Will put up the result once I'm through it, though its the last on my list to work on the rifle. I have the screw dimensions of the butt pad (). I like ur suggestion of the manual drill. Will keep the in mind. it's a 1inch thick pachymr deccelarator, the lop is anything but long. I like it as is and hopefully the new pad will improve the recoil feel. It's a little bigger than required though so i'll have to sand it- a lot!!

Drilling means drilling a hole of a certain dia to a specified depth. Tapping refers to the cutting of threads into the hole that has been drilled. If you are reluctant to shorten a screw, you better not try drilling and tapping your rifle's receiver.

I'm doing most of the things on the rifle myself but the idea of drilling and tapping is beyond my appetite. If I don't get the right size screws I'll reach out to a GS. I'm comfortable shortening them.

AB, agreed- I'm guessing more than 5 years! I'll not take a chance with the receiver. Have heard a lot about bobby- one of my firearms will certainly get his treatment even though it comes at a cost!. I'm just conscious it might be an overkill to go there just to get the receiver holes. Needless to say if I'm not confident of anyone in Delhi bobby it is.


Putting up the prostaff on the 11 mm dovetail was so much easier! Phew!

[Katana]

TVS make good quality allen screws. If memory serves me right, when the IOF .30 was launched, the screws which came with the Weaver bases could not be fastened to the receiver due to IOF using a different pitch. IIRC, the older IOF .30's needed M3 allen screws (double check this) and if I recall correctly these too needed to be shortened. I had two sets which I eventually gave away, along with the bases and rings, when I decided not to buy the IOF .30-06. If you are reluctant to shorten the screws yourself, it can be done by any competent machinist assuming the pitch is correct.

This is exactly what I had done with my 2008 rifle. I remember buying those M3 bolts from a Maruti spare parts dealer.

[Mack The Knife]

Thanks for the confirmation, Katana.

[AgentDoubleS]

Thanks Katana, that's very helpful.

[ckkalyan]

Very interesting post about the Making of the German-Indo-Canadian IOF 30-06; just read the whole thing so far, enjoyed the entire show very much!

My apologies Baljit and prashantsingh for not being able to watch this post much earlier. Looks like all of you had a great time.

[AgentDoubleS]

Mack, AB

Done the following:

1.Found the m3 size screws (3 mm or 3 soot) as is referred here with Allen heads. Had to shorten the screws, but ive left them longer than the ones I had got with bases. Had to machine the bolt heads slightly to make them fit. Seems like a good fit. Contemplating if I should skin bed the mounts.

2. Put the pachymr deccelarator recoil pad. Thankfully the current screw slots fit perfectly. A huge part of the pad had to be grinded off. I haven't drilled a hole in the middle of the pad to accommodate the screw driver for attaching the butt to the receiver. The idea didn't appeal to me, will have to go through the inconvenience of removing the pad every time I have to remove the butt from the receiver, which shouldn't be often.

3. Corrected the position of the front swivel stud and attached a caldwell xla bipod.

Next in line: mounting a Nikon buckmaster and giving the stock a birch wood treatment.

[Safarigent]

Awesome!
Glad it worked for you
Do put up the pics of the rifle.