Florida Shooters Network

I bought this Winchester Model 100 in .308 and will be receiving it soon.

Rifle:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =270329104

I've been looking for one of these rifles in .243 for awhile, but couldn't find one in the right condition. I wanted a project rifle, not a pristine version. This one has a well worn stock and the bluing is very weak, but the rifle has a good bore and functions well. I"ve read all about the firing pin recall and will check that before shooting the gun. I've also read about deep cleaning the gas system, so will be giving that a once over as well.

I'm planning on doing a dip-camo job on this gun. I've also picked out a Burris Fullfield 2-7x35 camo scope to mount on top.

Anybody have recommendations or experience with the dip type camo? How's the durability? I've successfully used GunKote in the past. Would that be a good undercoat for the dip camo? I do have a bolt shotgun that I can use as a practice piece before working on the Model 100.

What about scope mounting? Any thoughts there as to types, etc. Naturally, I want something in camo.

I may be adding a muzzle brake to this rifle as well. Any recommendations there?

Scope:

you're going to try to dip it yourself?
please be sure you do good before and after photos.

ipscscott wrote:you're going to try to dip it yourself?
please be sure you do good before and after photos.

Yup, that's the plan! And I do promise get some pix of the project as it moves along.

I picked up my rifle today and it's exactly what I'd been hoping for. After a good cleaning, the barrel is bright and shiny with no pitting. There is some surface rust on the receiver/barrel but everything functions correctly. The finish on the stock is worn from 51 years of use, but no signs of abuse anywhere. It's just a well used 51 year old gun. And it has a great feel to it as well.

The firing pin recall has NOT been performed on this rifle, so I won't be shooting it until that's done.

I also changed my mind about the scope. I've decided to go with the Burris Timberline in 4.5-14x32mm. More power in the scope, essentially the same length, thinner diameter, adjustable objective and just 3 ounces heavier. This scope also gets rave reviews. It's not available in camo, so I'll dip the scope as well. That way, the rifle and the scope will match when it's all finished.

This project will take me several months as I work on it off and on. First step is the firing pin recall. Then on to disassembly, sandblasting, gun kote, etc., etc..

I'll post some better pix of the rifle once we get some good sunshine here.

Pix, pix and more pix! As you can see, this rifle is an ideal candidate for the camo job that I want to do. It's well worn, the stock finish is mostlly gone, there are bubbly surface rust areas on the metal parts and yet the bore is bright and shiny. Perfect.

Hey Ross...Let me know who does the firing pin change out for you. I believe you still get either a check for $30 for the repair from Winchester or they send a voucher for that amount to you or to the gunsmith. I have to get mine done too. It's only had 5 rounds through it as I bought it new in 1970 or 71. Here's mine...

Nice rifle!

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to do the firing pin myself or not. I did talk with the gunsmith at Ft. Hufstedtler's here in Brooksville where I did the transfer from. I explained about the recall and how it works as far as the $30 goes and he said "sure" when I asked him if he'd do the job. I'm not sure if he's actually worked on this model or not though.

There are a couple videos on Youtube that show the disassembly and reassembly. Doesn't really look all that difficult. I have to take mine apart for the refinishing job anyway, so may just perform the recall myself and pocket the $30. Heh.

Have you contacted Winchester yet?...I'm gonna give 'em a call tomorrow and find out if they send a firing pin to the smith directly of if they would just send it to me. My Model 100 is a .284 and I missed out on a firing pin on Ebay a few months ago for $10 that was stated as for a .308 and I'm not sure the pins are the same in the .284.

DarrylS wrote:Have you contacted Winchester yet?...I'm gonna give 'em a call tomorrow and find out if they send a firing pin to the smith directly of if they would just send it to me. My Model 100 is a .284 and I missed out on a firing pin on Ebay a few months ago for $10 that was stated as for a .308 and I'm not sure the pins are the same in the .284.

I contacted them a couple weeks ago to find out if this rifle had the recall done yet, but didn't ask them about sending the old firing pin back. I'll do that next week.

You may want to hang onto your firing pin as it is, since you aren't shooting the gun. I've seen the .284 variant go for big bucks online... like $2500. I'm not sure if doing the recall on your gun would hurt the collector value or not. Might be worth checking out.

...Hmmm...I knew the gun was worth "big bucks" but forgot to consider how the "modification" might affect the value. Thanks for bringing that up......Perhaps just having the replacement firing pin in-hand might be worth considering as well...IF I ever consider selling it...LOL...

DarrylS wrote:...Hmmm...I knew the gun was worth "big bucks" but forgot to consider how the "modification" might affect the value. Thanks for bringing that up......Perhaps just having the replacement firing pin in-hand might be worth considering as well...IF I ever consider selling it...LOL...

There ya go!

I'm most curious as to how your's is gonna turn out after you start. It sounds like a great idea for what you have and I'll look forward to seeing more about it...

DarrylS wrote:I'm most curious as to how your's is gonna turn out after you start. It sounds like a great idea for what you have and I'll look forward to seeing more about it...

Yeah, I'm fired up! Gonna be a fun project, but will take some time because I'm so busy with other things right now. I may take the gun apart tomorrow for a look-see. (Depends on the weather.) I've read reports of folks not cleaning the gas chamber, which can result in odd jamming problems, so I'd like to make sure that mine is okay.

The goal is for me to have the project completed and the rifle sighted in and ready for use during gun hunting season this coming fall. I'm sure I'll have it all done well before then though.

I've read that GunKote is an acceptable base layer for the camo job, so I'm planning on using that, probably in OD green or something. I already have a sandblaster and air compressor. And somewhere around here I have some blue remover too.

Do a search on youtube for camo dipping or hydrographics... pretty interesting stuff out there!
Here's one quick example: http://www.hydraphics.com/catalog/

That example you showed was amazing. I'd have never thought you could just take the entire stock and dip it like that. How does using something like that on a scope affect the threads on the adjustment knobs???...

DarrylS wrote:That example you showed was amazing. I'd have never thought you could just take the entire stock and dip it like that. How does using something like that on a scope affect the threads on the adjustment knobs???...

That's a very good question! The only posts I've read online where someone dipped a scope, they taped off the threads. Fortunately for me, I have an old scope for testing purposes.

That appears to be a very sound approach to doing the scope. I'm thinking you're gonna do a great job on that Model 100. My plan is to watch ya through the process and after you get it up and firing wait to see how many piggies you drop with that .308...THEN I'll approach ya fer some piggie "samples"...LMBO... ...

Sounds like a plan!

...LOL...I could use some pork belly to whip up some good smoked BACON!!!!...

I contacted Winchester and decided to go ahead and do the firing pin replacement myself. All I have to do is send them the old one and they'll send me a new one, plus a $30 Visa gift card. Fair deal.

There is rust all over the metal parts of this rifle, including the underside of the bolt as can be seen in the picture below. Some of the rust is not as bad as the bolt; some is worse.

I’ll post more pix tomorrow of everything disassembled... when the light is better.

I’m sure glad that I have a compressor, sandblasting gun and a bench grinder with a buffing wheel!