31/30 Barrel Band Removal

[Mason]

I recently got my first two 91/30's and have had a great time cleaning them up. I can not figure out a way to get the barrel bands removed without doing damage to the stocks or bands.

Does anyone have a tip or trick to remove these things without major problems?

Thank you in advance.

[pcrc11]

Push the retainer in and very carefully walk them off with a flat screwdriver between the stock edge and the band. You can try to spread them apart at the bottom with another small screw driver to create a little more wiggle room. would probably also wait for a day when the humidity is low as the wood may shrink a little when humidity is low.

[bajabuc]

I took a small scraper and slid it under the retainer...there's room. I dug out a bunch of hardened cosmolene and still had to pull the spring after I got the bands off and dig out some more. The retainer spring is pretty fragile...when they installed the original spring they drilled the hole all the way through. it's there under the shellac. Grind the point off a 6d nail and use it to push out the pin attatched to the spring retainer....that's for after you get the bands off.

Edited June 16, 2011 by bajabuc

[Mike.357]

I would not spread the band at all. You will never get the proper fit and tension on it again.

If you depress the spring and wiggle the band you ought to be able to get it off.

[bajabuc]

have you been to 7.62x54r.net yet. lots of pictures and howto's

[East_TN_Patriot]

As the others have said, all it takes is some persistence and a little coaxing. The bands on my rifle were pretty caked with gunk and shellac so it took a little bit of persuasion with a flat blade screwdriver to get them loose.

[Guest robinsonfam1]

the rear band at reciever is generally a bit tougher. always carefully pry when using a screw driver etc. you dont want to tear anything up.

[Mason]

Thank you all for the replies. I have been too busy working to fool with the rifles. With your encuragement I will grab a screw driver and see if I can work them off this weekend. I want to get my rifles cleaned up and see if they will shoot this weekend. Thanks again.

[bajabuc]

Did you get it off?

[netmindr]

Just got my first 91/30 this weekend and was able to get both bands off with the insistence of the bolt tool. I was just careful not to scratch the stock with it. They came off clean enough, but when I put the larger one back on it did scuff the stock a bit. Basically it just took some of the lacquer off. A little Old English and you can hardly see it.

[Ramjo]

I wouldn't worry about it too much man. If it's getting used, it's gonna wear, and that only adds character to the gun