Granted, any project that requires a lathe may be out of reach for most of us who tinker with guns in our spare time. But there are other, less complicated gunsmithing tasks such as recrowning a muzzle and bedding a barreled action that can be accomplished in a corner of your basement with few specialized tools. As with any project that mandates attention to detail, there is a learning curve, and step-by-step instruction from someone with experience goes a long way.
Bryce M. Towsley gives that type of helpful advice in "Gunsmithing Made Easy." The 158-page hardcover is full of tips and photos to guide you through more than a dozen projects that improve fit and function, enhance accuracy or just make your gun look better. Also included are sections on how to mount a scope and how to properly clean a bore—two things every gun guy should know.
Towsley delivers detailed, how-to info in a conversational tone throughout the book, and he's honest. If there's a chance of making a mistake, he tells you the best way to avoid it. If he's tried something that didn't work, he lets you know so you don't run into the same problem. Insight like that only comes from a guy who has decades of shop time under his belt.
"Gunsmithing Made Easy" is available online for $16.95 (plus $4.95 for shipping and handling) at brycetowsley.com. If it saves you just one trip to the gunsmith, the book is worth the price.
