Homemade Rifle Bolt Assembly Tool for 303 British and A2 308 Cal Ishapore

What is a nut driver? A not driver is a handle that looks like a screwdriver with a socket welded on the end from the factory. The shaft is hollow. Some nut drivers have a solid shaft so they will not work for this project. What is a striker tool (firing pin removal tool for a British or Indian rifle)? It is a hollow shaft with two pieces of metal equally spaced across from each other. How do I make one ? First do not grind up one of your nut drivers if you have a set unless you can buy a replacement cheap. Pawn shops and yard sales will yield one in time for almost nothing.

There is more than enough information on using this tool on the internet so here are some simple instructions on making the tool. This used nut driver from a pawn shop junk box was $1. The most important thing about the 303 British and the A2 308 Cal Ishapore is the fact that the nut driver shaft is small enough to go in the striker hole (firing pin hole) in the bolt after unscrewing the front part..

Before moving on let us put a few things into perspective. Many of us have some pretty nice tools. A drill, a grinder, files, and a hacksaw a hammer and some chisels are the basics. Some people have a little more a drill press, and a welder. And a very few more have a lathe of some sort whether wood or metal turning lathe. Our main problem today is the fact that people do not know how to use these tools. The other problem is that people do not know what they can do with the basic tools a hammer a chisel some files and a drill. You can literally make a gun. In a machinist course the instructor will generally spend no more than a few days on teaching a class how to use a file. This means that in a few days not weeks or months you can make a complicated product.

A bench grinder is perhaps the most brutal tool in your shop. It is made for rough metal removal so to do anything else requires a gentle touch. The motor on a bench grinder is sealed for good reason as metal filings would destroy a ventilated motor. When using a grinder for extended periods of time periodically check the grinder motor with a touch of your hand. When it feels uncomfortably warm turn it off and come back to your project when it is cool. Follow all manufactures suggestions for safety—grinder application and use. Make sure that all safety devices are installed and use eye protection.

I have a precision machining certificate so to me this is a simple creation. Practice grinding on a piece of round bar stock before you do it for real. The nut driver you chose could have any number of sizes of sockets with about the same sized shaft. I used a bench grinder to remove the socket end, and to shape the remaining end. The nut driver was rotated and pressed against the grinder wheel of the bench grinder and removed evenly. Touch gently and rotate, take your time--when you hand can no longer move withdraw reset your hands and start about where you had stopped and rotate. I left a little of the socket metal which was probably not necessary. The final step would best be done with a file. But some socket metals are heat treated and hard and may not yield to a file. At this point if the metal is not to hard and you can use a file use file. Mark the desired width of the metal you desire to leave sticking up across from each other.   

I put something in front of my grinder to steady my hands on and gently finished my metal removal. If you mess up grind the end flat back up a little re-mark and start again. If the shaft is not long enough you can remove some of the plastic handle by the exposed shaft. If the firing pin hits the plastic in the handle use a drill bit and go up the shaft. If the two dimples are not far enough apart heat them and spread them a little. This is a simple project so do not try to make it difficult.
   Richard W. Norman American Handbook on Guns Ammo and Freedom