Books & Dvds
Showing all 19 results
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‘Epoxy Sleeving’ and Lapping Bolt Lugs for Accuracy (DVD)
$49.94In this Course, Gordy Gritters, well known benchrest gunsmith and competitor, shares a previously proprietaty secret and extremely effective method of reducing bolt play in a rifle action to increase accuracy, sometimes astonishingly so!
He also goes into great detail showing a very effective method of lapping bolt lugs without wearing them at an angle like so often happens when using conventional methods.
These two techniques go hand-in-hand to correct issues that have a major impact on the accuracy of a rifle! Gordy’s clients rely on him to wring out all the accuracy possible from thier rifles, you and use the same methods to improve your guns.Another great instructional video. Return to Gordy’s expert instruction as often as you like to get every detail correct.
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Sale!
Chambering for Ackley Cartridge (booklet)
Original price was: $29.95.$24.95Current price is: $24.95.
Gunsmithing Student Handbook Series #1
This booklet is the first of many planned works that provide instruction in the correct and safe methods of gunsmithing. Specifically, this essay discusses Ackley Improved cartridges. In it, we will not teach you how to install and chamber a barrel, we handle that information in another title, “Chambering Rifle Barrels for Accuracy”. In this book we will in detail help you to understand the special details related to chambering for Ackley Improved designs, specifically we explain headspace for Ackley designs.
If you are not familiar with how headspace applies to firearms and ammunition you may want to consider another title we offer, “Understanding Headspace for Firearms”.
Fred Zeglin along with other well-known Gunsmiths has begun the task of creating a series of instructional manuals. Each book will focus on one narrow subject in Gunsmithing. Written with an audience in mind who want to know every detail of the how and why of gunsmithing.
Each book in the series will provide a highly detailed and Technical explanation of the subject at hand in a way that any gun lover will be able to understand, whether professional or hobbyist.
44 pages, soft bound. Printed in the U.S.A.
Back Cover of Chambering for Ackley Cartridges.
“The material and information inside will last you a lifetime. This is a PRACTICAL handbook.” Gary Howes, GunsAndGunsmiths.com
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Chambering Rifles for Accuracy (book)
$49.95Third of many planned works that provide instruction in the correct and safe methods of gunsmithing.
Specifically, this essay discusses several methods that can be used to accurately chamber a rifle barrel. In Part I of the book Fred Zeglin teaches you all about accurate hunting rifles and discusses the variables that must be dealt with in order to create an accurate hunting rifle. In Part II Gordy Gritters, famed benchrest gunsmith, shares every secret he has learned over the last 30 years. Gordy finishes the book with a step by step process for bench rest barrel work.
If you are not familiar with how headspace applies to firearms and ammunition you may want to consider another title we offer, “Understanding Headspace for Firearms”.
Each book in the Gunsmith Student Handbook Series will focus on one narrow subject in Gunsmithing. Written with the audience in mind these books are for shooters who want to know every detail of the how and why of gunsmithing. Whether you plan to build guns or not, each book in the series will provide a highly detailed and technical explanation of the subject at hand, in a way that any gun lover will be able to understand. Professional or hobbyist will enjoy this read.
123 pages, soft bound. Printed in the U.S.A.
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Sale!
Checkering, A book of checkering for the beginner
Original price was: $48.95.$46.85Current price is: $46.85.Paperback, 8.5×11
176 pages.
Sherman L. Mays assembled this how to manual from his considerable experience checking for a living. He has taught many others to checker and for this reason his book is excellent at showing the novice how to get started and the mistakes to avoid. His easy going and often humorous style makes this a pleasant read and the prolific use of photos aid in your understanding of the subject.
Mays shows many patterns and details in his book on checkering.
If you have ever wanted to learn how to checker this book is ideal for building skills and saves you a lot of time learning your way around the difficulties every student of checkering faces. Instead of working all by yourself, invite Sherman, via this book to come into your shop to stay. Handbooks are at their best when they become a well loved reference book, I think this book will be just that.
There are nearly 300 pictures used to show you the details that matter.
Mays starts with teaching you how to cut that first line and then increased the difficulty of each project like any good instructor would. Even a reluctant student would have no reason to avoid cutting their first line of checking in a few short hours after acquiring this text.
Free shipping on this Book.
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Sale!
Custom Cartridges
Original price was: $78.95.$69.95Current price is: $69.95.Designing and Forming Custom Cartridges for Rifles and Handguns By Ken Howell
Brand new copies of Ken Howell’s classic text on cartridge dimensions. This book has been out of print for several years. Fred Zeglin at Z-Hat Publishing located a stash of books in a warehouse. We have them available for sale to our clients.
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Ebook: Gunsmith Tools, Cutters & Guages – A Primer
$10.00This is a Generic Epub file format.
The Ebook can be opened and viewed in many readers including Microsoft File Viewer and numerous Free E Reader apps available online.
We also stock a print edition, click here.
We spoke with leaders in the tool making industry about the things they spend most of their time and effort educating clients about. Contributions from Clymer, Forster, Manson, JGS, PTG, SAAMI and more are all included. There are books for machinists that teach this type of information, but until now there has never been a book for gunsmiths that explains the tools of the trade and how they should be utilized. The idea is simple, answer your questions before you order any tool.
Nomenclature is important, when you talk to a reamer maker, gunsmith or client you want to know the correct terms. This indicates to those you work with that you took the time the understand the tools. It will improve your ability the sell work to customers, buy or rent the right tools for the job. You will save untold hours and dollars, don’t learn at the “School of Hard Knocks”.
When you understand tools, they work better and last much longer. This both saves money and increases profits.
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Evaluating Rifles for Accuracy Problems (DVD)
$49.94This is a great instructional video. You can return to it as often as you like to get every detail the way you want it.
In this intensive course, Gordy Gritters, well known benchrest gunsmith and competitor, thoroughly explains rifle accuracy, including the problems that cause poor accuracy, he shows you how to completely evaluate/measure/gauge every aspect of a factory or custom rifle for accuracy problems.
He shows how to “slug” a bore to evaluate internal barrel problems, and has some terrific borescope footage that clearly shows crooked/off-center chambers, smeared lands caused by dull chamber reamers, chamber and throat “reamer chatter”, throat erosion, and other accuracy robbing problems.
Gordy then goes into detail explaining some of the best procedures used to correct all the accuracy problems in the action, barrel, stock, bedding, trigger, and other components of a rifle, including the “Big Five” things that are absolutely essential to bring out the full accuracy potential in any rifle! This is the same information that Gordy uses to help his clients win matches.
Owning this kind of resource material is invaluable.
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Gunsmith Tools, Cutters & Gauges – A Primer
$12.95Shipping Now!
We spoke with leaders in the tool making industry about the things they spend most of their time and effort educating clients about. Contributions from Clymer, Forster, Manson, JGS, PTG, SAAMI and more are all included. There are books for machinists that teach this type of information, but until now there has never been a book for gunsmiths that explains the tools of the trade and how they should be utilized. The idea is simple, answer your questions before you order any tool.
Nomenclature is important, when you talk to a reamer maker, gunsmith or client you want to know the correct terms. This indicates to those you work with that you took the time the understand the tools. It will improve your ability the sell work to customers, buy or rent the right tools for the job. You will save untold hours and dollars, don’t learning at the “School of Hard Knocks”.
When you understand tools, they work better and last much longer. This both saves money and increases profits.
What is discussed?
All types or reamers specific to firearms work
Reamer Holders
Reamer Stops
Use of Reamers
Cutting Lube
Chip Welding and how to Stop it.
Misconceptions About Reamers
Chatter and its Cures
Shotgun Chamber Tools
Forcing Cone Reamers
Shotgun Chokes
Screw Choke Tooling
Measuring for Choke Tubes
Choke Lube
Defining Headspace
Choosing the Correct Gauge
Improved Chambers and Headspace
Headspace Gauge Interchange Chart
Charts for Tooling and bushings.
EBOOK NOW AVAILABLE TOO.
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Sale!
Hawk Cartridges Manual
Original price was: $32.85.$28.75Current price is: $28.75.Hard cover reloading manual for Hawk Cartridges.
180 pages.
10 years of research went into the collection of data for Hawk Cartridges. This book includes all the data collected for all calibers. This unique line of wildcats is base on the concept of non-belted cartridges that deliver magnum velocities at pressures that are appropriate for the available brass. Most of the data includes pressure test results.
Fred Zeglin of Z-Hat Custom took the time to carefully assemble this data in a format that is useful to the reloader and student of ballistics.
Several articles both old and new are included to illuminate the Hawk Cartridge line-up. History and technical information, including how to form brass is all included. Very specific information about selecting correct brass for the cartridge you like.
Dimensions for all cartridges are included, no secrets here.
Everything you need to know to be successful with this line of Cartridges.
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Sale!
P.O. Ackley, America’s Gunsmith
Original price was: $54.95.$49.95Current price is: $49.95.“P.O. Ackley, America’s Gunsmith is so extensive and so well done,
I am at a loss to adequately describe it!” Dennis ‘Mike’ Bellm, Bellm TC’sBook, Hard cover, 256 pages.
Parker Otto Ackley left a wealth of firearms knowledge among those he trained. The eminent gunsmith, ballistician, barrel maker, teacher and writer perhaps had more influence on modern shooting and firearms than any other single man. And now his life and works have been painstakingly detailed in P.O. Ackley: America’s Gunsmith.
Writer and gunsmith Fred Zeglin gives a never-before-seen look at the humble man whose research thrust the firearms industry forward. From improving rifle chambers for use with modern powders to developing superior barrels to designing red-hot cartridges, readers will walk away with a new appreciation for Ackley’s exploration and ideas. And his concepts on reloading, rifle accuracy, safety, cartridge choice, and wildcat use are just as relevant for today’s “gun cranks” as they were in Ackley’s heyday.
Zeglin also delivers the most complete collection of accurate dimensions, loading data and history for the lifetime of cartridges created by P.O. Ackley, the most influential gunsmith in American history. Most shooters today know him because of his “Ackley Improved” cartridge designs. But those cartridges are only the tip of the iceberg. P.O. Ackley: America’s Gunsmith is the whole story.
Bonus: Full-color photo section and an exclusive never-before-printed article by P.O. Ackley.
How this book will raise your firearms IQ:
Wildcat and standard cartridge history
Accurate technical information
Colorful Ackley quotes and entertaining Ackleyisms
Descriptions and reloading data for Ackley Improved cartridges
Now Shipping! Autographed copies.
“Any gunsmithing student, reloader, shooter will find him or herself fascinated
by this work. No library is complete without it.” Gary Yee, author of
“Sharpshooters 1750-1900” & “Sharpshooters, Marksmen Through the Ages”About the Author
Fred Zeglin has been building custom hunting rifles for nearly thirty-five years. Zeglin has taught classes for the NRA Short Term Gunsmithing program at three separate colleges and is the Coordinator/Instructor for the Firearms Technology program at FVCC in Kalispell, MT. He has published two other books, Hawk Cartridges Manual and Wildcat Cartridges, Reloader’s Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design.
Fred is maintaining a web site about P.O. Ackley, this allows him to keep updating as more details come to light. https://ackleyimproved.com
Fred has signed all the books we are shipping.
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Sale!
Reloader’s Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design
Original price was: $64.95.$62.95Current price is: $62.95.NOW IN STOCK!
Your Gateway to Customized Cartridges!
Unlock the world of wildcat cartridge design with the Reloader’s Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design, 2nd Edition. This comprehensive guide is the ultimate reference for reloaders, offering insights into designing, building, loading, and shooting wildcat cartridges. From the diminutive .10 caliber to the robust .50 cal., the book covers a vast range of calibers, catering to every shooter’s preferences.
Featuring three new chapters, this updated edition delves into modernized wildcats, recently developed proprietary and factory cartridges, ammunition sources, and creative solutions for acquiring .22 rimfire ammo during scarcity. Explore dimensioned drawings, loading data, detailed cartridge descriptions, historical wildcat cartridges, and profiles of renowned wildcatters like P.O. Ackley.
Whether seeking increased velocity, improved accuracy, extended range, or superior terminal performance on game, this handbook equips you with the knowledge to create your own reamers, reloading dies, and innovative cartridges. Take your reloading game to an entirely new level with this indispensable guide!
Hardback, 488 pages, copious illustrations.
Inside You’ll Find:
- •Dimension-ed drawings and loading data
- •Detailed cartridge descriptions and performance
- •Historical wildcat cartridges and new designs
- •Wildcats vs. improved cartridges
- •Tooling, supplies and suppliers
- •P.O. Ackley and other wildcatter profiles!
All of Fred Zeglin’s books sold by 4D are autographed by the author.
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Reloading From A to Z, DVD (AGI Reloading/Gunsmithing Instruction)
$289.95
Reloading from A-Z is a course with nearly 8 hours of information in video format you can watch as often as you like to brush up or pick up a new skill.
The Liberals at YouTube don’t want you to see this.
Learn how-to make hand loaded ammunition tailored specifically for YOUR needs. This course is far more in depth than any other reloading course on the market. Renowned cartridge designer, gunsmith, and AGI instructor Fred Zeglin begins this course by addressing reloading from its most basic fundamentals. This allows the new reloader to begin the process almost immediately with confidence and safety. He goes further and introduces you to tools that increase the speed and quality of the reloading process.
Popular tools offered by numerous manufacturers of reloading gear are demonstrated and explained. He also covers casting bullet techniques and advanced precision reloading for long range shooting.
Most people learn reloading strictly from a mechanical ‘monkey see, monkey do’ view point. In other words, nobody ever completely explains to them WHY operations are performed a certain way or WHAT value they have. In this course Fred shows you, from a gunsmiths perspective, what is happening to the brass when fired and when it goes through the reloading process. This information will make you a well informed reloader and if you’re a gunsmith, will help aid in diagnosing problems with your clients’ reloads and guns.
Accuracy is always the name of the game for any shooter. Fred talks about what makes a safe, accurate reload and shares simple tricks that will save you hours of trial and error at the reloading bench and range. Obviously, this translates into saving money on components as well.
Our Special price here is for the course without the Certification from AGI. If you prefer to acquire the Certification we can arrange that or you can buy direct from AGI.
We are often asked, “Why So Much?” Well its nearly 8 hours of intensive instruction, in a friendly conversational style that makes it all easy to understand.
As a bonus Darrel Holland’s “Advanced Reloading Techniques” is included in the package.
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Special Offer
$89.00
Special Combo price for buying the Hawk Reloading Manual (book) & the Taming Wildcats DVD at the same time.
With shipping you would pay a little over $100 for these two purchased separately at regular price. With this Special you get both for $89 shipped and… Fred will sign the Hawk Manual.
Hurry we can’t do this forever!
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Sale!
Stock Work for the Beginner
Original price was: $54.95.$49.95Current price is: $49.95.by Serman L. Mays
363 pages, 8.5″x11″ format.
Some readers may recognize Sherman Mays as the author of a fine instructional book on Checkering.
He assembled the book about stock making for anyone who wants to learn about the craft or start making stocks.
Simple and complex stock repairs as well as inletting new blanks Sherman covers it all.Many stock makers starting out do not realize the many details that can go into a new stock. This book is extensive in its coverage of details like stock fitting to provide the shooter with the best ergonomics. Specifics like installing recoil pads, both fixed and adjustable are explained. Professional tricks for installing or inletting grip caps. Finishing stocks for a professional result and what tools work best. Sherm even touches on checkering, because not stock is really complete until it has been checkered.
A great book for wood lovers who want to build stocks for their guns.
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Taming Wildcats, DVD (AGI gunsmithing instruction)
$69.95A wildcat cartridge is a cartridge that is not commercially loaded by a major ammunition manufacturer, but could be loaded by a specialty or contract reloader.
Taming Wildcats: How To Design & Fabricate Custom Cartridges. Is one of AGI’s courses, taught by custom gunsmith Fred Zeglin, renowned cartridge designer and builder of the well-known Hawk series of cartridges, will get the viewer on the road to a thorough understanding of Wildcats and Wildcatting. Great material for any gunsmith or do-it yourself-er who want to make the tools themselves.
One doesn’t need to be a master machinist or tool and die maker to be able to turn out the blank resizing / forming / chamber reamers on the lathe; a tool post grinder is not needed. A bench grinder with a good fine grinding wheel and some practice will, with Zeglin’s expert and easy to follow guidance, will enable the viewer to turn out reamers that will equal anything one can buy! Talk about self reliance.
This video is a valuable addition to your library if you want to know how to design and build custom cartridges, reamers and reloading dies. It provides detailed explanations and demonstrations.
This DVD includes:
Introduction to Wildcat and Wildcatting
The Five Design Steps
Canon Reamers
Resizing Die Reamers
Making a Reamer
Heat Treating a Reamer
Relief Grinding
Sharpening a Reamer
Forming the Brass
Making a Chamber Reamer
Using the Reamer
BONUS – Pages of information on resource material, tools, lubes and more! -
Sale!
The Bolt Action; a Design Analysis
Original price was: $79.95.$69.95Current price is: $69.95.This classic title by Stuart Otteson is reprinted by Z-Hat Publishing under license from the author.
It has been fully reset using the original artwork by the author. So the text and images are clean and sharp. This is not a scanned copy but a full republishing of this valuable work. If you love bolt action rifles this book is an absolute must for your collection. It is fully illustrated and includes design information about bolt actions that will amaze you and help gunsmiths build better guns with the factory specs. at their finger tips.
Hardbound, 290 pages.
First Volume
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The Caliber .50 M2 Browning Machine Gun – How it Works
$16.95This book contains two training manuals from WW II about the operation of the Ma Deuce (Browning Machine-gun).
A short history of the gun by Fred Zeglin is included. 175 pages, paperback.
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Sale!
Understanding Headspace for Firearms (booklet)
Original price was: $32.95.$28.95Current price is: $28.95.
Understanding Headspace for Firearms will answer your every question about headspace.
This booklet is the second of many planned works that provide instruction in the correct and safe methods of gunsmithing. Specifically, this essay discusses Headspacing guns and ammunition.
A basic understanding of headspace and how it affects the proper operation of a firearm are necessary if you wish to call yourself a gunsmith. Otherwise all you will be able to do is change parts with the hope that somehow the problem will go away. This booklet contains all the information a gunsmith or reloader needs in order to understand and diagnose headspace in either the gun or the ammunition.
Fred Zeglin along with other well-known Gunsmiths has begun the task of creating this series of instructional manuals. Each book will focus on one narrow subject in Gunsmithing. Written with an audience in mind who want to know every detail of the how and why of gunsmithing.
Each book in the series will provide a highly detailed and Technical explanation of the subject at hand in a way that any gun lover will be able to understand, whether professional or hobbyist.
52 pages, soft bound. Printed in the U.S.A.
Back Cover of Understanding Headspace for Firearms.
“Understanding Headspace for Firearms.” Articles published here on Guns and Gunsmiths in the past on this topic have been some of the most highly read and commented on, so this book will be a treasure to many of you.” wrote Gary Howes of GunsAndGunsmiths.com when reviewing this book.
In the video below the Author tell you how to be sure your gauges are correct.
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Sale!
Wildcat Cartridges, Reloader’s Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design
Original price was: $49.95.$25.95Current price is: $25.95.In 2005 the hard bound first edition of this handbook hit the market. Since that time it has become a collectable book. This reprint is a faithful reprint of the first edition, now in paperback form.
Fred Zeglin was a gunsmith and custom rifle builder long before he turned to writing. The origin of this book was formed in Fred teaching gunsmiths how to make reamer and reloading dies, as well as how the design and develop a successful wildcat cartridge with tried and true, safe methods.
The last Gunsmith to tackle this subject was P.O. Ackley in the early 1960’s. Fred took inspiration from Ackley’s writings to create a valuable snapshot of the wildcat community since Ackley left the range.
During Zeglin’s years in the gun business he has developed a large number of wildcats, both for his own use and for clients. He made chamber reamers and reloading dies for his customers projects, partly to save time & money, but mostly to deliver product for his clients that they really could not acquire anywhere else.
This manual contains ideas and methods that you will find in no other source. If you are a reloader, wildcatter or gunbug of any sort; you will enjoy and value the history and how-to information found in this book!
574 Pages, 6″x9″, paperback. Signed by the Author
