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Removing the Front Band and Floor Plate
These two items seem to
cause a lot of problems, judging from my e-mails and discussion on the boards.
The floor plate was designed to
be removed with the tip of a bullet, however, the current crop of floor plates
fit too tightly for the method. If you have a stubborn plate, turn the
rifle/action over, clamp it into a vise or otherwise make it stable,
with a stout pin punch or
Phillips screwdriver, press down on the spring-loaded plunger. (You can get at
it through the hole in the floor plate. If it refuses to move, tap on the end
of the punch.)
With the plunger depressed, tap
the punch toward the trigger guard.
The floor plate will pop off!
With a file, clean off all the
dents and burrs on the magazine box and plate mating surface and clean out
under both plate hooks.
The front band is held on with
a spring catch. THE CLEANING ROD MUST BE REMOVED, and then the spring can be
depressed.
If the spring is very stubborn,
use a pair of slip-joints, pad one jaw so as to not mar the barrel, put a
spacer on the spring, and squeeze. Squeeze near the band and work the band off.
You may have to tap the bayonet lug with a hammer. (Use your third hand.)