Dural frame Drillings

[rtenenbown]

I'm looking at an aluminum Frame Sauer Drilling.
Anything in particular to watch out for?
Do they have a shorter life than the steel frame guns?
Thanks for any information.

[mike ford]

rtenenbown,
I have a Meffert Dural frame Drilling that a German Gunsmith helped me rebuild( made necessary by being buried at the end of the war, steel parts heavily damaged, Dural not). During the process, I got pretty intimate with all the parts and see no problem with the receiver being made of Dural. We did have to replace the firing pin bushings, because one of them was loose. Since the face of the bushings are milled to a sharp angle, they can't be just turned tight( one side would be proud and the other shy). The wear points ( hinge pin, locking lugs, etc) are steel against steel. They usually, not always, have an anodized finish, which is easily damaged. I just polished mine bright. Mine with 60 cm barrels in 16/16/ 6.5x57R is very light and handy. I noticed that ohiochuck has a Dural framed Meffert for sale in WTS/WTB . You might ask him what he thinks. The story about the rebuild of mine is in the Journal about Drillings( incl photos).
Mike

[rtenenbown]

Thank you. The gun I'm looking at is a 1958 manufacture. It looks to be in 90% + condition.
I prefer the look of a steel receiver, but the weight saving is an advantage as I make it (hopefully) into my mid 70s.

[sharps4590]

I had a Dural framed Meffert drilling in 7 X 57 and it never gave me any problems. It was proofed in 1935 or '36 and best guess it was at least carried a lot. Obviously there was no way to know how much firing it had actually seen but it was still as tight as Dick's hat band. When I bought it evidently the anodized finish had been buffed off decades ago. I certainly wouldn't be afraid of another.

[rtenenbown]

Thank you. My guess is metallurgy improved over the pre war guns. I'm going to try to wrap up my deal.

[ohiochuck]

Get if you like it and enjoy!
You will find it to be enjoyable to own and use.
Jim