WTK: Sterling Rec Rear Latch Removal

[Don S2]

I have a Sterling SMG parts kit and am looking to remove the End Cap latch assembly (peice that has the pivot lever pinned to it) and rear sight assembly that are attached to the demil'ed receiver tube.

Other than careful milling/grinding, is there another way to remove these pieces from the receiver tube?

Thanks,

Don

[drw]

Carefully centerpunch the pin which should cause it to recess. Drill out the end of the pin. Once the swaged end is removed the pin will push out.

[paulp1]

They are brazed or silver soldered on. Once you've removed all the pieces from the latch frame and the sight frame heat the tube stub and the frames with a torch (mapp gas?) and they should come off. You should remove the pieces from the frame first because there are springs in there that will probably lose their temper if heated.

[drw]

It will take MAPP or an acetyline torch to heat the pieces enough to remove them from the tube remnants of your parts kit. I would recommend just drilling out the pin as I described earlier to prevent damaging the spring with the heat required to melt the brazing.
The spring and lever are what you are needing to repair the loss you described in an earlier post and can be installed individually.

[Don S2]

Thanks for the information.

I will remove the rear sight and latch mechanism before I attempt to remove the bases.

Any opinion on how to remove the end cap ring on the receiver?

Thanks,

Don

[drw]

Have one made! Take your tube and the cut end of your parts kit to a machine shop and have a ring made to fit your tube. It should be a light press fit and be silver soldered into place. Note the orientation of the ring as it will have to be correct to lock up the stock with the end cap.

[Don S2]

drw,

After looking at it, I agree, there appears to be no easy way to remove the ring.

Thanks again,

Don