Gunsmithing - How to Cut Sight Dovetails Presented by Larry Potterfield of MidwayUSA

SHOT Show 2026 updates from the Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) highlight a new manual machining course designed to equip future gunsmiths. This program provides students with a Grizzly benchtop lathe and disc sander, enabling hands-on learning of critical gunsmithing operations like turning, facing, threading, and chambering. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of hand-fitting and maintenance for modern firearms, addressing a growing industry need for skilled tradespeople.

This video details the meticulous process of crafting a custom shotgun stock at Beretta, starting with CNC machining for initial shaping and progressing to precise hand-fitting by master gunsmiths. The focus is on achieving perfect metal-to-wood integration and ergonomic customization for the shooter. The final stages involve refining the shape and applying oil finishes to enhance the wood's natural beauty and durability, resulting in a high-performance, bespoke firearm component.

This content demonstrates the disassembly and reassembly of a Ruger Mini-14, highlighting a critical issue with the trigger group breaking. The speaker, exhibiting experienced firearm handling, shows the broken components and guides through the reassembly process. The video also touches on suppressed shooting and gas management.

Lee Woody, Engineering Team Lead at Daniel Defense, details the cold hammer forging (CHF) process for rifle barrels. This expert-guided explanation covers the preparation of barrel blanks, the simultaneous forming of chamber and rifling through hammer forging, and the final precision turning. The CHF method creates a durable bore and chamber due to compressive stresses, ensuring consistency in high-volume production.

This entry details the unique XR-86 custom rifle, a 1986 build by Wilfred Ellis. It masterfully combines components from an M60 (flash hider), an M14 (gas system), and an AR-15 (trigger, bolt, locking system). The AR-15 trigger is notably rotated 90 degrees, and its bolt is integrated with the M14 gas system, showcasing advanced gunsmithing.

This video showcases the X-PRT90, a three-position FRT specifically designed for the FN P90 platform. Unlike 3D printed alternatives, the X-PRT90 features robust construction with all-metal components, including stainless steel and aluminum parts. The installation process is aided by an included jig, allowing for integration into the factory P90 trigger group. The speaker emphasizes the durability and quality of the metal construction over plastic alternatives.

This video showcases advanced Cowboy Action Shooting techniques demonstrated by The Lever Action Kid. It highlights rapid engagement with a lever-action rifle, followed by a high-speed transition to dual single-action revolvers. The stage concludes with efficient manual reloading of a side-by-side shotgun.

This video provides an in-depth look at the Mosin-Nagant M91/30 PU Sniper rifle, showcasing its historical significance and operational features. It details the firearm inspection, loading procedures for 7.62x54R rounds, and a live-fire demonstration. The expert handling and clear visuals highlight the rifle's characteristics and performance.

This video details the complex gunsmithing process of reboring a Winchester 1885 Low Wall rifle from a pitted .32 Rimfire to a .357 Magnum. It covers barrel removal, sending it to a specialized shop for reboring and rifling, precise chambering and crowning on a lathe, and converting the action from rimfire to centerfire. The process concludes with barrel marking and finishing.

This video details the internal mechanics and cycle of operation for the Winchester Model 12 pump-action shotgun using a cutaway model. It explains the loading process into the magazine tube, the function of the safety mechanism, and the sequence of firing, extraction, and chambering. The demonstration highlights the hammerless design and the interaction of key components like the extractor and ejector.