Welding on an Aluminum Reciever

[Rogan Kenzie]

I recently tried to mount a scope rail on my Mossberg 500 12 gauge' s aluminum receiver. As you can imagine the threads stripped and I was in quite the pickle. I'm at the point now where I can either buy a deer slayer rifled barrel with a rail pre-attached or I had this wacky idea that I might be able to get a gun smith to weld the rail onto the receiver. Before I go marching into my gunsmith, I wanted to know if anyone here knew about the feasibility of welding on an aluminum receiver. Thanks for the help!

 

[OhioArcher]

Having the holes repaired would be easier. And I would be wary of having someone weld on aluminum unless they were VERY proficient at it...otherwise you may be replacing the receiver.

 

[old mossy]

Welcome to the forum from NY. Sorry to hear about the stripped receiver.
The best way to repair it is to use heli-coils. You can get the in hardware stores,auto part stores.
If you buy the small kit all you need is a drill.

 

[Rogan Kenzie]

Thank you both so much! Am I to assume that by installing heli-coils that I won't have the same problem with the aluminum being too weak?

 

[old mossy]

After installing a heli coil it will be stronger than factory.

 

[Rogan Kenzie]

Awsome! This will be a huge money saver.

 

[John A.]

If you weld aluminum, it will have to be done with a tig welder.

Also, since welders will not join unlike materials, the rail would also have to be aluminum.

And then, you would need to refinish the receiver and rails at a minimum.

But what would be wrong with having new holes drilled and tapped? Most are plenty strong enough as long as you don't use too large of a screw, cross thread it, or not over tighten it and strip it out (use Loctite) or otherwise do something yourself that would goof them up.