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A successful great experiment!

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pappa:
I have just completed a somewhat long and profitable labor over one of my very favorite air rifles and want to share with anyone who may like to try this themselves.

The rifle in question is a Ruger Blackhawk that I've owned a little over 2 years now and what I have done has proven daunting but the results have been, IMHO dramatic for the rifle. With all the great rifles that I've owned, the Ruger has continually delighted me (I have practically cut 2 grey squirrels in half with it at about 30-35 yards) but it has had one glaring shortcoming that has constantly bothered me; the only facility built into it for mounting a scope was a couple of very thin slots machined into the top of the receiver which most of us are familiar with. Have always had to be darn picky about what rings to mount and have constantly had to fiddle with this.

Lucked onto a write-up about a super-strong and versatile glue (Homax Pro Welder Industrial Strength Adhesive) that was touted as being as strong as a weld with metal to metal bonding. Since I had been mentally toying with getting a clamp-on Weaver mount, I went to PyramydAir and started scouring what might be available. A 13 slot Weaver bare rail caught my eye and suddenly everything came together with the glue and the rail.

Ordered the rail (advertised as fitting a Mossberg shotgun) and got the glue (at my local Lowe's store) and started planning.

After getting everything together, decided that the Weaver rail, which I really liked, was not radially rounded enough for the receiver. Back to Lowe's and got a large wooden dowel about the size of the Ruger's receiver and some industrial strength sand paper.

Wrapped the sandpaper around the dowel and started to work re-contouring the rail. I remembered that the Ruger had started to show signs of barrel droop so I put extra pressure in the forward end of the rail while sanding it.

After getting the right radius on the bottom of the rail, I started to clean the receiver and rail cuts with 91% alcohol to get rid of anything that might hinder the glue's bonding to the receiver. I thought about sanding the blue off of the receiver but thought that if this experiment failed, I didn't want to mess up the good finish that was there. By the way, I had also thought about what to do IF this experiment failed and was convinced that I could probably strip everything off with Goo-Gone and reverse everything.

The instructions on the glue said that I had about a 10 minute window to get things in place once the glue was out of the tube. My biggest worry was that I would not get the rail properly aligned on windage so I put a lone screw from the rear sight into one of the barrel's rear screw holes and practiced aligning the center cuts in the rail with the barrel. I also got a LOT of sturdy rubber bands ready to put around the receiver and rail to hold everything tight while the glue cured.

Take a deep breath and away we go! Daubed the glue to the bottom of the rail, centered the rail on the receiver and pushed down to get the glue well spread on both parts and pulled it apart for a look. Everything looks OK so put the rail back onto the receiver, pushed down hard and pulled the rail back until it butted against the rear receiver cap. Did a quick but fastidious alignment looking down the center cuts in the rail and over the barrel. Everything looking OK, start slipping rubber bands over the barrel and down into the slots between each set of rail lugs until each rail slot is used. Keep looking down the rail and over the barrel to assure correct windage alignment. Start adjusting tension on the rubber bands to assure that they aren't pulling to one side or the other. Everything looking great but, boy, am I nervous!

Checked rail alignment every 15-20 minutes for the first hour and then off to bed.

First thing the next morning, check rail alignment with the barrel. Everything OK! Carefully took of all rubber bands. Rechecked alignment. OK!

I had plumped a large drop of the glue on a small piece of Masonite when I started all of this and discovered that the glue didn't cure like an epoxy. It had a very strong solvent in it and it took quite awhile to dry, especially being trapped between the close fitting parts that I had just put together. The instructions stated that total curing time was 24 hours but I was convinced that better safe than sorry was the best bet here, and I was right. A few little squirts of extra glue seeped out around the rail and they were proving to be rather slow in hardening. I decided on a minimum of 4 days before any further action.

At the end of 4 days, I discovered that the little squirts of bleed-out had dried so completely that they actually disappeared. My feeble brain told me that since this was NOT welding, it might be advantageous to run an extra exterior bead of glue down each side if the rail to receiver joint to give it a little extra grasp, so I did and waited another 4 days. After 4 days, that extra exterior bead had practically disappeared, so I did it again. 4 days later looked OK but I WAS getting a little messy, so I stopped adding glue. I decided to give this thing a real chance to cure properly and gave up on it for a week.

Looking good!!! Time to put it all together and try things out. Put receiver back into the stock, get out nice new scope (Leapers 3-9X40AO) and Weaver rings, put it all together and try it out. Set target at 30 feet for first try-out. Set both dials on scope to neutral. Using tripod with padded V notch on top, squeezed of a first round.

Unbelievable!!! Windage was 1" to the right and elevation was 4" low. Cranked both dials and another shot. Windage dead on, 1" low. Cranked elevation and another shot. Dead ON!!! 3 more shots cut a center clover leaf. My God, how happy I am!

I have worked the heck out of this rifle now for 2 days. It is like taking an old date to a fancy ball with a brand new dress on. The little Ruger is a happy girl and she is beautiful. This has been one of the most rewarding projects of my entire life.

This new glue is extremely versatile and appears to be as strong as the reviews suggested. If you want to do this highly rewarding project, I highly recommend it, but be aware that it is highly labor and nerve intensive. Would I do it again? Heck YES. But right now, I'm taking my little Ruger out for a shot or 2 at some squirrels.

amb5500c:
Its great when things work out. I hope it stays for good. Have fun.
Richard

gene_sc:
Pictures sure would be nice...:)

pappa:

--- Quote from: gene_sc on September 03, 2011, 01:47:52 AM ---Pictures sure would be nice...:)

--- End quote ---

I'll try to find my camera. That part is all new to me but I'll try.

lloyd-ss:
Great write up and success story.  I've seen that stuff at Lowes and thought, "nah, single component adhesives can't work on metal."  Guess I was wrong and I might have to give it a try.
The idea of a Weaver rail on a springer is great... so much better than the usual dovetails. 
You just eyeballed all the alignments?  Are you good, or lucky?   ;)
Lloyd

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