New Year, new... project

[YEMX]

More aluminium has been ordered!  Now we wait!

[YEMX]

I've got all my aluminium in, and I've been plugging away at the bipod extension.  I'm making the final part today- the front plug.  I just need to go the hardware store and get longer screws (and maybe a drill bit for the tap) so I can mount the section of M1913 to the tube.  So the bipod extension will be done-done by Thursday...  After I finish up w/the machining for the bipod extension, I'm going to take another stab at the TP...  I'll get it one of these days!     But I've got all the tooling I need to make some nice square shoulders so we'll see how this turns out!

Speaking of the bipod extension- So far, it's not really all that heavy.  It's bulky, and weird for sure.  But heavy?  Surprisingly no.  At least, it's not as heavy as I thought it would be, considering all the aluminium and such.  I'm pretty pleased so far! 

[YEMX]

Yep, needed a new drill and tap.  I've got the front plug epoxied in.  Waiting for it to fully cure.  Tomorrow I'll go ahead and drill and tap the 3 holes needed to secure the M1913 rail to the bipod extension.  Then I can mix up some PC7 and glue/screw the M1913 rail onto the tube.  Getting close to being done with this mini project!  Overall, it doesn't really weigh a thing!

Tomorrow I'll start working on the new TP. 

[YEMX]

Not really interesting subject matter to take a picture of, but here's a pic of the complete bipod extension:


OAL is a hair under 20", and it weighs 9 oz. for just this extension.  That's not including the rings and M1913 rails on the gun. 

PC7 was used to attach the M1913 rail at the front, in addition to 3 screws that thread into the aluminium front plug.  PC7 is still curing; won't reach initial cure until tomorrow around 11am.  I used Loctite 648 on the threads- I probably should have used red?  Either way, the screws aren't coming out easily.  They're not meant to be removed anyway so... 

I'm pretty happy with the overall bipod extension project!  The best part is, all I have to do is get another set of rings and M1913 rails for another bottle gun, and I can easily swap this between the two guns!  Which is nice, since my .357 re-hash won't have a stock or chassis- it's just a Prod trigger group and a AR stock adapter. 

All that's left to do is give it a light scuffing and spray-bomb it!  Then I can call it done-done.  Now all that's left is to make another TP, and I can get this 6mm back together for testing! 

[YEMX]

I've started to sling paint on it now, but here's some "before" paint shots. I wanted to get some pics to y'all.

Mounted on the gun:


This is the bipod extension alone.  This is what gets swapped from gun to gun:


Just some more angles:




Anyhoo, fun little project.  Now I'm gonna start on the TP, and we can hopefully get this gun back up and running soon!  Not like we've had good shooting weather, but still.  I'll post again once I have this all back together with no TP leaks! 

[Rallyshark]

You know it is the transfer port part I'm waiting on   The other stuff is pretty cool as well though!

[YEMX]

You know it is the transfer port part I'm waiting on   The other stuff is pretty cool as well though!

Already done, gun is reassembled!  I'm dry firing it tomorrow, and hopefully we'll be good this time!  If not, I'll have another go at it.  Crossing finger's we'll be good though!  I really want to get to shooting... 

[YEMX]

TP still leaks...  I'll have to make another.   

This time, even tighter.   I WILL get zero air leaks one of these days...

[Rallyshark]

That's a bummer   You'll get it done one way or the other, I have no doubt!

[YEMX]

Okay- some bad news, but there's light at the end of the tunnel!  So don't worry.  It will just take some time to get there.

This project is going on a hiatus- to be re-born even better!  It's getting a new breech, slightly larger ports, the Cothran will have a slightly larger exhaust port, larger plenum...  So the performance should be better than I had originally planned.

Reason for the hiatus is so I can focus on the reverse tank lower assembly project.  I'm scrounging more than a few parts from this build (among others) to complete it.  The reverse tank lower will be the basis for many uppers.  With a simple change of the upper, spring tension and reg pressure, I can have multiple guns, w/o having multiple guns... 

So again- this project will be back, and better than ever!!   

[YEMX]

I'm going in a new direction with this build- I'm going to get a new barrel and install it on a AF platform...  Haven't decided on Condor or Texan, but I'd prefer a Texan since I've got a 7mm drop-in barrel for one...  All I'd have to do is simply swap barrels (between 7mm and 6mm) and re-do the hammer spring tension. 

[YEMX]

I'm going Condor- it'll be easier, as I have all the parts, and a frame already.  I'll get a set of top hats for the Ring-Loc valve (if it doesn't come with them).  If none of the top hats are .243 (doubtful), I'll just drill one out to .243 to match the slug.  I've also been re-working the stock I made a while back for a Condor build.  I'm going to try and improve it a bit, so it fits better.  I'm cleaning up some sections of it that are a little tight, around the fill nipple and gauge.  It should fit better now.  We'll see though.  I'm going to re-paint it.  I'm going over the stock and blending edges and such better.  Just little things I wasn't happy with the first go-around.  I really didn't want to toss the stock I spent so long making.   

[YEMX]

Going a different route again...  Maybe.  The AF swap plan will be put on the back burner until I can figure out whether or not this other idea will pan out.  I hope it does!!  I want to sling some dang lead!

[Rallyshark]

Going a different route again...  Maybe.  The AF swap plan will be put on the back burner until I can figure out whether or not this other idea will pan out.  I hope it does!!  I want to sling some dang lead!

You gotta stop changing the projects, if you wanna sling some lead,lol! 

[YEMX]

You gotta stop changing the projects, if you wanna sling some lead,lol!

 

It's a bit of both, really...  I gotta finish the project so I can sling the lead!  The problem is, I keep going back and forth on wanting to get something done so I can sling lead, and just building my "ultimate platform" so I can sling ALL the lead!    I'm pretty close to figuring out my dream gun, just 2 little snags to work out, and I think I'll have a winner.  If I'm right, I might have my dream gun worked out and done by spring of '21- if the country doesn't implode first   

[YEMX]

For now, since I have the parts, I'm building this 6mm as an AF Condor.  I did some measurements to see about using my 62 cu in tank for this build, since a 20" barrel will NOT be very efficient.  My measurements and SWAG about using a TT tank adapter proved to be correct- the larger 62 cu in tank now fits like a factory sized tank.  Nice. 

I just need to machine the barrel and some barrel bushings and I can get this rifle assembled.  If Mr. Clague is willing, I'll have a new reflex LDC made up as well.