Let's mod my Vigilante!

[stalwart]

It came in yesterday, and had 100 run through it to check function... and 1 thing popped up.

I bought this to mod. I'm working on a .22 conversion, and plan to try an indoor bug shotgun set up (love revolvers!). The trigger needed immediate attention first (surprise! no?). The last few degrees of hammer throw, during cocking, were binding the internals. The trigger went from hideous to horrific in that tiny distance. The solution was simple:

The sear had a hook cut in it that engaged the hammer's counterpart in such a way that it actually cammed into a locked position. All in the name of Nerf World, I suppose. It took real force to cock.

To relieve the bind I needed to mill enough away to allow the hammer to lock before the bind, and to make the thing halfway clean, I needed to rid at least 1 of it's hook. It didn't take much. It still has a lot of creep, but that will be cut after I have broken in the face. It's as shown, and I'm dry firing it with the safety on to seat it all before cutting overlap down. I was taught to do all this in stages, with testing for fit... on PBs whose sears cost a bit more than Crosman's $1 (price Python guts some time).

These triggers aren't sophisticated, but there is a lot that can be done. There is plenty of width, so even if the weight can't be lifted to a few grams... there is no excusing anything less than crisp.

I've been searching, but haven't found much in the way of mods past barrels and sighting systems. Has anyone seen fun mods out there I can try, or done something to theirs that mine needs? At these parts prices, I'll try nearly anything. That's the most fun thing about AGs, to me...


New pics of sear with first cut of face depth. It's now close to ready for stoning, and it sure didn't take much.

[silent_airman]

My Vigilante could benefit from this mod. She seems to function fine, but could be a lot smoother and lighter.

[stalwart]

There are a lot of design factors that keep these from reaching "target" quality, while retaining the double action, but lighter and crisp are already in hand here.

I like mine now. It's already what I deem "combat ready". Not too heavy, but no where near spooky... and quite consistent.

These things are a lot better guns than I realized when I ordered mine.

[UCChris]

As far as mods go I would look up Crosman 357 mods. It is the same gun with a different barrel assembly. I have one that I am fixing for my uncle and it is a really fun gun to shoot.

[silent_airman]

As far as mods go I would look up Crosman 357 mods. It is the same gun with a different barrel assembly. I have one that I am fixing for my uncle and it is a really fun gun to shoot.

Exactly. No doubt the barrel assemblies are interchangeable. I wonder how hard it is? Looks like just one screw on the hinge and boom, new look! I imagine if you are using the open sights you may have to adjust POA between barrels. Just guessing here. No idea what dimensional differences there are between assemblies. Could also be fun to mod the barrels for different lengths and shrouds. A lot of potential in this gun!

[stalwart]

Yup... this one has barely been touched, in terms of developmental curves. Way before the apex.

If interchangeable noses are to be done right, the entire sighting system should be integrated with the nose. No POI adjustments needed.... 1 screw and the snubby is off, and the scoped foot long is on and ready to shoot.

That's my plan for these, anyway.     ...FWIW.

[soolio]

Good job stalwart! I've been hoping someone would rip into this thing. Here'e my Vigilante Carbine Mod (aka the PUG) I've been working on. I turned the Vertical Grip Bipod into a spare Co2 holder and chopped a 1399 stock on to it...

[silent_airman]

Good job stalwart! I've been hoping someone would rip into this thing. Here'e my Vigilante Carbine Mod (aka the PUG) I've been working on. I turned the Vertical Grip Bipod into a spare Co2 holder and chopped a 1399 stock on to it...

I've been meaning to ask you how difficult changing the CO2 cart is with the 1399 stock attached. Is it cumbersome?

[stalwart]

Thanks, Mike!

I've been following your work for a while... you know how to have fun. 

When I hear your "saw", I subscribe. Although your V looks a bit odd at rest, in your hands it looks d**n good. Good job.

[soolio]

Good job stalwart! I've been hoping someone would rip into this thing. Here'e my Vigilante Carbine Mod (aka the PUG) I've been working on. I turned the Vertical Grip Bipod into a spare Co2 holder and chopped a 1399 stock on to it...

I've been meaning to ask you how difficult changing the CO2 cart is with the 1399 stock attached. Is it cumbersome?

Right now it's one 8-32 screw that holds the stock on, then the stock slips off down around the cartridge. It's pretty easy now but i'd like to make it even easier. I'm not making any more changes untill i get a sight on it since I'm not sure where the sight line will lie with the cheekrest. Unknown territory so i'm just winging it!

[soolio]

Thanks, Mike!

I've been following your work for a while... you know how to have fun. 

When I hear your "saw", I subscribe. Although your V looks a bit odd at rest, in your hands it looks d**n good. Good job.

Thanks Eric! It's definitely a different look for sure, but it really does feel and shoot awesome. I've been trying to brainstorm a barrel/LDC idea, but haven't wrapped my mind around anything stable yet. Looking forward to seeing how far we can take this thing;)

[stalwart]

Looking forward to seeing how far we can take this thing;)

Me too!

If anyone can find the bleeding edge here, it's this motley crew...

 

The loose grips are really starting to bug me.

[silent_airman]

Did you guys know you can order a 4 inch barrel assembly for the 357? You can also order a 4 inch barrel shroud and order a 6 inch barrel. I do not know what the OD of the barrel is, but if you put the 6 inch barrel in the 4 inch shroud, you could conceivably attach an LDC. BTW, changing barrels is child's play. Just the one screw. I will be ordering a regular 6 inch barrel assembly as well as a 4 inch. Only $9 for the 6" and $8 for the 4". Now my Vigilante will have multiple looks!

[stalwart]

That almost couldn't be easier. Enlarging the exit hole in the shroud, and pinning the barrel with a good cylinder gap will do it. At those prices, I wouldn't bother with keeping the barrel removable... just set it up, and epoxy it together. It would be stout, and it would look BA.

[soolio]

That almost couldn't be easier. Enlarging the exit hole in the shroud, and pinning the barrel with a good cylinder gap will do it. At those prices, I wouldn't bother with keeping the barrel removable... just set it up, and epoxy it together. It would be stout, and it would look BA.

That's right along the lines of what I was thinking!

[silent_airman]

That almost couldn't be easier. Enlarging the exit hole in the shroud, and pinning the barrel with a good cylinder gap will do it. At those prices, I wouldn't bother with keeping the barrel removable... just set it up, and epoxy it together. It would be stout, and it would look BA.

That's right along the lines of what I was thinking!

Dangerous, huh?  Lol 

[soolio]

Lol!! So how do you remove just the barrel from the vigilante front end? I'm just not seeing it...looks like part of the Shroud comes apart but I've been leary about pulling on it.

[silent_airman]

That almost couldn't be easier. Enlarging the exit hole in the shroud, and pinning the barrel with a good cylinder gap will do it. At those prices, I wouldn't bother with keeping the barrel removable... just set it up, and epoxy it together. It would be stout, and it would look BA.

Oh yeah man, it would! I did notice that the barrel moves a bit within the shroud. It is not spring loaded as near as I can tell. I have a Dan Wesson 8" BB pistol that is springloaded, so it keeps a constant pressure on the cylinder. The end of the barrel is beveled to fit into each chamber. Of course the DW uses a fake round that has a rubber bullet sitting in a brass shell that has a hole for the CO2 to pass. I would love to convert that to a pellet gun. Or.......hmmmmmmm....maybe....a hybrid between the DW and the Crosman....

[silent_airman]

Lol!! So how do you remove just the barrel from the vigilante front end? I'm just not seeing it...looks like part of the Shroud comes apart but I've been leary about pulling on it.

Take a look at the EVP for the 357 on the Crosman site, and you will see there is some sort of clamp at the rear that holds the barrel in place within the shroud. There is also a barrel weight, the top rail, and the shroud. The muzzle of the barrel appears to be a smaller OD than the rest of the barrel to fit into a bushing I assume. Looks like you pull the clamp out, then the barrel from the rear.

[stalwart]

That almost couldn't be easier. Enlarging the exit hole in the shroud, and pinning the barrel with a good cylinder gap will do it. At those prices, I wouldn't bother with keeping the barrel removable... just set it up, and epoxy it together. It would be stout, and it would look BA.

That's right along the lines of what I was thinking!

Although it's often said that great minds think alike, we are living proof that twisted minds have a similar tendency. 

My V barrel just slides out. No retainers, shims, springs, etc. The design allows for a somewhat self adjusting gap, but I can't bring myself to leave it like that. Mine will all be fitted as tight as clip tolerances allow. The little metal bit in the shroud is there only to provide a metal latch surface.

I just use a jeweler's screwdriver stuck into the muzzle to apply pressure, and the barrel slides through the plastic fingers inside, and out the rear. The metal bit falls out... and the sight rail/cover pulls up and out.