Howdy guys, this ones going to be pretty involved...
I've got the bones of the project together, but I still need a 7.62 mag and a 7.62 extractor, I'm sure they'll turn up in due course, hopefully in short order.
So, I've got a good set of wood, with a short butt that I might replace with a normal, a 7.62 proofed receiver with bolt and fitting bolthead, a Shultz-Larsen heavy target barrel, threaded for an M17 receiver, all small parts, bar the extractor, and a number of open sights to pick from, I'm leaning towards a PH5C.
I will thread and chamber the rifle to suit the receiver, shorten and profile the barrel to the approximate dimensions of the Lithgow 7.62 heavy No4 profile, fit the barrel, solder on the foresight block, open out the barrel channel, stock up the forend in the standard method around the action, but centre bed the barrel at the centre band (in a morticed timber block), fit the butt, fit the guards, cleanup the woodwork and soak it in hot boiled linseed oil, test for accuracy. Adjust the trigger, and setup the target sights, or maybe the standard sights??
Additionally, I'm going to give phosphating prior to painting the metal parts a run on this rifle.
Anyway, I think there is a very nice rifle at the end of this.
Here are the major components as they stand now.
Hey TBone, what about attempting to fit a shortened /10 round L1A1 magazine into the project? I'm thinking of a ribbed backstrap that will engage the existing magazine strap and.......... and........
Best way to turn the barrel (if you dont have a taper turning arrangement) is remove the taper whats on then start to step it like a mauser K98 barrel, like I did on the Mk V.
I cheated ... and got one that Charnwood had done earlier (No. 5 on a No. 4 action). Re-stocked and now with a hung trigger after P.L. sent me the adapter.
There was a rumour that Charnwood 7.62mm magazines were in the process of being re-produced. Anyone know any more about them? Hopefully, this time the ejectors will be more secure
Well today has been good!
I threaded and chambered the barrel, cut down the muzzle and crowned it. I had a No4 Lithgow heavy profile 7.62 barrel on hand for reference, and the target barrel i had was very similar in profile so I didn't bother reprofiling it. As it was I had my hands full!
It wasn't with out incident either. I threaded the tennon first and then cut the chamber too deep, then needed to relieve the shoulder and the face of the tennon to get correct CHS. It left me with a runout groove of 4mm which is more than ideal, but is safe none the less.
So next time cut the chamber first, then thread.
The other barrels for comparison are a Lithgow No4 heavy profile 7.62, and a standard No4 .303. This one is a bit heavier than a No4 heavy and a bit longer, being the same as the standard No4.
i cut a recessed 90 degree crown, so all that is left on this is the extractor cutout, and I havn't decided whether to do it on the lathe or with a hack saw and file, or maybe just order a slitting saw for the mill... might as well buy the right tool, I'm planning on doing heaps of this...
Last edited by tbonesmith; 05-20-2012 at 07:31 AM.
7.62 heavy No4 profile, fit the barrel, solder on the foresight block, open out the barrel channel, stock up the forend in the standard method around the action, but centre bed the barrel at the centre band (in a morticed timber block), fit the butt, fit the guards, cleanup the woodwork and soak it in hot boiled linseed oil
PM
