C3 Sniper Build

Well, it has been almost a year since I said I would post a build thread for my C3 rifle build.

Life has kinda got in the way, but this summer I got down to business.

I started with a PH 1100 donor rifle, turned a 1:10 barrel blank into a 26" heavy C3/M82 contour, added a new stock and ended up with this.

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...6&d=1475017850

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...0&d=1475095214

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...4&d=1505952641

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...5&d=1505952822

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...8&d=1505954350

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...6&d=1505952975

The following things still need to be done.

1. make an aluminum bushing for my barrel vise and torque down the barrel.
2. glass bed the stock
3. install scope bases
4. drill, tap and install the front sight base (photo above is a mock-up)
5. mount scope
6. reparkerize the receiver as I don't like how it turned out
7. make target rail for under the stock
8. install sling swivels in stock
9. mount hand stop
10. buy PH bipod spigot/handstop for my PH bipod
11. make facsimile of issue sling

The photo of the muzzle is misrepresentative of what it actually looks like. i had to use the camera flash and it washed-out the dark manganese parkerized colour.

Really nice job there, be interested to see how she shoots when you get round to it.

Looks good...about right.

Here's a quick update.

a few weeks ago I glass bedded the action with DEVCON 10110 and mounted Weaver Grand Slam steel bases.

I can't justify (or find) an $800 Khales ZF69, so I bought a Lisenfield 6x42 with German #1 post reticle for just over $200 USD. The only snag is it has a 26mm tube and I don't have any rings that size yet.

So for range testing, I temporarily installed a Russian (Belarus) 3-9 x 40 with Dragunov 1000m reticle.

The first range trip was yesterday to my local 50m indoor range and the results were promising. I only had cheap Russian steel cased ammo (147gr M80 Nato spec), so once I work up some loads , results should be awesome.

Here are some targets. BTW: the rings on the last target are roughly 2", 1.5", 1", 1/2" & 1/4".

I completed a few more items today.

1. Made target rail from 1/2" x 1/4" cold rolled steel (1018)
2. Drilled and tapped (1/4-28) target rail
3. Sandblasted and Parkerized (Manganese Phosphate) target rail
4. Drilled hand-stop for anti-rotation pin
5. Glued anti-rotation pin with steel epoxy
6. Sandblasted and painted hand-stop with black wrinkle paint
7. Baked hand-stop in BBQ at 100C for 1 hr to cure paint

Next up:
1. Make rear sling swivel
2. Make screws for target rail
3. Order 26mm scope rings
4. Make target turrets (like ZF69) for Lisenfeld scope
5. Make drill jig for front sight base
6. Drill, tap and mount front sight base
7. Make Sling
8. Load Hornady 168gr BTHP match load (M118)

I've had a similar project on the go, although less true to the original. PH sporter action. Installed a brand new S&L 7.62 target barrel - type used years ago for setting up a DCRA TR on a Mauser action. Made a forend rail from aluminum, with a series of drilled and tapped holes. Put it together with a M98 trigger guard/magazine unit, just to assemble it. Waiting for a PT&G unit which accepts AICS pattern magazines. A friend has a ZF69 scope, could probably do a deal. But if I'm going to shoot it recreationally, there are other scopes I would prefer.

The stock that I have originally used wood screws to secure the rail. However, I decided I wanted a more secure mounting method, by using machine screws, screwed into t-nuts that are inlet into the barrel channel. This is similar to the C3A1/M87 way of mounting the rail (see exploded view).

I spent a few hours in the shop today and counterbored the rail ends and then then proceeded to make two flat head machine screws (1/4-28). I still need to slot the screw heads and mount the t-nuts in the stock, but the weekend is over...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tiriaq

I've had a similar project on the go, although less true to the original. PH sporter action. Installed a brand new S&L 7.62 target barrel - type used years ago for setting up a DCRA TR on a Mauser action. Made a forend rail from aluminum, with a series of drilled and tapped holes. Put it together with a M98 trigger guard/magazine unit, just to assemble it. Waiting for a PT&G unit which accepts AICS pattern magazines. A friend has a ZF69 scope, could probably do a deal. But if I'm going to shoot it recreationally, there are other scopes I would prefer.

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Mauser 98 Large Ring 308/223 box Mag DBM. Remington 798 - cdiprecisiongunworksstore.com

they also make magnum length bottom metal.

the only problem with the ZF69 is that it is a reticle moving image scope, so if it isn't mechanically centred when sighted in...

I promise no more target rail posts after this one.:nono:

I decided not to utilize the t-nuts shown in the previous post for a couple of reasons (too big, inletting more complex, etc.). I therefore made a couple of simple round knurled nuts (KISS rule). I believe they look more authentic...

Also, I discovered that the wood at the back end of the rail was thicker, so I had to make a longer screw (approx 1/4" longer). The shorter screw is about 3/4" and the longer one is about 1". I slotted the screws on my lathe, taking ~1 thou per pass. The slots are about 50 thou deep.

The screws and nuts (made from O-1 drill rod aka. silver steel in UK) were heat treated with a MAPP torch and quenched in vegetable oil.

Everything as usual was sandblasted and phosphated. The round nuts were epoxied into the stock.

I had four sling swivels with machine screw threads, but none with a wood screw thread, so I made one...

I disassembled a 1/4-28 sling swivel and proceeded to make a shank with a buttress thread (first time).

I didn't want the swivel to spin, so I just put dimples on the shank, instead of a groove.

Heat treated and phosphated.

Here's a drawing of the screw I made.

Attachment 88952

Next up is making target turrets for my Lisenfeld 6x42 scope, to replicate the functionality and looks of the Khales ZF69. However, I have run into one of those issues that hobby gunsmiths run into, where you first have to make a tool to make a thing.

The finest thread my lathe will currently cut is 56 TPI, but I need it to cut 72 TPI so I can make the turret bases to screw onto the scope. The smallest change gear I have is a 30 tooth gear, but I need a 20 tooth gear in order to cut the thread needed.

I plan to make the necessary change gear with a single point cutter and index it with a cheap 5C spin indexer. Let me know if you guys want the blow-by-blow or just want to see the finished product.

Standby for updates and SolidWorks drawings of the turret design.

The target turrets are on hold for a while, so I decided to make a handstop w/spigot for my PH bipod.

I'm not sure if the Canadian Forces issued PH bipods with the C3, but mine is getting one. Maybe someone can attest to the historical accuracy of this.

Anyway, I feel like I got my Kyber-Pass "groove-on" today as there was LOTS of file work.

BTW. The contouring is not finished...

I finished off the bipod handstop this week. I reverse engineered the handstop from photos and sized the spigot to fit my bipod. I made a few changes including the addition of an anti-rotation pin and I made the thumbscrew without the ability to take QD sling swivels. I have plenty of swivels on the rifle (3), so didn't need another.

The handstop is aluminum and has baked on flat black enamel. The other parts are steel and are parkerized.

Happy New Year!

Here are some shots of the current progress.

The Lisenfeld 6x42 Spezial scope is installed in TPS 26mm medium steel rings. These are great rings, but not quite authentic to the period of the rifle. However, one of my build parameters was to use Weaver bases rather than proprietary PH bases so that I could easily switch between scopes.

The TPS rings came with 7/16 hex nuts rather than thumbscrews like RAHS rings. In order to more closely replicate the look of the PH rings I made a couple of prototype thumbscrews, to see how they would look. I matched the size to the pair of RAHS3 rings that I have, but I only have diamond knurling tools, so they don't quite look right.

I'm going to order some fine straight knurling tools and make a couple more. I think the second set will look better.

The sling is also not period (sorry), but an OD Magpul MS1. If anyone has pics of the sling or slings that were used on the C3, please share.

I made up 55 rounds for my 2nd range trip. I tried to duplicate the M852 Match Load with the following:

50 x new Winchester .308 Brass, 5 x never fired OFV (Indian) military "pull-down" brass
168 gr Hornady BTHP
41.5 gr IMR 4895
Russian LR primers (Canada Ammo Dominion brand)
2.81" COL

I'm really happy with the results with ALL 5 round groups coming in at less that 1/2".:dancingbanana:

Groups were shot indoors at 50m, so I'm expecting sub-MOA at 100m. That'll have to wait until the weather is a bit warmer and I can get to the outdoor range


Attachment 89876Attachment 89877