Author Topic: Handi Project I'm Working On (Read 2683 times)

AccelR8 · « **on:** March 22, 2013, 06:53:34 AM »

I would like to share a project I have planned and am working on. The first picture is a Photochop job. It pretty much explains my goal. 300 BLK because I have the components, dies and molds for the cartridge in an AR, so why not in a Handi too? The barrel will eventually be threaded at the muzzle. The only SNAFU so far is that my barrel blank is 416 stainless, not a real problem but I guess I’ll coat it black with some sort of spray on finish.

The original idea was to make a barrel stub and have a switch-barrel setup but I don’t know how far I’ll carry that idea through. Maybe.

The second picture is what I’ve made so far. Both pieces are 4140. I’ll do the final boring and threading of the stub after welding and HT. The steel is in the annealed state now.

Thanks for looking, I just wanted to share. My wife is not appreciative of my efforts!

Jason F · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2013, 06:59:31 AM »

Looking good so far. Keep us up to date on your progress.

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2013, 07:40:48 AM »

Why the stub ? Why not just weld to the bbl blank? Kurt

spooked · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2013, 08:29:06 AM »

WHEW!! Looks like me Tracker 1 20 ga. with the barrel shortened

AccelR8 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2013, 08:58:41 AM »

Phatinjun, why the stub? A couple of reasons; one, the original plan was for a switch barrel and I didn't want to make more than one of those lugs. For me, it's a lot of work. I'm pretty experienced at threading and chambering barrels. So I could have several barrels, maybe a 44 Mag. and a 30-30 in addition to my 300 AAC while not having to make more than one lug. Two, I want to heat treat the welded piece for proper hardness and stress relief and I don't have the capacity to HT an entire barrel (my oven isn't big enough). I know lugs have been welded on barrels and then slowly cooled without any oven but...I would rather stick with processes I'm familiar with than maybe learn the hard way! But the biggest reason, just 'cause I wanted a fun, challenging project more than anything else.

Spooked, my photo-chop does look funny but it should be "to scale", even though the proportions do look off.

bikerbeans · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2013, 12:18:45 PM »

I like it!

BB

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2013, 05:12:52 PM »

Quote from: AccelR8 on March 22, 2013, 06:53:34 AM

The original idea was to make a barrel stub and have a switch-barrel setup but I don’t know how far I’ll carry that idea through. Maybe.

The second picture is what I’ve made so far. Both pieces are 4140. I’ll do the final boring and threading of the stub after welding and HT. The steel is in the annealed state now.

Thanks for looking, I just wanted to share. My wife is not appreciative of my efforts!

Very Nice!!

do you have the specs for the lug available to the rest of us, in the event we'd like to try this?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2013, 05:37:49 PM »

Here are specs....

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,261691.msg1099551976.html#msg1099551976

PineyCreek22 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2013, 05:47:08 PM »

Great work, great photography, keep up the good work and keep us posted. Yup, wives can be that way. Piney Creek

AccelR8 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2013, 06:11:00 PM »

The specs referenced by Quickdtoo are the ones I used, and I used the original barrel from the gun to double check.
Thanks for the kind words.

petemi · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2013, 12:47:49 AM »

That is beautiful. The folks that hang out here often dazzle me

Pete

hoytcanon · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2013, 01:12:44 AM »

That is a very nice job... are you sure that you want to make your project in a gun you can go out and buy (.300 BLK are available)? There is still time to make something that you can't get and that nobody else has... I would love to see something unique and read the range report... but your work is very clean, please keep updating your progress. Thanks for posting.

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2013, 05:23:55 AM »

thanks Guys

I think Hoyt has an idea....

something totally different, perhaps not a wildcat, but an off the shelfer that was never chambered.

AccelR8, that really is some nice work.

Please keep us updated as to your progress.

AccelR8 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2013, 05:31:08 PM »

Thanks again for the kind words.

An out-of-the-ordinary chambering? Well I've thought of lots of potential candidates; .221 Fireball, 30 Herret, 357 Herret, 6mm TCU, 6.5 TCU...basically, cartridges designed for short-barrel efficiency. Any suggestions?

For those who mentioned project updates, I'll be sure to post them here in H&R Centerfire but it's going to be slow. This is a spare-time hobby thing.

Dinny · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2013, 06:05:45 PM »

My vote would be for a rimmed cartridge in either 6.5 or .338 bore.

Thanks, Dinny

cudatruck · « **Reply #15 on:** March 24, 2013, 07:15:10 AM »

my vote .243 R.K.B. .. a 30-40 krag necked down to .243/6mm

spooked · « **Reply #16 on:** March 24, 2013, 08:08:27 AM »

Quote from: AccelR8 on March 22, 2013, 08:58:41 AM

Phatinjun, why the stub? A couple of reasons; one, the original plan was for a switch barrel and I didn't want to make more than one of those lugs. For me, it's a lot of work. I'm pretty experienced at threading and chambering barrels. So I could have several barrels, maybe a 44 Mag. and a 30-30 in addition to my 300 AAC while not having to make more than one lug. Two, I want to heat treat the welded piece for proper hardness and stress relief and I don't have the capacity to HT an entire barrel (my oven isn't big enough). I know lugs have been welded on barrels and then slowly cooled without any oven but...I would rather stick with processes I'm familiar with than maybe learn the hard way! But the biggest reason, just 'cause I wanted a fun, challenging project more than anything else.

Spooked, my photo-chop does look funny but it should be "to scale", even though the proportions do look off.

Don't look funny to me, heck i keep my Tracker 1 around mostly jist FOR it's looks...

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2013, 08:30:09 AM »

the only think I worry about is brass, as it is a consumable and hard to make....

so I'd choose something made from readily available brass.

Rimless = 30-06 or .308
Rimmed = 303Brit or 30-30 (perhaps 444marlin)

Brass is a non-issue if you plan on buying a couple thousand to start with.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2013, 10:28:58 AM »

Im sure you are likely aware that a mat-finish stainless barrel reflects less than a polished and blued barrel, in spite of it not appearing that way to our eyes and sensibilities.
As for caliber, like you say, you are already set up for it and if you intend to keep on with it, why not do this. Ive considered a similar swap barrel thing but now know I will never get around to it, I have to shoot the stuff I already have

(ain't it rough.....).
Go for it, great idea!

45-70.gov · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2013, 10:32:11 AM »

what does this gun do you can't do with a 30-30 and some creative reloading??

[except interchange ammo in a AR-15]

tacklebury · « **Reply #20 on:** March 24, 2013, 12:38:39 PM »

If it were me I'd want a 9.3x74R or a 7x57R.

hoytcanon · « **Reply #21 on:** March 24, 2013, 03:52:32 PM »

7X57R would be cool... but I am lovin' my 6.5-08 AI... there were never any 6.5mm's made... Dinny has a Grendel and there are a few CM's kicking around... I think the 6.5mm Creedmore would be my recommendation... that would be a sweet gun... sky's the limit until you cut the chamber.

geezerbiker · « **Reply #22 on:** March 24, 2013, 03:55:43 PM »

If I could do that, I'd make it .25-35 WCF or .25-35 Ackley improved. I don't know why I want a rifle in this caliber when I could just get a .25-06 and load it down for way less cost and trouble...

Tony

AccelR8 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 24, 2013, 10:36:08 PM »

So many calibers, so little time! If I do choose another caliber it'll be based on availability of afforable dies, easy to get or easy to make brass, a reamer I can rent, and decent selection of reasonable cost projectiles. I'm not rolling in dough here.
Notice "need" isn't really a factor here!
The 6.5mm bore has been interesting to me lately.

edit to add, what does it do that a 30-30 can't? Nothing. In fact I don't understand those folks who write stuff like 300 AAC equals 30-30 performance. Uh, no. Hardly. I'm under no illusions. It's a pretty limited cartridge. But what the heck...why not? It's fun.

My dad lived his whole life with only four guns; a 9mm pistol, a .22 semiauto rifle, a 30-30 rifle and a 12 guage pump. Covered all the bases. Like I said it's not about need, it's more about tinkering in my shop!

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #24 on:** March 25, 2013, 12:08:15 AM »

Quote from: hoytcanon on March 24, 2013, 03:52:32 PM

7X57R would be cool... but I am lovin' my 6.5-08 AI... there were never any 6.5mm's made... Dinny has a Grendel and there are a few CM's kicking around... I think the 6.5mm Creedmore would be my recommendation... that would be a sweet gun... sky's the limit until you cut the chamber.

Hoyt, have you read the article by Jerry Tao regarding his "Blocked" Stevens rifles he built for F-class?

he desiged a 6.5x308Imp40* that pushes a 140gr at near 3000. That is 270Win speeds.

I'd love a 6.5x308Imp.

I think I need to win the lottery

AccelR8 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 13, 2013, 12:16:04 PM »

Some of you may remember my post about my barrel stub project. I made a lug and a barrel stub. I said I was going to do a final bore and threading after welding and heat treating.
Well guess what...and I can't say I didn't see this from the beginning...I can't figure out any way to chuck the stub up in my four-jaw chuck. There is not enough space between the jaws to clear the lug. I don't have a three jaw chuck, nor do I really have the budget for one right now. I went into it think surely I could figure something out, but no. So it's on a long-term hold. It'll be a really long time before I can post any updates about it, but I'll still be here reading and learning!
Don

gcrank1 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 13, 2013, 01:25:41 PM »

Chuck the muzzle end and run a steady rest indicating the breech bore to centerline, then chamber.
Or
If you can run the most of the barrel through the headstock and have an outboard end 'spider' you can -o- it at both ends and have the stub completely out of the chuck too.

ulav8r · « **Reply #27 on:** April 13, 2013, 06:50:03 PM »

Put the lug directly under one of the jaws of the 4 jaw chuck. Should be easy in a 6inch or larger chuck. That is the beauty of a 4 jaw. They can hold irregular shapes and allow you to center a bore or location, such as an off center hole or shoulder.

normks · « **Reply #28 on:** April 14, 2013, 09:18:34 AM »

looks good you should of made 10 of them for future projects. keep us all informed and how hard are you trying to make this stub by heat treating it

trotterlg · « **Reply #29 on:** April 14, 2013, 07:32:50 PM »

Even if he can chuck up the stub he will have a very hard time boring it after the lug is welded on, there is no place to run a steady rest, and it will be very difficult to get it centered and then hold it rigid enough to bore and thread properly. I do all my work on the stub with a lot of barrel still attached, that gives something to hang on to and something to true up and run a steady rest on. Live and learn. Larry