F2000 Conversion - Defcon Inspired

[mshill]

After seeing Defcons conversions (and being tired of building expensive AR-15s) I decided to have a little fun of my own. So I took a Marlin Model 60 and a G&G F2000 Airsoft body and made a 7.5 pound bullpup.

I bought the G&G body for $150 and sold the guts for $40 on ebay. The Marlin has a 19" barrel and the final product is 27" long. The build took eight evenings, couple hours each evening, to complete.

[mshill]

Build Process

The G&G F2000 Airsoft body is sturdily built and weighs hefty 4 lbs and is made of thick plastic and held together by no fewer than 18 hex bolts/nuts. The barrel cover (with attached all metal picatiny rail) slide off (see Rail.jpg) afterwhich the handguard drops off the bottom.

Because of the tube magazine of the Marlin 60, I decided that the each half of the handguarf and barrel cover would have to be attached to the respictive half the body (see Handguard.jpg)

The original trigger linkage was too short and way to high to adapt for the Marlin 60 trigger location. So it got removed and relocated to the opposite side of the body.

If a Marlin 795 were used, the barrel covers would not need to be modified and could have remained removable (although I don't know why it would be needed). A 1/2" diamater channel needed to be routed in the very bottom edge of the barrel covers to accomodate the tube magazine. For this I used my brother-in-laws routing table. It actually went perfect on the first one. The second one needed a 1/4" z-axis offset because it is not syntetrical in the front where the metal rail attaches.

Before bedding the action/barrel the opening at the rear of the barrel guards had to be opened up from 1/2" diameter to 3/4" and the top of it slotted to accomodate the stock rear sight of the Marlin 60. The bedding in that area actually provided a good indexing point in the horizontal plane.

I initially bedded (see Bedding.jpg) the barrel and action with JB Weld Plastic Putty, which I like because it lets you work for 15-20 minutes before it starts setting up. I bedded the front of the barrel, back of the barrel, and three spots around the action (two bottom, one top).

I was at Home Depot and saw the stack of orange 5 gallon buckets with a nice 1/8" metal handle (I have like a dozen at home) so I thought I would expirement with them. Well, with a vice, some channel pliers, and a few solid pops with a hammer I was able to straighten one out and then form it appropriately. Not liking the round about routing of the original airsoft linkage, I rerouted it on the opposite side of the body (see Rerouted.jpg). The rerouting consisted of cutting about five channels in ribs on the body.

Before finalizing the linkage I had to stabilize the Marlin trigger guard assembly. At Home Depot I got a 1/2" spacer for the rear trigger guard bolt that fit perfectly. but left the trigger guard assembly a little loose. I dropped down a blob of JB weld on either side of the rear of the trigger guard (see Action.jpg). After the trigger guard was stabilized I made the final bend in the linkage rod and covered it with some cloth tape.

I had to solve a couple of issues:

First, my model 60 has the bolt hold open function. I didn't want to cut a hole in the body to get to it so I disabled it by reforming a spring (AR15 dust cover spring) and connecting it to the action holding the bolt release back so it could not engage. Worked perfectly.

Second, because I rerouted the trigger linkage more directly, I could not push the magazine all the way in because the trigger linkage rod was in the way. So I just cut a 1/4" wide, 1/4" deep channel off the side of the airsoft magazine (not the mag catch side). Problem solved.

I cut the ejection port and finished it off with a dremmel drum sanding bit (fit perfectly and made it very easy).

The only issue I have is that I need to extend the charge handle to make charging more comfortable.

[mshill]

Took it to my dads today for a test drive. No video cause I forgot my camera and my daughter left her phone at home.

I zeroed the BSA Red Dot at 25 yds in nine shots. I can shoot half dollar size groups off hand without a problem. It ran perfectly, no movement, held zero through about 200 rounds.

I had two minor issues... Had to really pay attention when loading the model 60 to make sure I didn't put more than 14 in the tube, and I had a couple spent shells end up inside the air soft body through the gap between the ejection port and the airsoft body.

Some quotes:
My daughter': "That was the funniest thing to shoot.".
My wife: "That's really cool."
My nephew: "That is now my favorite gun."
My dad: "You need to take it to hunt rabbits in Utah, that would be a blast"

I loved it. Lots of fun. But there is still something to be said about the power of an AR or AK.

[defcon]

interdasting. great job man!


pics of trigger linkage and bedding please

i have the FN tri rail for this. ill need to pick up teh G&G version and do another one with the Marlin 60

[Mizouse]

nice!

[toyotech]

That sweet. No DIY step by step? Lol

[defcon]

hosted it for you

Start by 79522LR, on Flickr


Finished by 79522LR, on Flickr

[mshill]

That sweet. No DIY step by step? Lol

See post #2.

I went and picked up a cheap Red Dot for it. I now have $280 into this project (including the Marlin 60). My daughter thinks its totally cool. It certainly isn't my dad's .22.

[defcon]

Rail1 by 79522LR, on Flickr


Handguard by 79522LR, on Flickr


Bedding by 79522LR, on Flickr


Rerouted by 79522LR, on Flickr


Action by 79522LR, on Flickr

[defcon]

you need a 10/22 flash hider

you will have to dremel off the bottom part of the 10/22 flash hider so it can slide over the Marlin 60 tube

[toyotech]

thanks and that is really cool.. wonder why companies dont make 22s like what you and some others i have seen make

[defcon]

thanks and that is really cool.. wonder why companies dont make 22s like what you and some others i have seen make

i wondered the same thing 2 years ago. then i got tired of waiting and just took it into my own hands and started dremeling and epoxying.

it gets pretty easier when after doing 1-2 conversions. usually it takes 8-10 hours and then you reduce that time down to 3-5 hours after doing a couple

[toyotech]

i wouldnt know where to even start. im pretty mechanically incline but without seeing one done in person. i think it be kinda hard for me to try on my own. i prefer a supervisor lol.

[defcon]

i wouldnt know where to even start. im pretty mechanically incline but without seeing one done in person. i think it be kinda hard for me to try on my own. i prefer a supervisor lol.

talk to me or mshill for some guidance
ill tell you what .22 will work with what stock
it first starts by picking out a centerfire clone you want to work with.
then go on your local craigslist and look around for broken/used one for under $100-$150
then buy a $25 dremel, JB Weld and Devcon epoxy putty at home depot/lowes.
then start cutting it up until your .22 action/barrel fits comfortably


again it takes 8-10 hours total. 1-2 hours a day until you finish your 1st conversion

[mshill]

thanks and that is really cool.. wonder why companies dont make 22s like what you and some others i have seen make

i wondered the same thing 2 years ago. then i got tired of waiting and just took it into my own hands and started dremeling and epoxying.

it gets pretty easier when after doing 1-2 conversions. usually it takes 8-10 hours and then you reduce that time down to 3-5 hours after doing a couple

Being set in their ways, the manufacturers are missing out on an emerging market. I am 50+ years old and don't get all excited about myfathers 30-06, lever action winchester, or classic 1919 LC Smith double barrel shotgun. But put a Tavor, FS2000 or Steyr AUG in my hands and it is a whole different story.

My next project will likely be a Tavor or an L85/SA80. I built 4 ARs for my kids, now it looks like I'll be doing some fun guns for them as well.