My very first build

[krwada]

OK ... Maybe I should post this over at the rim fire forum ...

However; since I got so much useful help here... I thought it would be best to share my experience here in this sub-forum.

OK ... Basically, I decided to build me one of those full custom 1022 receivers. When I 1st started this thing, I decided ... How difficult could it be to drill a few holes right?

Hoo boy was I wrong on that account! It turns out that there are a ton of stuff one needs to watch for when doing something like this ... even with the humble 1022 receiver. Anyhow ... here are some pics of the build and the final result.

First, I started with a Blackhawk Charger Axxiom Stock. Here is a pic of doing some of the machining on this thing to convert the stock from a pistol to a rifle configuration. Actually, this was more like exploratory surgery or machining on my part.



I really wanted two (2) takedown screws to attach the receiver assembly to the stock. This meant I needed to make an adapter for the rear of the receiver. This adapter was also used to attach the carbon fiber rod for the stock / buttplate assembly. Here is an exploded view to give you an idea of what this is all about.



Here is a pic of how I used a boring tool to bore out the main barrel hole. I bored this thing out about 0.0015" smaller in diameter than the barrel tenon. Yes ... I did measure EVERYTHING ... Just as Randall and KCSTOTT recommended!



Here is a closeup of the finished receiver with the barrel and trigger group installed. I did an electrochemical etch to get the serial number and other stuff placed onto the receiver.



The barrel is a Volquartsen THM Carbon Fiber barrel. I got it on sale over at Midway. Unfortunately, I really wanted the forward compensator as shown on the link. Midway did not sell this option. However, Scott Volquartsen was very accommodating and told me all I had to do was send the barrel to him and pay for the compensator + S&H and he would put one on for me. The trigger group is the KIDD two-stage trigger group.

Here is a pic of the thing finally assembled and almost ready to go. I decided to put one of those Magpul multimission slings. I wanted the ability to have a single point and a two point sling for this thing. The forward grip is made by an outfit called GTI industries in Riverside California. The forward grip is very nice. It collapses into a potato grip for the long shots. It folds out for the tactical style and it also extends into a monopod Hill-billy style for bracing against a stump or whatever for those long shots on small critters!



Here is a pic with the reflex sight installed. This thing is one of those knock-off reflex sights with multiple reticules and red or green display.



And finally, here is a target of the 1st sight in I did a while back.... (5-shot group - Aguila SE HV ammo) This thing does shoot fairly well ... I think it probably shoots better than I am capable of.



Anyway ... I can say many thanks to all of you here at Calguns for helping me out with the machining and tips and all.

Ken

[sealocan]

very nice job. I really like the futuristic look of it. congratulations it looks & shoots great.



(now don't let your mother in law allow the police to search your closet.)
;-)

[krwada]

Thanks!

very nice job. I really like the futuristic look of it. congratulations it looks & shoots great.



(now don't let your mother in law allow the police to search your closet.)
;-)

Yes ... it does have this 'dangerous' futuristic look to it. My wife says this thing looks scary ... You know what? That is the intended effect. This thing gets a lot of attention when I go out to the range.

On the lighter side of things ... It does resemble a paintball gun does it not?

Heh!

[kcstott]

Yes ... it does have this 'dangerous' futuristic look to it. My wife says this thing looks scary ... You know what? That is the intended effect. This thing gets a lot of attention when I go out to the range.

On the lighter side of things ... It does resemble a paintball gun does it not?

Heh!

Mount a CA tank to it an yeah looks like a converted Nelspot 007 or a Nick Wilson

[ar15barrels]

I bored this thing out about 0.0015" smaller in diameter than the barrel tenon.
Yes ... I did measure EVERYTHING ... Just as Randall and KCSTOTT recommended!

Did you heat the receiver up and then slip the barrel in?
They go together SO nice that way...

[krwada]

receiver / barrel fitting

Did you heat the receiver up and then slip the barrel in?
They go together SO nice that way...

Yes I did. I placed the barrel tenon in a plastic bag and placed the covered tenon assembly in a bucket of dry ice. I then used a heat gun to heat the barrel hole of the receiver.

The thing fit perfectly. It is very snug when I did this. The barrel will rotate a bit after fitting but it is extremely difficult to pull out. I decided not to pull the thing out because after all the receiver is made out of aluminum.

[ar15barrels]

Yes I did. I placed the barrel tenon in a plastic bag and placed the covered tenon assembly in a bucket of dry ice. I then used a heat gun to heat the barrel hole of the receiver.

The thing fit perfectly. It is very snug when I did this. The barrel will rotate a bit after fitting but it is extremely difficult to pull out. I decided not to pull the thing out because after all the receiver is made out of aluminum.

Something to think about when shrink fitting parts.
Look at the thermal expansion ratios of aluminum and steel.
Aluminum is much higher than steel so it expands MUCH more than steel will shrink.
Don't even bother chilling the steel because the cold steel shrinks the hot aluminum faster when you slide the parts together.
You actually get more working time by ONLY heating the aluminum and just leaving the steel room temperature because the SPREAD in temperatures between the two parts is smaller.
When you want to take it apart, just heat it all up.
The steel won't expand nearly as much as the aluminum so the hot barrel will slip right out of the hot receiver.
For the MOST amount of working time while shrink fitting, heat both the alumimum receiver and the steel barrel.

This only works with dissimilar parts.
If you were shrink fitting similar materials, then you only heat the large part and chilling the small part may indeed help.

[krwada]

Experience

Something to think about when shrink fitting parts.
Look at the thermal expansion ratios of aluminum and steel.
Aluminum is much higher than steel so it expands MUCH more than steel will shrink.
Don't even bother chilling the steel because the cold steel shrinks the hot aluminum faster when you slide the parts together.
You actually get more working time by ONLY heating the aluminum and just leaving the steel room temperature because the SPREAD in temperatures between the two parts is smaller.
When you want to take it apart, just heat it all up.
The steel won't expand nearly as much as the aluminum so the hot barrel will slip right out of the hot receiver.
For the MOST amount of working time while shrink fitting, heat both the alumimum receiver and the steel barrel.

This only works with dissimilar parts.
If you were shrink fitting similar materials, then you only heat the large part and chilling the small part may indeed help.

What you point out is quite correct ... as far as my experience is concerned. In an earlier attempt ... I just cooled the tenon in the dry ice and it did not fit very well. Instead of getting out the sand paper ... I decided to heat up the aluminum receiver and only then did it fit.

I suppose the next time I do this ... then I can effectively lose the dry ice and just simply heat up the aluminum instead.

By the way ... I found that the aluminum needs to be heated pretty darned hot. A hair dryer did not work at all! I used a heat gun to heat the aluminum and put on a welding glove to fit the really hot aluminum receiver to the cooled down barrel tenon. It still took some work to press the two parts together.

Now I know ...

Thanks!
Ken

[ar15barrels]

By the way ... I found that the aluminum needs to be heated pretty darned hot. A hair dryer did not work at all! I used a heat gun to heat the aluminum and put on a welding glove to fit the really hot aluminum receiver to the cooled down barrel tenon.

You are heating it too slowly if you can't hold the back half of the receiver in your bare hand.
The aluminum is sinking the heat through the whole part.

Next time, use a propane torch and get right to it.
10-20 seconds while spinning the receiver back and forth so you heat all the way around is all it should take.