EDIT: .357 Pellet Slinger
Well, I’ve started gathering parts for a 6mm (or .243) Marauder build. I’ll post picks when I find a replacement for “Photo-I like fucking people-bucket”, so apologies for that. Why am I doing a 6mm? Well, I’ll have a .257, and I didn’t want to build another. I just wanted to build something different. Anyhoo, here’s a rundown:
-28″ OAL TJ 6mm barrel, 0.237″ lands and 0.243″ grooves, with a 10″ twist. OD is custom ground to a hair under 14mm so that I can sleeve the barrel with a 18mm OD x 14mm ID carbon fiber tube. I’ll have the end threaded 1/2″x20 for an LDC.
–Armada breech. This will be modified so that the 18mm barrel sleeve will fit snug. The shroud will be recessed into the breech by 1.25″, which is as deep as I care to go, because of the breech screws.
–Bottle conversion block from Oldpro. I’ll be shortening the Mrod’s main tube to 11.75″ for the bottle conversion.
–Ninja 4500 psi input, 3k psi output reg. I’ll be using an aluminum 450cc tank I found on Aliexpress. It’s the only tank I can use with the reg’s threads.
–Cothran powerhouse valve
–TSS and MDS spring/hammer from Oldpro. Ease of tuning and easy cocking effort in combination with the Cothran valve.
This thing is for both long range target shooting and general varmint shooting. I’m having someone design a very light weight stock that uses an Evanix Sniper’s stock, can use AR15 grips, and incorporates a trigger guard. This should be a relatively lightweight rifle. Bipod will mount to the bottle via an adapter I can get from Dr. Bob in the UK.
For ammunition, I’ll be casting my own, using a 4-cavity Arsenal mold that Jack Bowman designed. It’s a scaled down Lyman 257420. Mold should drop cast boolits at 60 grains. I’ll be sending it off to Eric at Hollowpoint molds so I can have two cavities modified to HP. Should be nice and devastating on prairie dogs and woodchucks :8:
Well, that’s the basic rundown of the build… I’ll post pictures as I progress through the project.
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Anything happen with this project?
Sounds pretty interesting!
More updates:
For the most part, the rifle is done. The reg setting was right on, and the rifle is shooting at 130 fpe w/pellets, as intended. I updated the stock again, this time to a RAI chassis. I added a Law Tactical folding adapter clone to it. I have installed a cheapie trigger guard, and removed the raised cheek piece. I’ve also installed a section of pic rail at the front for a bipod.
I’ve sent off the breech and bolt to be modified, so that I can use a 10-32 screw in place of the 8-32 screw for the bolt lug. I’m worried that the bolt lug will sheer off and the bolt hitting me in the face. I saw a video of this happening with a .30 cal Mrod build. Better safe than sorry.
OAL is around 52″ w/the Gen2 Neil Clague LDC on it, but the folding adapter brings that down enough to fit in my rifle case. I’ll update with chrono numbers as soon as I get her back together.
Wow, time flies… Jeeze.
Okay- well, some updates:
I fixed all the leaks, and with those shims from McMaster Carr, It looks like I’m getting an output of over 2100 psi, but under 2200 psi. Right where I want to be. I still need to air up and shoot some strings over a chrony and do final tune. Oh- and that Armada stock did NOT work out well… It was way too much of a hassle w/a bottle conversion. I had to do a LOT of disassembly just to get to the hammer spring. It wasn’t worth the hassle. So I swapped out the Armada stuff for the synthetic stock and chopped it down to fit:
That’s a New Design Neil Clague LDC on the end, it’s also a reflex design… Hopefully I’ll be out shooting it soon, if this shitty weather would ever go away…
I just received the .01″ shims I ordered from McMaster Carr. I was using .001″ shims, and they didn’t provide enough shimmy LOL. I think my 9 .047″ belleville stack plus 2 .01″ shims will do the trick to get to 2100 or 2200 psi. We’ll see. I’ve read that each .01″ shim is good for 400 psi. I may have to go with 1 .01″ shim plus some .001″ shims. Who knows? Once I figure it out, I’ll let you know. I also have a leak I need to track down.
Okay, I got the valve to seal, I had to add another .047″ shim to the belleville stack in the reg. She’s holding air, and trust me, this thing is LOUD… Holy shit it’s loud. I need to get an LDC too. Anyhoo. She’s getting there!
After having a few small problems pop up with regard to the hand rail, much consideration and a bit of bad Dremel work, I’ve finally solved the bipod mounting problem…
I found that the slots in the Armada hand rail are kinda for M-Lok accessories… But the slots are too short for even the shortest M-Lok Picatinny rail section. At least where I need to add a Picatinny rail. Suffice it to say, I had to again modify the Armada hand rail.
Kind of at the same time, I found that I also had to modify the Armada chassis. The rail is a tad too long. But some bad work with a Dremel, and I had the Picatinny rail fitted to the chassis as well. I apologize for the bad pictures, my phone is weird sometimes.
Bipod in place:
Picatinny rail mounted, and shoddy Dremel work:
Even with the legs folded, there’s more than enough room to fill the tank:
I’m still waiting on the stock folding adapter, and then I can put the stock on. For now, I’m going to try to work out this sealing issue. Admittedly I haven’t touched the gun since I found out I had a leaking-down-the-barrel issue… We’ll see if I can get that Cothran valve to seal.
Silly me, I was worried about nothing!! I got her re-assembled, rail section in place. I’ll have to touch up the hand rail, but here she is with the hand rail installed:
Here’s the reason for all this effort:
That little slot will allow me to use a 5 slot M-Lok rail section, so I can mount a bipod. Otherwise, I either would have had to use no bipod or MacGyver something (which I don’t want to do). Now the only worry is tuning. If I don’t have enough spring pressure to open the valve, I’ll have to de-gas and disassemble the rifle, just to get to the spring adjuster. So lets hope I gave it enough spring tension!! ;D
Now I’m just waiting on my LAW Tactical folding adapter CLONE, then I can mount the stock and get to tuning. After I know she’s shooting where I want her to, THEN I can spray-bomb her, and THEN I can sight her in… After I buy an LDC. So maybe by spring time, she’ll be ready to hit the field! Just in time for the woodchucks!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH!!!!!
Did some more work, still needs more. The fore end idea didn’t pan out. I’m working on another solution. I really hope it works, as I can’t think of another way of mounting a bipod…
Here she is so far:
What I’m hoping to do is mount a bipod just behind the bottle adapter, with a short section of rail:
I’ll keep y’all posted!
She’s getting there:
Slight change in the build- more like an experiment. Hopefully it works out okay…
I’m going to get the other Armada parts for the fore end. The plan is, to cut out material to fit the tank adapter and CF tank, and use the Armada fore end to mount a bipod. This way, I don’t have to mount a bipod to the CF tank, and I can push the bipod out as far as possible for more stability… At least, that’s the plan. Not sure if it’ll work, I’ll let y’all know!
Real small update, the “upper” is complete, i.e. I installed the indexing plate for the bolt and installed the bolt. Maaaan, this thing is going together so well, and all the parts fit just perfect! I modified my main tube for the TP, and installed the valve. I’ve ordered the bellevilles and spacers, so still waiting to assemble the reg. Once I get those bellevilles and spacers, the rest of the assembly should be a snap! I’ll keep y’all posted. I’ll post some pics when I have something worthy to take pictures of.
I opened up the reg tonight to get started on modifying it… Holy shit, I think I’m gonna need to get new bellevilles from McMaster Carr…
That’s not grit you’re looking at, those are burrs. On the bellevilles… Or maybe corrosion? Either way, sweet baby Jesus. The rest of the housing seems good, just need to clean out whatever the factory grease is and replace it with some good diver’s grease. I’ve already removed the pin valve and spring. Won’t need them for my build.
Small update: I’ve glued the CF tube to the barrel… It was nerve-wracking to say the least. I’m gonna give the barrel a few days (weeks?) to fully cure, then I’ll start assembling. In the mean time, I’m gonna work on the reg. I’m gonna set it to around 2100-2200 psi output. Again, I’ll keep y’all posted.
Parts paid for, hopefully they’ll be here next week!! :8:
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I got it completed, and it was shooting 130 fpe with pellets… Then the bolt broke. I got a new bolt made and got it back together, and enjoyed it for a little bit. Then I got tired of how long it was. I’ve still got the parts for it. I’ve been meaning to put it back together as a carbine… She was a real sweet shooter.