Posted on 09/23/2009 6:19:16 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!
Lol
fail
First, scopes for .22s. Here's the Browning SA-22 with Browning mount and rings, and an old Leupold 2x scope. Below it is the Colt M4-22, with the $39 faux Leupold CQT tactical scope.
The scope on the Browning certainly looks classic, but it has one small problem. It's a handgun scope I had laying around, and the eye relief is so long, I'd have to hold the rifle at arm's length to look through it. So I have on order a Leupold VX-I 2-7x28mm scope instead. If I like it, I may get its big brother, the 3-9x VX-II for my future CZ bolt action.
The chicom scope on the Colt mounts so low, I couldn't even use the backup rear sight. Fortunately, I have enough stuff left over from earlier projects that things can be recycled. In this case, a QD adapter for an Eotech provided just enough added height to mount the scope, and make it quick-detachable, too. The adapter costs about 4x more than the scope, but it was just sitting in a parts drawer, waiting for a new assignment.
Speaking of spare parts, I'll mention in another installment the large assortment of M16/AR-15 fixed and telescoping stocks that I've accumulated, including one expensive variant that I still can't figure out how I came across it.
Oh yeah, just the accessory for those late night trench raids.
Looks to be a better made reproduction than SARCO (I think) had in the late 1980s. With some files and emery cloth those could be made to fit and the mechanism to work. They looked like they came straight from the Darrah arms shops over the Kyber Pass.
Very nicely done Win-Mag. I sure can’t tell the difference between your Colt .22 and the M-4. I’ve heard the Colt/Walther .22 was very well made, it sure looks the part.
The Indian-made repros are a lot better made than the chicom ones. Of course the Chinese add genuine rust to their blades to give that extra bit of authenticity.
We didn't end up pouring concrete after all. I wasn't feeling particularly great, so I went back to bed, and SirKit was building the mechanism by which we'll measure the weights of the ingredients for the concrete. In the afternoon, I finished preparing the square, creating a trough around the perimeter, leveling out the gravel, and covering it with plastic for the vapor barrier. SirKit put the upper edge on the form, over the plastic, and I covered it over with more plastic, because it's gonna be raining all day tomorrow. We'll make the chute tomorrow that we'll use for aiming the concrete.
We'll be ready on Monday morning to start the mix, though, and all next week is looking good, so we may actually be able to pour the other two slabs, now that we have the mixer, chute, and the measuring device all ready to go!
ROTFL!! Major FAIL! Joseph saw that sign in a local grocery store a couple of years ago!! He still laughs about that!
Sam was able to come upstairs with minimal whining last night and made it down this morning without any problems. He’s looking better, coat is healthier, eyes are brighter.
Better living through pharmaceuticals.
I just feel bad that we waited so long to get him to the vet.
Well made, yes. But I've also found out that key dimensions of the upper and lower are probably 2-3% undersized, compared to a real M4. There isn't a single pin or spring that will interchange with the real thing. I think that was done intentionally so someone couldn't add centerfire parts, and turn it into a "real" M4. But you can't tell the difference unless you're really up close and looking for it.
The buffer tube (even though it's empty), Picatinny rails, and front sight assembly are the exact dimensions of a real M4. That made it easy to change out sights, the stock, sling swivels, etc.
The pistol grip was totally different internally, so I just couldn't slap on a new Magpul grip without some work. It needed fitting to a slightly altered contour of the lower receiver. The holes at the top of the grip needed to be slotted so the cap screw that held the grip to the lower would line up. I also needed to add spacers to the screw so it wouldn't bind up the selector switch when I tightened it down. That represented about four hours of work on a file-and-try-again basis until everything worked properly. I hate the original GI pistol grip, so it was an effort well spent for me.
The "simple" aluminum trigger bow was even more work, because the dimensions were so different when I tried to install it. I had to removed about 1/8th inch of the back of the bow, reshape the holes, come up with a new mounting method, and repair the lower receiver where I snapped the bit off when I tried to install it without fully understanding the situation. I estimate I've spent about three days of trial-and-error before getting it to work. As with the stock pistol grip, that fold-down "winter trigger" has always annoyed me.
The way things are going, I'll probably take both the Colt and the Browning to the range at the same time for first fire. I hope to have the proper scope for the Browning early in the week. Meanwhile, I have minor cosmetic details to attend to on the "real" M-faux and the Colt .22.
The most interesting is the middle stock on the left. It's an original CAR15 sliding stock from the early 1970s. It's plastic-coated aluminum, rather than all-plastic like sliding stocks are now. The bottom two stocks are by Magpul, the middle one on the right is a generic M4 that came with the Colt .22, and the two top stocks are A1 and A2 fixed stocks.
When I started swapping things around, I accidentally stepped into the minefield of "mil spec" vs "commercial" buffer tubes. Both have the same thread where they screw into the back of the lower receiver, but the "commercial" tubes have a wall thickness a few thousandths thicker than the "military", so a "military" stock won't fit over a "commercial" tube. I finally was clued in when I read the instructions that came with the Magpul ACS stock, which I used first on my nephew's rifle.
I finally decided to order a "military" stock tube from Brownell's so I'd know what I was working with. I got the Magpul CTR stock (lower left), along with a strange buffer tube that was totally unusable on an AR15. Back again to Brownell's to order just a "military" tube, and a matching lock ring, just to be safe.
I was happy, my AR15 was happy, and I put all the extra parts, including the unusable buffer tube, in a box where I knew I could find them if I needed something in the future.
Then the Sig 556 arrived. I looked at it, and realized there was nothing inside the buffer tube, it was there just so the sliding stock could slide along it. That got me to thinking about the weird buffer tube I had, so I went to the shelf where I put it for safekeeping, and the box was gone!
Last week, I got the Colt M4-22. Since the Magpul stock from my AR-15 fit the buffer tube properly, I knew it was a "military" one also. So I ordered a Magpul ACS stock for both the .22, and the "real" M-faux, since I would be building them to be as identical as possible.
That got me curious as to where my stash of stocks and buffer tubes went. I looked in my "safe" spot on the shelf, and the box was back again! And now I realized that the "unusable" funky buffer tube was a folding telescoping tube that could only be for the Sig 556 family. Sure enough, I did a bit of swapping, and wound up with this:
And when I pressed the latch on the left side of the adapter, it gave me this
I don't know what I did to wind up with the Sig folding buffer tube, but it works like a charm, even with the "wrong" style of stock on it.
I'm waiting for the rear sling adapter to use with the folder, but that's on its way, along with the bayonet lug and bayonet. At that point, my unplanned mods to the rifle should be over (I hope).
LOL ......yeah over the years , spare parts pile up and later turn out to be gems we never knew we needed.
My goal of late is to find the holy grail of buffers for my 3 gun match rigs..... custom gas tubes like the pig tail , fulton adjustable and the fat bob, selectors grips and other fine tuning widgets to keep the rigs lightweight , fast and on target !
Brits used em as sniper rifles......
Mine looks like this one , a pic I swiped off the net.......
I haven't fired it since 1973. I don't think anyone else has either. It gets an inspection and some gun oil every year or so.
That is great news about Sam! We knew Gypsy was on the mend when she was able to go upstairs to bed. The past couple of nights, she has gone upstairs without any help from us.
Today she has eaten about a quarter-cup of proper dog food, which is quite an accomplishment for her. I have a terrible time getting carbs into her, she has developed food-aversion and texture ~issues~. It would be funny, if it weren’t life-threatening.
OB has just left for the shooting range, so I’m going to take Miss Gyps for a walk.
LSA
Okay. So I got five Van Eijk as a free gift with mn order of hardy geraniums. Now where do I put them.
Maybe I should just try for an updated Boo Riley landscape.
Free is always good. What are Van Eijk? Who is Boo Riley? What does he know about landscaping in Perfect Village?
Your post leaves more questions than answers!!
LSA
10-22’s are neat, I have a couple , one is all volquartsen’d up and the other is a 10-22 target with the beautiful hammered target barrel.
.....great little rigs, very accurate and reliable !
That mossburg is sweet XGI.....what is the model number on it !
Boo Riley is the scary eccentric neighbor in "To Kill a Mockingbird." His landscape was all overgrown weeds and broken down porch.
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