Ive got two new rifle project that are well on their way, and just wanted to post about them.
The first is my new to me (thanks again horsey), hi-point 995.
Basic cosmetic mods were adding a ati cx4 knockoff stock (which I actually prefer the look of to the real thing), and a pvc shroud to the barrel, ill make one from aluminum if i see any real issue with the pvc but i doubt itll be a problem.
Functional work was a little more involved .
Ive striped it down, and polished all the contact surfaces on both the action and the trigger.
The trigger on this gun is such a simple system that doing a basic trigger job is as simple as doing some judicious bending on the rod that links the sear to the trigger linkage and safety. This has to be done carefully and slowly (and its best to polish the connecting rod to smooth out and even the trigger pull), or you can easily get the sear too far retracted. Upside is, if you do get it retracted to far, you just bend the rod carefully back the other way.
Doing this will likely put more pressure on the opposing side of the rod that contacts the saftey, you will also likely have to bend that side up carefully as well so that the saftey will actuate smoothly and correctly.
I took this a few steps farther by installing a pretravel screw, which i somehow didnt have a set screw for so made a quick one out of brass.
This was an easy install, but the issues here is that you need to be sure to adjust the set screw to allow the trigger to reset properly. The linkage is not kept real tight but its still best to give it a little extra travel to insure reliable functioning.
I shimmed the sides of the trigger to eliminate some of the side to side slop. I'll likely raise a pair of bumps on the lower part of the trigger, on both sides, to remove the lower slop as well.
Last part of the trigger mods was to install a trigger shoe from one of my old paintball gun frames. Even tho i didnt reduce the trigger pull any the wide blade makes it feel much lighter.
I will, i think, have an aluminum copy of the trigger made as the small trigger pin and soft plastic worry me as to the reliability of the parts if really yanked on. I dont think theres enough meat in the frame where the pin goes thru to make it any bigger, but i may move the pivot point back 1/16-1/8th of an inch and inlarge the pin if i do have a custom trigger made.
I still want to either get a full length top rail, or install a pic rail at the front of the gun for buis. Ill have to decide on that before too long, but thats all that i really wanna add.
I only had the gun out for about 10mins last Saturday, and shot 13rnds, but i did get super lucky eyeballing the red dot and it shot dead center but 3" high @ 40yds. Group shot off the front of my truck ran 2-2.5" with Winchester White box fmjs, which im sure i can better.
Im happy with this little gun so far.
Specially for what they cost and how easy they are to work on.
The second gun isnt as interesting to work on, as all im doing is changing the barrel.
What WILL be interesting is working with the 250 Ackley Improved. Ive always wanted an AI. I almost got my Bergara in .280 to have it rechambered to 280AI, but that just didnt sit right and i wanted a 30-06 since i sold my last one. This barrel came up on ebay for a decent price and i snagged it now were off to the races.
I got the barrel on tue, and since i work wed i decided to see if i couldnt make an action clamp to get the barrel nut, and original .243 barrel off.
I couldnt find any scrap steel or aluminum large enough to make the clamp from so i figgured id try a block of teak and our big 6" vice.
It actually worked out surprisingly well, the teak held the action perfectly and I only a scratched up the nut a little bit with the pipe wrench i used to turn it. Ive got a correct wrench and smooth nut comming with the reloading gear and headspace guages, so i wasnt overly concerned about it.
I went ahead and put the new barrel on the gun just to see how it looked and handled with the factory stock, thats when i realized the outside of the barrel was actually pretty poorly finished (this is a no name barrel seller didnt know where it came from).
I played with it for a while before taking the barrel off again to sand out, and i think im convinced it needs a new stock as well. Id be interested in any recommendations folks have, for a hunting stock to compliment the heavy sporter 26" tube.
Anyway here are some pictures of the gun so far, im hoping this thing shoots well cause im liking the way it handles already.
I sanded down the barrel and polished it in my getto vertical lathe (floor mount drill press). Gonna use some cold blue on it for now, and later when i have time ill reblue the whole thing along with a couple other guns.
All in all im super happy with the way these projects are going, and just wanted to share lol.
If anyone has any questions or suggestions id be happy to hear them.
The first is my new to me (thanks again horsey), hi-point 995.
Basic cosmetic mods were adding a ati cx4 knockoff stock (which I actually prefer the look of to the real thing), and a pvc shroud to the barrel, ill make one from aluminum if i see any real issue with the pvc but i doubt itll be a problem.
Functional work was a little more involved .
Ive striped it down, and polished all the contact surfaces on both the action and the trigger.
The trigger on this gun is such a simple system that doing a basic trigger job is as simple as doing some judicious bending on the rod that links the sear to the trigger linkage and safety. This has to be done carefully and slowly (and its best to polish the connecting rod to smooth out and even the trigger pull), or you can easily get the sear too far retracted. Upside is, if you do get it retracted to far, you just bend the rod carefully back the other way.
Doing this will likely put more pressure on the opposing side of the rod that contacts the saftey, you will also likely have to bend that side up carefully as well so that the saftey will actuate smoothly and correctly.
I took this a few steps farther by installing a pretravel screw, which i somehow didnt have a set screw for so made a quick one out of brass.
This was an easy install, but the issues here is that you need to be sure to adjust the set screw to allow the trigger to reset properly. The linkage is not kept real tight but its still best to give it a little extra travel to insure reliable functioning.
I shimmed the sides of the trigger to eliminate some of the side to side slop. I'll likely raise a pair of bumps on the lower part of the trigger, on both sides, to remove the lower slop as well.
Last part of the trigger mods was to install a trigger shoe from one of my old paintball gun frames. Even tho i didnt reduce the trigger pull any the wide blade makes it feel much lighter.
I will, i think, have an aluminum copy of the trigger made as the small trigger pin and soft plastic worry me as to the reliability of the parts if really yanked on. I dont think theres enough meat in the frame where the pin goes thru to make it any bigger, but i may move the pivot point back 1/16-1/8th of an inch and inlarge the pin if i do have a custom trigger made.
I still want to either get a full length top rail, or install a pic rail at the front of the gun for buis. Ill have to decide on that before too long, but thats all that i really wanna add.
I only had the gun out for about 10mins last Saturday, and shot 13rnds, but i did get super lucky eyeballing the red dot and it shot dead center but 3" high @ 40yds. Group shot off the front of my truck ran 2-2.5" with Winchester White box fmjs, which im sure i can better.
Im happy with this little gun so far.
Specially for what they cost and how easy they are to work on.
The second gun isnt as interesting to work on, as all im doing is changing the barrel.
What WILL be interesting is working with the 250 Ackley Improved. Ive always wanted an AI. I almost got my Bergara in .280 to have it rechambered to 280AI, but that just didnt sit right and i wanted a 30-06 since i sold my last one. This barrel came up on ebay for a decent price and i snagged it now were off to the races.
I got the barrel on tue, and since i work wed i decided to see if i couldnt make an action clamp to get the barrel nut, and original .243 barrel off.
I couldnt find any scrap steel or aluminum large enough to make the clamp from so i figgured id try a block of teak and our big 6" vice.
It actually worked out surprisingly well, the teak held the action perfectly and I only a scratched up the nut a little bit with the pipe wrench i used to turn it. Ive got a correct wrench and smooth nut comming with the reloading gear and headspace guages, so i wasnt overly concerned about it.
I went ahead and put the new barrel on the gun just to see how it looked and handled with the factory stock, thats when i realized the outside of the barrel was actually pretty poorly finished (this is a no name barrel seller didnt know where it came from).
I played with it for a while before taking the barrel off again to sand out, and i think im convinced it needs a new stock as well. Id be interested in any recommendations folks have, for a hunting stock to compliment the heavy sporter 26" tube.
Anyway here are some pictures of the gun so far, im hoping this thing shoots well cause im liking the way it handles already.
I sanded down the barrel and polished it in my getto vertical lathe (floor mount drill press). Gonna use some cold blue on it for now, and later when i have time ill reblue the whole thing along with a couple other guns.
All in all im super happy with the way these projects are going, and just wanted to share lol.
If anyone has any questions or suggestions id be happy to hear them.
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