Regulated .30
I have had a TJ’s .30 cal pellet barrel for awhile. I even sent it to get coated last time I had stuff done. I used a one piece bushing I made for .308 barrel and all I had to do is open it up .003″ for this barrel. I also have a 100 gr hammer from a .257 build where I was taking off 5 grams at a time for testing.
I decided to throw it in my first .308 frame that I ended up replacing so I could make it a side cocker. This frame has been a test piece for anything I don’t won’t to do on a good frame. I was the first frame I had striped to make sure they did it right. I also used it to convert a old collared frame to the new drop in spin lock. I chucked it up in my lathe in the 4 jaw chuck and bored in the recess. I will do my .25 and .257 when I brake them down for anodizing here some day.
Next experiment will be to remove all but .375″ of the scope rail and install a .750″ wide solid one. It will be slotted to fit over what’s left and also will run a 1.250″ ball end mill down it. It will fit on top of the frame perfect and cover the old slot. Then it will be converted to side cooker and both sides caped like I have done in the past.
So to test it threw it all together with a old .257 breech and used my .25 reg tank. I just removed the stem and put in a stem with a .375″ tophat to match the breech. My .25 tank is set at 1800 psi and shoots JSB’s in the mid 930’s for 100 shots.
So I put the stem in with no spacer and it had a gap of .215″. I figure I was going to need everything I had so I shot it. Well I was a little surprised when it was shooting 44 gr at 865 for and real consistent.
So I decided to drop in a spacer just for kicks to see what happens. The biggest spacer I had was .110″. So I topped off to 3000 psi and started shooting. I was really surprised when now it is shooting around 915 fps.
So now it’s running .105″ TH. So I dig through my spacers and stack 2 to come up with a .085″ TH gap. Now it is shooting around 905 fps with dips into 898 fps. These pellets are not very consistent and can vary 2 gr.
So now I fill up and do a shot string to see how many it will get. On shot 51 it came off the reg with a 888 fps shot and shot 50 was 900 fps. So I was thrilled but I think there is more in it if I make the reg chamber larger. I would like 60-70 shots around 880-890 fps.
These pellets don’t do good over 900 fps. I have a friend that converted his .22 evanix to .30 and he is shooting it at 875 fps and gets sub MOA at 100 yards with 44 gr. JSB’s and 70 gr custom boattail slugs.
So as time permits I will work on this and a .357 version also. Need to have options for EBR and maybe the .357 will be to my advantage.
All Replies
WOW! Looks like it is now built like a Tank! Ultra strong. 😀
Looking very forward to hearing how it shoots! :8:
Knife
P.S. Received package. Thank you very much!!!
Here it is ready to go test. I turned it down a little so it is shooting 890-900 fps now. I’m sure it will do 60 shots on a fill now.
If I change the tophat shim I can get it up to 920 fps still on 1800 psi.
Next will be a shroud
Doug, looks like you are doing a “Fine Job” of addressing and fixing the one HUGE issue with the AF frame design. Now the big question. Once you have this ironed out with the rail and breach stiffening cover, are you going to make it available to adoring Masses? With dreams of What Might of Been. LOL!!! 😆
Great Job Buddy!
Knife
glad I’ve seen that puppy myself. Damn stiff and solid feeling. Like you, I doubt there is any flex left…..loL!
YOUR ON TO SOMETHING SIR!
Slugs, that is what I was thinking about also, I must say again you really do great work.
I have a TJ’s .30 barrel. It is suppose to be .294″ groove and .300″ bore. I haven’t slugged it because it doesn’t really matter for the pellets. I will sooner or later because they have a 70 gr boat tail .300″ mold for it that works real good.
Thanks, and nice side cocker, are you going to use a Daystate barrel, or a LW or a CJ ?
I finished capping the sides today. All I have to do now is make a slot for side cocker and a breech.
The JSB 44.75 and 50.15 gr measure .29980″-.29990″.
They are terrible in weight. 44-46 gr. I’m going to have to sort them to get them within .2 gr
WoW!! is all I can say, Doug if your not too busy can you measure the head size of the JSB pellet?
Great progress Doug :2cents:
Ok I spent some sweaty time in the garage today. It’s humid here and makes it not fun.
Finish the scope rail and mounted it to the frame. Everything came out perfect for once. Made the frame caps out of some pieces I had. Tomorrow I will get the right side done at least so I can cut the slot for the nob and get a the breech setup so I can shoot it with a scope.
Ok I took the kids bowling and when I got back I decided to work on trying to finishing the rail.
Right now the rail is still in the mill and I will finish it tomorrow. I cut the rail off the frame and machined it flat. I cut the bottom of the new rail with a 1.25″ ball mill to match the frame.
I was cutting the slot to match the dove tail on the frame first and I don’t know how but I cut it around .030″ to deep. So tomorrow I will take the 1.25″ ball mill and lower it down so it matches perfect. The I will cut the slot deeper to match the raised parts of the frame where I will bolt it to. I will only cut the deep slot as long in the front as needed to clear the last raised part. That way the front of the new mount will match the frame on top and not have a deeper slot coming thru.
Never cut dove tail mounts so I did a test on a piece of 1″ scrap I had. Real mount will be .750″ wide.
Knife this will be the strongest frame setup until I make a complete one. I can’t see it flexing at all after I’m done.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Doug, I know you secure your caps with screws, but what are your thoughts on securing them with a good epoxy? I don’t mean JB Weld either… I’m thinking Hysol EA 9394 (They use it to build jets!)… It still goes strong even in 350+ degree temps. it even has a 90 minute pot life so that you can ensure perfect placement of the caps. Hell, Cerakote only bakes at 250 degrees… Just a thought.