Abandoned builds??

I've had a couple gun projects sitting around collecting dust while I either slowly pick away at them or cant make a decision on a next step.

Last week I got tired of seeing one of them sitting around and shipped one out to the smith to have the barrel installed. When it's back in 3-4 months I'll have to finally get back to finishing up the stock for it.

As for this summer, I have a few guns that are sitting at 95% complete and just need some Cerakote sprayed on them.
 
I always buy parts guns for builds I want done. Then rationalize the wait time and money involved and just go buy a factory riggin's as close as I can get to my pipe dream conjured up custom.
 
i could give you a good smack and see if that snaps you out of it..

but in exchange i would like the 700 action :D so why you go 12 twist?

I had an 8.5 twist 264 and it was to tight, hit pressure at 3100 fps with a 140 VLD with a 31" tube, overspun. So I figured that if 215,000 rpm/2950fps stabilizes a 142 smk in an 6.5-284 it should work at 3500 fps too, might not and I'll have to run 120's or 130's.

Lol, definitely a concern after I ran a twist calculator. 3100 is plenty fast, I just wanted more
 
i been over a lot of books, loading data and such on and so forth and that is the very first time i heard rpm mentioned in speaking about twist

is this a common formula i missed out on at birth and wasn't included in my growing up manuel?
 
i been over a lot of books, loading data and such on and so forth and that is the very first time i heard rpm mentioned in speaking about twist

is this a common formula i missed out on at birth and wasn't included in my growing up manuel?

I calculated the rpm off the twist and velocity, not likely the right way to do it, since stability is not a proportionate calculation, but we'll know soon. It got there today.
 
I had an 8.5 twist 264 and it was to tight, hit pressure at 3100 fps with a 140 VLD with a 31" tube, overspun. So I figured that if 215,000 rpm/2950fps stabilizes a 142 smk in an 6.5-284 it should work at 3500 fps too, might not and I'll have to run 120's or 130's.

Lol, definitely a concern after I ran a twist calculator. 3100 is plenty fast, I just wanted more

If you can hit 3500fps in that 1-12"twist 6,5/RUM barrel then the 142gr SMK bullet should stabilize at 210 000rpm. The only question is what would be the proper burning powder to fully use that kind of cartridge capacity....charcoal perhaps? I shoot 260Rem with 142gr SMK in 1-9"twist 26" barrel at only 2700fps (216 000rpm) and at 500m I have no problems. 500m is far enough for me so that bullet at a mile or more might be unstable but that's the least of my worry....
 
Last edited:
Powder i'm starting with is WC 860 & WC 868.
They were used in 50 bmg loads and have a burn rate almost as slow as peat moss.
Only downside they are a bit temp sensitive.

I have used them in a 30-378 and the 860 was a hair slower than I wanted, needed A nearly compressed load.
 
On a kind of philosophical note, part of the attraction of projects is what they might turn into. There is a lot of enjoyment in just getting one started and collecting the parts and ideas. Much the same as the old thrill of the chase line of thought. I've had plenty of projects over the years. Old japanese motorcycles, bracket race cars, Jeeps, dirtbikes and a farm tractor or two (no guns yet though!). Few reached 100% completion. A few got close. Most ran out of steam for one reason or another with spare time being the biggest hinderance. Having said that I'd take on a project in a minute if got my juices flowing. I've got a need to get a gun project going lately though so that might happen shortly depending on what drops into my lap.
 
Here is the pic Dennis sent with the invoice. Should be here in 2 weeks.

65ultra.jpg
 
Results!!!

OK, put 15 rounds through it today. started way low and got 2900 FPS with 140 smk's, 6" groups. Worked up and gun juiced the first 10 rounds. No stability and started showing flatter primers at 3100 FPS, at which point the gun juice was finished and I ran a boresnake and cleaned it normally between rounds. pressure signs gone and next 3 loads came in 3165, no read and 3170. The no read seemed a little slower and took off to open the group up to 2.5" and the other two cut a hole that measured .357" edge to edge. I am pretty sure this is were very close to the point were the bullets stabilize in this twist. I went up 1 round at a time for two and ran out of time to play. Last load ran 3316FPS and still didn't really show any movement on the primer.

JT.
 
I bought a new stock for my 870 put it on took the old one which was beat up sanded it down and just have the foregrip now to do but its been sitting there for a year!

I also had a .22 all apart for over a year i did the stock that was all nice and finished just had to reblue the barrel and trigger... I tried and gave up after a few attemps. Year later I bought black stove paint and finished it in 2 days haah! Now its back in the safe!
 
You are not alone. I found the same thing with motorcycles. Much more fun for me to build than to ride. I can easily see how this could happen. Then again thats why some of us build stuff and those that cant are happy to use it. Seems like a good mix to me. Sucks that you dont have the time to play though.
Thats what I do all the extra work for!
 
im stuck in a M40A5 build because of funds. i have the rifle but yea. have another project its a 1942 M1 garand have all the parts except the Stock so im stuck in that one too
 
Back
Top Bottom