Anyone turn a T97 norinco into a .458 Socom?

cody c

cody c

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Can it be done?

Not sure why I'd need one, but sub-sonic and about the knock down power of the 45-70, I suppose it would satisfy someone's zombie killing fantasy or bear defence fears, would make a neat, really short "bush pushing" rifle.

I have an almost new marlin 45-70 barrel I picked up off the EE a couple years ago and I've been wondering if it would be a candidate for a project like that.
 
Can't help you. But I like the cut of your jib.
I want an AR in 458 socom.
I believe Herron arms tackles custom barrels and projects like this.
 
Eesh. If there was one platform to ever feel nervous about going big with it would be the T97.

Anything can be done with enough time and money. Might be able to do it for $10k. If I was serious about having a big bore bullpup I would try starting with a Tavor.

Better have DEEP pockets for a one off.
 
You will find a few folks here not requiring any particular reason to want to buy/build a larger calibre, semi auto rifle! I for one would just love to have one of those M14 458Win Mags a now deceased gunsmith produced.
 
I haven't looked closely at the 458 Socom conversion specifically, but I have daydreamed about some sort of rebarrel project.



onetwentyish said:
Eesh. If there was one platform to ever feel nervous about going big with it would be the T97.

Anything can be done with enough time and money. Might be able to do it for $10k. If I was serious about having a big bore bullpup I would try starting with a Tavor.

Better have DEEP pockets for a one off.
Click to expand...

Why do you say this?
What about the T97 sets it apart from any other gun?
(Aside from the AR system, with its barrel nut that allows for an easy barrel swap)
The T97 bolt looks beefier, with should be a better candidate for a larger cartridge base.
 
onetwentyish said:
Eesh. If there was one platform to ever feel nervous about going big with it would be the T97.

Anything can be done with enough time and money. Might be able to do it for $10k. If I was serious about having a big bore bullpup I would try starting with a Tavor.

Better have DEEP pockets for a one off.
Click to expand...

Huh, can you elaborate a bit? The .458 Socom was designed to work with the M4 and adapt the 5.56 NATO over while using the same magazine and many other parts, the SOCOM also apparently runs about 35,000 psi while the 5.56 is closer to 55,000 so I'm not sure where the 10K would be spent, or how this would be more dangerous then .223, but then again I'm not a gunsmith nor do I have a T97 and an M4 sitting in front of me to compare components, so I'm just curious from those who know more to share their thoughts.
 
tootall said:
I haven't looked closely at the 458 Socom conversion specifically, but I have daydreamed about some sort of rebarrel project.





Why do you say this?
What about the T97 sets it apart from any other gun?
(Aside from the AR system, with its barrel nut that allows for an easy barrel swap)
The T97 bolt looks beefier, with should be a better candidate for a larger cartridge base.
Click to expand...

The T97 seems to be one of the poorer options considering its lack of standard parts support from north sylva, and the lack uf easy barrel change will make it that much more difficult and costly.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Ian @ Herron Arms has worked a good 3 years on a simple .300BLK conversion for the Tavor, and thats with robbing barrel extensions and gas system parts. Bringing a caliber so abstract in to the equation I can only imaging being vary costly process, concidering that a simple ACR NR conversion can cost between $550 and $1000 while using recycled gas system parts from the old barrel.

Im not a gun smith, and I absolutely have my biases against the T97 although they are not without reason. The whole platform is ergonomically flawed and quality challenged, so I feel it would be beneficial to start such an expensive arduous build with a solid base to build off of givens the high likelihood of expenses being rampant.

The other thing to keep in mind is if you go with a well adopted platform that allows easy barrel changes, others will likely also buy conversion kits giving someone like Ian @ Herron Arms justification to get involved as he has an oportunity to make some money by selling kits. This could aid in costs that would be otherwise complete a burden of the guy getting the one off done.

Just my thoughts.


If you wand a big bore bullpup, you could always just run a Lever Arms LA K12 Puma with slugs! :p
 
onetwentyish said:
The T97 seems to be one of the poorer options considering its lack of standard parts support from north sylva, and the lack uf easy barrel change will make it that much more difficult and costly.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Ian @ Herron Arms has worked a good 3 years on a simple .300BLK conversion for the Tavor, and thats with robbing barrel extensions and gas system parts. Bringing a caliber so abstract in to the equation I can only imaging being vary costly process, concidering that a simple ACR NR conversion can cost between $550 and $1000 while using recycled gas system parts from the old barrel.

Im not a gun smith, and I absolutely have my biases against the T97 although they are not without reason. The whole platform is ergonomically flawed and quality challenged, so I feel it would be beneficial to start such an expensive arduous build with a solid base to build off of givens the high likelihood of expenses being rampant.

The other thing to keep in mind is if you go with a well adopted platform that allows easy barrel changes, others will likely also buy conversion kits giving someone like Ian @ Herron Arms justification to get involved as he has an oportunity to make some money by selling kits. This could aid in costs that would be otherwise complete a burden of the guy getting the one off done.

Just my thoughts.


If you wand a big bore bullpup, you could always just run a Lever Arms LA K12 Puma with slugs! :p
Click to expand...


OK, I'm inspired! Now I gotta look into this a bit more...

And yes, I have a K12 already. :)
flRdiTu.jpg


eOsLub6.jpg
 
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Problem is the case head size. This is a problem that has plagued AR15 conversions to these larger cases. My understanding is the reg 223 bolt head may get too weak when the bolt face is opened to 0.473".

The ejector is in the wrong place. The extractor would need a rebuild too.

If I am right, the AR's that house these bigger cases have different bolt heads?

How many Rem AR 15's in 30AR do you see anymore? Where there any?

Making that for a 1 off, may not be so easy especially when someone will be liable for any kabooms.

But after that... it will be "easy".

Jerry
 
Well, I had to have a look inside...
The barrel is pinned in place. The shiny dot is the end of the pin.
Maybe threaded also? IDK. Has anyone removed a barrel yet?
6kdQ5Id.jpg


Several other bits (front site, flash hiders, etc.) are pinned also. Simple enough to drift out pins.
6pgK6Xj.jpg


As Jerry from Mystic mentioned above, the AR-15 cannot be opened up very much without weakening it.
This one is beefy like an AK bolt, and it is dead easy to remove the bolt from the carrier.
(steel case Norinco .308 case shown along side)
yEw1AMc.jpg


$10,000 to do a conversion? Really?
I just dont see it.
 


for the sake of arguing, 5.56 on the far left, .458 SOCOM second from the far right, you can get an idea how fat the arse of the brass is in the pic.
 
tootall said:
Well, I had to have a look inside...
The barrel is pinned in place. The shiny dot is the end of the pin.
Maybe threaded also? IDK. Has anyone removed a barrel yet?
6kdQ5Id.jpg


Several other bits (front site, flash hiders, etc.) are pinned also. Simple enough to drift out pins.
6pgK6Xj.jpg


As Jerry from Mystic mentioned above, the AR-15 cannot be opened up very much without weakening it.
This one is beefy like an AK bolt, and it is dead easy to remove the bolt from the carrier.
(steel case Norinco .308 case shown along side)
yEw1AMc.jpg


$10,000 to do a conversion? Really?
I just dont see it.
Click to expand...

I will be the first to say I am talking out of my ass as far as experience goes, but I know machine time isn't cheap and it takes time and trial and error to get gas guns tuned right. Maybe it won't break 5k, but its still going to be a ton of money tied up in a relatively poor platform to build off of in my opinion given the other possible options.
 
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