little badger
- Thread starter enen
- Start date
I just used Allen keys to remove the screws and get rid of the plastic rails on mine. With the barrel out I was able to drill and tap a couple of larger holes and properly mount an aluminum rail for a little scope. The Little Badger at its core seems pretty darn solid, love the trigger, it's accurate and fun to use. But the sights and rails are silly, had to go.
One thing I'm going to keep mentioning every time the Little Badger comes up; the main pivot bolt has a serious problem in that the star washer they install is grinding away at the body of the gun every time you open and close the action. I found out after some dozens of open/close cycles. Took it apart to clean and lube inside and found a lot of magnesium/aluminum alloy shavings in the hole and a very scoured looking surface under that star washer. Replacing it with a plain steel washer and using Loc-tite blue to keep the bolt from coming loose has fixed this problem. Otherwise, it's very likely the thing would wear down to the point where soon it would be flopping around with no further room to tighten against the 'nut' portion of the pivot. A dab of lithium grease here and there and it's firm but smooth operating and consistent in tension through hundreds of open/close cycles.
One thing I'm going to keep mentioning every time the Little Badger comes up; the main pivot bolt has a serious problem in that the star washer they install is grinding away at the body of the gun every time you open and close the action. I found out after some dozens of open/close cycles. Took it apart to clean and lube inside and found a lot of magnesium/aluminum alloy shavings in the hole and a very scoured looking surface under that star washer. Replacing it with a plain steel washer and using Loc-tite blue to keep the bolt from coming loose has fixed this problem. Otherwise, it's very likely the thing would wear down to the point where soon it would be flopping around with no further room to tighten against the 'nut' portion of the pivot. A dab of lithium grease here and there and it's firm but smooth operating and consistent in tension through hundreds of open/close cycles.
I ordered a couple of rails from an eBay seller last year, used one on another project and then the second on the Little Badger. Had to drill a hole in a new location for one of the bolts as the spacing was different, but as I had the barrel out anyway, drilling and tapping a hole wasn't difficult. Wouldn't try it with the barrel in place, and the native bolts are too tiny for he soft alloy, made me think I was going to strip them if tightening too hard, so I went to larger bolts. This is the rail I used, the 9-slot version:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Olive-Green...ail-Section-for-Keymod-Handguard/332596511244
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Olive-Green...ail-Section-for-Keymod-Handguard/332596511244
Iron Sighted
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace Region
What do you all think of the stock iron(plastic) sights? I just bought a L.B. on the E.E. though I haven't yet received it. Seems like the sights are something that a lot of online reviewers were luke warm at best on. The thread protector and plastic rails were also not highly regarded.
My thought was to remove the bottom rail so it will fold down smaller and then potentially replace the top rail with one from Longshot if I don't like the sights, and then perhaps try a See-All sight on the aluminum rail? I'll be trying the factory irons first to see if I like them before making plans to replace them though. A proper thread protector is the other for sure item I'd like to replace, I see Longshot makes these as well, but I wonder if they can be found domestically?
My thought was to remove the bottom rail so it will fold down smaller and then potentially replace the top rail with one from Longshot if I don't like the sights, and then perhaps try a See-All sight on the aluminum rail? I'll be trying the factory irons first to see if I like them before making plans to replace them though. A proper thread protector is the other for sure item I'd like to replace, I see Longshot makes these as well, but I wonder if they can be found domestically?
I've never used the factory sights or plastic rails. Currently I have the long metal pic rail from Longshot and delrin grip, with a vortex scope mounted.
I ordered a see-all to replace the scope to shed some weight, ill let you know how that combo works.
I have a black thread protector, hammer bar and extended front sight from longshot on the way, that will be surplus, if you wanted to buy them from me at a discount. Also, a fab defense rear flip up sight that is up for grabs.
Iron Sighted
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace Region
I'm certainly interested in the thread protector, if you are interested in selling just that piece let me know. I'm also quite interested in seeing how you like the See-All sight, they look kinda neat and seem like a good fit for a rifle like this.
That long metal rail(5.5") is the same one I was thinking of getting. Glad to know both Longshot and See-All ship to Canada presumably if you have orders from both incoming.
Longshot definitely ship here, I received an order from them last year as well. I ordered the see-all 1.5 weeks ago, ill let you know if/when it arrives and my take on it as well as pics on the rifle.
Tell you what, ill send you the thread protector free (when it arrives). PM your mailing address. I already have a gold threat protector on mine, the one you'll be getting is black.
Tell you what, ill send you the thread protector free (when it arrives). PM your mailing address. I already have a gold threat protector on mine, the one you'll be getting is black.
Iron Sighted
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace Region
I saw that the See-All sights are currently all 50% off so I went ahead and ordered one of the tritium nite site models, it'll find a home on the Little Badger or possibly the Ruger PCC. Looks like I'll have to make an order from Longshot for the rail at some point now and likely the replacement delrin forend too : )
