I have started working on my Galil ARM conversion in 7.62. I have the receiver almost finished (going to work on the stock conversion tomorrow). The only thing I need help with is taking the barrel off, turning it down so the handguard retainers fit, switching gas blocks, shortening the barrel and threading it and putting the barrel back on. Is there anyone in the GTA that can help out?
Valmet hunter .308 to Galil ARM
- Thread starter JasonGTA
- Start date
Your post is probably better suited for "gunsmithing" section...
By having the receiver "almost finished", you mean you have the top cover and pistol grip mounted? Congrats, you're about 3% done with your conversion.
(in terms of amount of work involved). Those other "only things you need help with" are the remaining 97%
You don't need to remove the barrel to turn it down/cut/crown/thread it. Much easier to mount it in the spindle + steady rest with the receiver still attached to machine the handguard retainer portion, and then just put it through the spindle with the tip sticking out to cut/thread it. Removing/reinstalling the barrel is a pita, and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. To remove/reinstall the gas block you will need a hydraulic press with a bunch of custom adapters. Its a tight press fit..
Stock adapter will need to be machined, preferably from 4140 steel (close match the receiver). Then you can parkerize everything (including the barrel) to match the original galil finish.
I have all the tools and experience to do this, but im super busy now and wouldn't be able to get to it until after the holidays. Its A LOT of work, unless you wanna half-ass it.
By having the receiver "almost finished", you mean you have the top cover and pistol grip mounted? Congrats, you're about 3% done with your conversion.
(in terms of amount of work involved). Those other "only things you need help with" are the remaining 97%You don't need to remove the barrel to turn it down/cut/crown/thread it. Much easier to mount it in the spindle + steady rest with the receiver still attached to machine the handguard retainer portion, and then just put it through the spindle with the tip sticking out to cut/thread it. Removing/reinstalling the barrel is a pita, and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. To remove/reinstall the gas block you will need a hydraulic press with a bunch of custom adapters. Its a tight press fit..
Stock adapter will need to be machined, preferably from 4140 steel (close match the receiver). Then you can parkerize everything (including the barrel) to match the original galil finish.
I have all the tools and experience to do this, but im super busy now and wouldn't be able to get to it until after the holidays. Its A LOT of work, unless you wanna half-ass it.
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Your post is probably better suited for "gunsmithing" section...
By having the receiver "almost finished", you mean you have the top cover and pistol grip mounted? Congrats, you're about 3% done with your conversion.
Well when I meant almost finished I meant more then just the top cover and pistol grip being added. Thanks for the input though
. I just don`t have the tools necessary to preform the barrel work.
KotKotofeich
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
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Herron arms has quite a bit of experience with the Valmets - they are near Hamilton I believe. Unless you are looking for something more general.
Personally I would have a new barrel with the profile you want manufactured and installed. That way you are not ruining the original and can go back if you want.
Personally I would have a new barrel with the profile you want manufactured and installed. That way you are not ruining the original and can go back if you want.
This notion of not "ruining" the original parts so that one can "go back if they want" is utterly stupid in this particular case. When one goes that route, they usually end up with a half-ass "clone" of something that looks like a bastard child of a bunch of different rifles with a gender identity crisis. Certainly not a CLONE of anything, with ZERO collectable value...
I PROPERLY DONE, NR Galil clone will always be worth A LOT more in Canada, and be much more collectable than a basic Valmet Hunter. So why would anyone ever want to "go back"? Especially considering that going back would require a lot of gunsmithing work and is not something that an average Joe could do in his garage. Not to mention the fact original barrel will typically be of much higher quality than a new one machinned from a blank. So having a new barrel machinned and fitted (which would probably cost well over $1K) is a complete waste of money.
I love Valmets and i have a Hunter that is NIB, unfired that will never have any work done to it, as well as 3 more that are in various stages of "cloning". I've been in the Valmet cloning game for over 10 years, and i have NEVER seen anyone wanting to go back to original configuration. I sold a properly done Galil clone (with extensive receiver modifications) for $6500 on this forum a few years ago. It sold in a day. Will a mildly modifed .308 Hunter with a bunch of mismatched parts but a spare original barrel ever be worth that much? I dont think so.
^^Yep!^^
That being said, there may be differences in barrel profiles at the gas block between rifles. That could require machining or perhaps prevent the use of M88 barrel in conjuction with the Galil gas system. Also, once you get that M88 gas block off, measure the distance on the barrel from the receiver to the gas port to make sure it jives with the length of the gas system from your Galil parts.
That being said, there may be differences in barrel profiles at the gas block between rifles. That could require machining or perhaps prevent the use of M88 barrel in conjuction with the Galil gas system. Also, once you get that M88 gas block off, measure the distance on the barrel from the receiver to the gas port to make sure it jives with the length of the gas system from your Galil parts.
Try Dlask for a bolt on front hand guard retainer. They had one or two, in house made ones in their display cabinet at the front of the store. They were for Valmets but it might be worth a shot. Or you cold make something work by cutting a stock retainer horizontally through the middle of the barrel relief, and welding a split ring shaft collar ( https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=split+ring+shaft+collar&qpvt=split+ring+shaft+collar&FORM=IGRE ) half to each half of the retainer onto clamp the retainer the barrel.
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