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Post by charles on Apr 20, 2015 19:39:00 GMT -5
Sharp looking rig !
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 19:48:37 GMT -5
I think it will do better, I discovered last night the scope had slid back some during the firing process? I cleaned the scope and rings, added a little bakers rosin to the ring halves and remounted it. actually Im really excited to see what it will do now.
its still a work in progress, Im waiting on black Ice to finish up the aluminum parts. it will get a front rail for an Atlas bipod and the swivel studs will be removed. QD inserts will be installed in the stock along with aluminum pillars for the adjustable kydex cheek piece.
hopefully it will all turn out well, fingers are crossed....
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 20:35:13 GMT -5
Good look'n metal!! I'm seriously considering laying the money down for Melaniite on my next build. Did Hankins do the metal work? Kyle
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 20:40:33 GMT -5
he barreled the gun, I took care of everything else, this thing has plenty of road miles already. UPS made plenty of money off this ..
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 20:44:54 GMT -5
Looking at the group, I'd say you did good!!!! How heavy is the trigger? Kyle
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Post by Mid_Tn_Plowboy on Apr 20, 2015 20:57:04 GMT -5
That's a sweet rig Bill!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 21:12:11 GMT -5
24 oz right now, subject to change with the wind...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 21:44:06 GMT -5
A little of the thinking going into this rig;
I wanted a gun that looked good, shot good, not too heavy, not so light I couldn't stand to shoot it with full power loads without a brake. target weight was 9 lbs with base from the start, It came in under that... having been around these things for a while now I knew that I wanted a cut rifled barrel and so far every Brux I have put together has been excellent. 25" has worked very well for me in the past and since its a CF with Jeffs plug it has close to an extra inch of usable barrel compared to a ML action/savage length plug. considering the target weight and length I wanted to work with 25" it is. the brake is an after thought, I figured why not? I can always take it off and it sure is nice with those T-Rex loads..
Jeffs system works very well so that was a no brainer. the fluting is mainly for looks but also drops about 6-8 oz from the #6 barrel. honestly I consider the #6 contour about perfect for the hotter SMLs, plenty beefy but not super heavy.
the PT&G one piece bolt is rather pricey BUT when you figure in fluting/extractor cut/extractor/threaded handle etc its actually about the same money as having the work done on a factory bolt. one can sell a new ss bolt for pretty good money and buy a custom for about the same coins when you figure the money to upgrade the factory bolt
the stock is probably my favorite hunting stock for a robust barreled gun, typical Mcky quality and they just fit me well.
the Jewell trigger pretty much speaks for itself, very adjustable, lightweight for bench work and can be stiffened up easily for Mr deer.
is this the ultimate SML hunting rig? for me, Yes. for others? of course not. each to his own liking around here, it takes all kinds with many differing tastes..
the Melonite? I have 3 AR barrels that are melonite treated and have been impressed with them so I decided to try it on this rig, so far so good..
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Post by longrange on Apr 21, 2015 8:55:16 GMT -5
What are the differences, contour and barrel thickness wise, between your barrel and a modified sender pac-nor?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 9:20:35 GMT -5
The # 6 is larger at the shank, tapers slower to a larger dia and slightly larger at the muzzle
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Post by Richard on Apr 21, 2015 19:14:59 GMT -5
Bill.................Nice rig! I have a friend who I used to shoot bench rest with and he was a company rep. for an outfit that did that treatment........its amazing. He had a barrel so treated on his bench gun. To prove how durable it was, he gave me and old crusty bastard file and said: "go ahead and see if you can scratch it?" I mean, this barrel had a beautiful black/blue finish! So I gave it a whirl..............Nada, zilch Could not put scratch in the finish. That was about the time I was getting my first .45 PN/Savage barrel. At the time he quoted me $85.00 but, as you indicated, once it is done, there is NO machine work that can be done to it. Feeling that one could probably almost never wear out a ML barrel, I did not get it done. But it was impressive. That group "ain't too shabby either!" Richard
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 21:01:43 GMT -5
thanks for all the comments guys
my hopes are that this treatment will be a new avenue for guys wanting a tough finish that will look good for a long time to come. I do know that frog lube products will discolor melonite for whatever reason.
it is suppose to make steel stiffer,slicker,very hard? don't know that it will be of any advantage but if it shoots really well I will be sold on it for now, the jury is still out and will be for a good while so time will tell.
the AR barrels I have that are Melonite treated shoot very well?
I will take it back out this weekend and see if things improve, I will size a batch of bullets up at the same size and then some a little larger for more seating pressure and will check speeds and accuracy with both to see which does better. lots of testing to do with this rig....
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 21:12:18 GMT -5
Talking to Dave W tonight and we are thinking that this will be great for the high volume guys that have thousands of ramrod strokes on their barrels. Should offer extra protection!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 21:17:50 GMT -5
I was thinking the same thing, as Rich said, I tried a file on one of my AR barrels and it didn't scratch it at all. its as hard inside as out so I think it will do well?
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Post by rambler on Apr 21, 2015 21:28:41 GMT -5
I was thinking the same thing, as Rich said, I tried a file on one of my AR barrels and it didn't scratch it at all. its as hard inside as out so I think it will do well? That melonite is sounding very intriguing:
www.burlingtoneng.com/melonite.html
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 21:57:20 GMT -5
It'll definitely be interesting to see how it holds up and wears or don't wear. Watching for reports/results with interest. Definite eye candy you got there Bill.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 22:04:01 GMT -5
Bill , what thickness is the coating .001" or so...? Just wondering if its thick enough to tighten up a "loose" barrel....
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Post by 7mmfreak on Apr 22, 2015 2:49:10 GMT -5
It's a case hardening or sorts that is .008-.016" deep
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 4:44:42 GMT -5
it does not dimensionally change the steel, its not a coating only a heat treat process. I had QPQ done to this gun and that's what most people have done to steel parts, it makes a nice smooth non reflective finish, it does not shine..
this is very similar to the process done on Glock slides and some other parts on factory pistols..
Jeff just did a .45 barrel for my XR and Im sending it off today to be treated...
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Post by al53 on Apr 22, 2015 6:39:19 GMT -5
Now is the Melonite the same as what some gun companies are calling black Nitride on thier products...I have a CVA Accura with the Black Nitride finish and its real durable...and with it being inside the barrel also ..it does clean up nicely..
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 8:04:14 GMT -5
I just installed a brake on a cva with that coating and it was hard stuff!! Carbide cutter, 70rpm and the slowest feed was the only way it wouldn't vibrate like crazy. Not good when the customer is standing there watching and surely getting worried. I don't know if melonite can be machined with carbide but the cva coating barely could with my equipment.
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Post by superkirby on Apr 22, 2015 9:35:16 GMT -5
The Armornite coating on the LHR's is also a melanite. Very durable.
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Post by 7mmfreak on Apr 22, 2015 9:59:10 GMT -5
Melonite can be machined with carbide. I know a couple of guys that won't do it because it is hard on tooling and a pain to work with but if you completely undercut it you can rechamber a melonite barrel.
For an SML it is probably a sound investment, not so much in a high intensity CF gun. I've used it on pistols and .223 rifles but don't on guns that eat barrels and need rechambered quickly. A good friend, and one of the best prone shooters in the country, used it on 6.5-284 and .284 Shehane barrels . It slowed erosion some but still required a rechamber, just added about 500 rounds to allowable growth. He gave up on it and moved to Proof Research barrels.
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Post by rambler on Apr 22, 2015 10:53:40 GMT -5
Melonite can be machined with carbide. I know a couple of guys that won't do it because it is hard on tooling and a pain to work with but if you completely undercut it you can rechamber a melonite barrel. For an SML it is probably a sound investment, not so much in a high intensity CF gun. I've used it on pistols and .223 rifles but don't on guns that eat barrels and need rechambered quickly. A good friend, and one of the best prone shooters in the country, used it on 6.5-284 and .284 Shehane barrels . It slowed erosion some but still required a rechamber, just added about 500 rounds to allowable growth. He gave up on it and moved to Proof Research barrels. At the price they ask they better be very good
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Post by cowhunter on Apr 22, 2015 11:46:13 GMT -5
Very cool. I bet it will get more accurate over time. It is so light--what did you use for a scope mount?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 12:56:33 GMT -5
Phil Its not really that light, I would call it a middle weight. The base is a Talley aluminum
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Post by rob67 on Apr 22, 2015 18:13:26 GMT -5
Another great looking build! The melonite may be the way to go with these mls.
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Post by Richard on Apr 23, 2015 9:27:20 GMT -5
I know first hand how good this process is and some of its advantages...........On that note, let me just offer my $0.02! Most..............I mean MOST shooter/hunters will not get any advantage after spending $200.00 + for the process over the "standard" stainless steel barrel. Yes, Bill did shoot a great group with HIS gun. But then look at the videos and groups Hank has shot with the "plain ole' SS Brux" barrels?............and Yes, I even shoot a few good ones with worn out SS barrels . Your stainless barrel virtually uneffected by weather (yes, with a little care). Most hunter/shooters will not fire over maybe.........200 or less shots per year and I suspect that number is probably more under 100. But if you want a "WOW" factor, go for it!............I tend to look at the PRACTICAL side. Where the process really impressed me was with the bolt on my Stiller "viper" action. This custom action has a similar process done to the bolt. I have over 3,000 shots on that action and the engagement surface of the locking lugs (his treatment is gold in color) are still gold............showing no signs of wear. Richard
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Post by al53 on Apr 23, 2015 9:37:15 GMT -5
I have seen the gold finish on some 1911's and that's is a titanium oxide finsh...real durable...and not cheap... Richard does your finish look like this titaniumgun.com/coating-services/
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2015 21:18:02 GMT -5
I shot the Predator again today (15 shots), all 300 BE with 74 grns H-4198 and veggie wad
I started with the bullets very loose sized as they were last weekend and my scope is still slipping in the rings (slightly) but it still wants to shoot in the same hole, it just shifts slightly with the scope movement. That's the first leupold QRW rings I have ever had to slip and I have used probably 50 sets. anyway I tested speeds with said combo and they averaged 2834, slower than I thought but still no slouch. I fired 7 shots and then switched to a batch that were sized 1/2 mark larger on the Swinglock die, still not tight but a palm push down instead of two fingers. I ran the Magnetospeed the whole time and the speeds were identical as the first batch. I was not surprised as the BEs are fairly easy to fatten up.
Im out of 300 BEs so next time out I will shoot some 300 MH and 275 Mhs sized a little larger still and see what kind of accuracy and speed Im getting from them
I put pencil marks fore and aft of the rings on the scope to check for slippage as I always do on a new build and sure enough it was moving slightly. worst group was right at an inch and most in the same bughole. this gun will be a shooter and its now wearing a 5x25 conquest HD in TPS rings. I will see If it will slip or If I can kill the scope with some rather stout loads.
I pulled the plug for bullet sizing and could see very little if any carbon on the plug threads. no leakage on Jeffs system and its working great. bullets are still sliding down the barrel very smoothly after 28 shots fired, I will clean the barrel some day if accuracy seems to fall off but not until.
hopefully tomorrow I will get to shoot more and will share the results..BILL
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