This is going to be a long thread - bitza build - can you guess what it is yet ?

[Shed tuner]

It's so close, I can taste it....




As is often the way with things, a lot of the remaining small jobs are going to take some time, including making a trigger guard, rear barrel support, and finishing the stock. But at least I can take it to the range now !

[TonyL]

Fantastic work, Jon. You should be very happy and proud with this achievement.

[MartynB]

What are you going to do about the turned down bit of the barrel that goes into the breach block ?

[Shed tuner]

What are you going to do about the turned down bit of the barrel that goes into the breach block ?

a tappered collar (that's the rear barrel support I mention), a bit like a pro target:

[kevG]

very nice,you have made a silk purse out of a sow,s ear.
kevG

[Shed tuner]

very nice,you have made a silk purse out of a sow,s ear.
kevG

cheers Kev, your advice on that other thread helped... small port defo needed...

[NickG]

Very nice Jon , how about a reflex shroud, tidy it up and quieten it down at the same time.

[Shed tuner]

Very nice Jon , how about a reflex shroud, tidy it up and quieten it down at the same time.

I did think about that, as they did do a shrouded version, and there's a decent gap between the barrel and the cylinder... but I'll start with the KISS option

[Shed tuner]

took it to the range today...

Tried JSB 8.44 and JSB heavies.. man it was like a shotgun, 4" groups at 30 yards, which worried me a bit...

then tried QYS... 1/2" groups. OK, this is promising... Baraccuda 8s, also 1/2" groups. Bearing in mind the constant pellet switching, the barrel with a load of crap probably still in it, along with a very vague "break" point on the trigger, I'm fine with that. Got to sort that trigger with a WW or CDT blade, now I know the accuracy is "worth it " !

Ergomics of the stock and the balance are all good too, so things are looking really promising... just got to finish off all the little jobs now...

[TonyL]

Very promising indeed, Jon. And project gone from an idea to very nearly fully completed in super-quick time. Nice one.

[MartynB]

but I'll start with the KISS option

[Shed tuner]

Another couple of jobs done.. the reg / adapter cover reinstalled after a little machining, and a donor trigger guard pressed (well bent) into service. Still trying to decide on that, but it'll do for the moment !

Importantly, as the inletting around these last parts is now completed, it means I can now get into finishing the stock... wish me luck !

[copperjacket]

That really is rather epic!

[gsxrman]

Love it.
At times I cant believe the knowledge, ingenuity and engineering ability of members on here.
Fantastic.

[Shed tuner]

Thanks, but trust me, there's far less ability than just blind hope and "let's give it a go" attitude at play here...

Made some good progress today.. the CDT trigger blade arrived from Dr Bob, so I now have a two stage trigger with a predicatable let off. Kinda felt like cheating when I'd made everything else myself, but it works very well.
I also made up the rear conical support for the barrel (and gave it a quick blast of matt black spray paint), and whilst it was out, I reamed the throat a bit deeper, to get rid of some notchiness loading some larger / harder pellet types.. it certainly seems to have helped.