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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 17, 2013 20:47:23 GMT -5
First, I'd like to give thanks to 2nd Bat, Roma and everybody else who created an '03 and inspired me to take on this project. Some background: DO NOT DO WHAT I DID. I AM CHEAP AND INSANE. My first attempt was done in January, but I lacked any proper '03 parts, so I was kinda just screwing around. Nonetheless, she came out looking pretty good. Brown Betty was a spare hunk of pine I had sculpted to resemble a Springfield and dyed a walnut-ish color. Upon further inspection, she was deemed unusable. (Somewhat visible in picture) My second was an absolute disaster. I used poplar this time, deeming pine inadequate. The wood performed admirably, I did not. Nothing went right and I ended up with a mangled hunk of laminated poplar. This one I named Gimpy and promptly destroyed, channeling Pete Townshend as best I could. The third and final attempt I now present to you. Two one-inch wide planks of poplar laminated together, lovingly crafted into an M1903A3 Straight stock shape. Having the Springfield parts on hand really helps.  i.imgur.com/JY7rzM6.jpgI apologize for the awkward picture. What's left to do: Finish/fit handguard, fix some small things, fit JG BAR-10 trigger/receiver group, stain. Hope to be finished by Thursday. 2ndBat, any tips or suggestions? And can anybody tell me how to best carry these mags? They don't fit in the bandolier at all. |
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ScottCollins
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Post by ScottCollins on Jun 17, 2013 21:42:57 GMT -5
Well, from my experience with my 1903, I would suggest that if you decide to instead build an A1, cut the top half of the hop up area off. Also, leave the droopy metal piece out. That's just my experience because I was lazy and didn't feel like dremeling enough space for it. Turned out pretty well actually despite these strays from the norm: imgur.com/a/dlxlw#0EDIT: Also, make sure you make the area where the stock is de-elevated (where the upper band goes) or else it just looks silly |
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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 17, 2013 22:05:45 GMT -5
...leave the droopy metal piece out... ... EDIT: Also, make sure you make the area where the stock is de-elevated (where the upper band goes) or else it just looks silly What droopy metal piece is that? And the upper band doesn't fit very snugly to the tip of the stock, it's hard to keep it in it's proper place when the screw isn't put through it; that could explain part of it, but what exactly do you mean? |
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ScottCollins
Private 1st Class
A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.
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Post by ScottCollins on Jun 17, 2013 22:10:54 GMT -5
I really don't know what it's called but the piece that screws into the Hop up unit right after the mag well. For the stock I mean if you at any pictures of the 1903 there is a little vertically flat area where the upper band sits or is tightened on. It's just there to make sure the handguard and stock don't slip around
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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 17, 2013 22:19:35 GMT -5
Do you mean that gray-ish block shaped metal hunk that the mag sits against?
And I gotcha on the upper band now.
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ScottCollins
Private 1st Class
A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.
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Post by ScottCollins on Jun 18, 2013 8:18:57 GMT -5
Yeah that's exactly what I mean. Just cut the stock to fit the mag and it should do the job just fine
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Post by aj czarkowski on Jun 18, 2013 14:09:22 GMT -5
When I built mine I just cut part of the bottom of the metal block off so it fit better. Don't remove it though, I made that mistake the first time and the magazine won't stay aligned.
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ScottCollins
Private 1st Class
A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.
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Post by ScottCollins on Jun 18, 2013 14:41:19 GMT -5
Really? Mine stays aligned just fine. I'd say just make sure that you measure thrice cut once with the mag well. The absolute hardest part of the gun
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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 18, 2013 15:53:36 GMT -5
Calling it a day after... 7 or so hours.
I'm at the point where it's dremel, test fit, sand, test fit, dremel, test fit...
Oy. I need a shower and a nap.
I'm planning to stain it on Thursday (I need it finished for Friday), so tomorrow I need to kick myself into gear to finish the stock and get started on the handguard. If its not all finished tomorrow, finish it ASAFP on Thursday and stain it by the end of the day. Hopefully I can finish it tomorrow and use all day Thursday to stain.
I'll get pics up in a sec, cleaning up the garage.
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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 19, 2013 12:49:36 GMT -5
Started at like 8:45 this morning, taking a lunch break to finally get yesterday's pictures up. Overall (again, very sorry for awkward picture): i.imgur.com/z5M0WBQ.jpgStock Rout: i.imgur.com/8shKJDj.jpgMag fit (a bit snug): i.imgur.com/DLIauri.jpgYesterday's fit: i.imgur.com/Osyf2Co.jpgAs of right now, the trigger/receiver group is pretty well down there, but I think I made the trigger group area of the stock a little tall because only about half the trigger is exposed. :/ Still need to get the stock finished, still a bit puzzled as to where I'm having problems fitting it. Working on the handguard as soon as I finish lunch, should be ready to stain tomorrow. *crosses fingers* |
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Post by brownien on Jun 19, 2013 13:48:55 GMT -5
Looks like your best bet with the short trigger would be to lengthen it. You may want to try to add on to it like a puzzle piece, or remove it and have a macine shop make you a longer one
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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 19, 2013 19:26:23 GMT -5
I'm going to try to lengthen the trigger tomorrow. The handguard is nearly finished, should take an hour or so tomorrow to finish and fit it.
How should I go about lengthening the trigger? Bondo or something similar?
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Post by brownien on Jun 19, 2013 20:59:50 GMT -5
If you cut a notch in the current trigger, running down its center, and put corresponding peg on the trigger exstension, so they fit together; once glued together, they will add more surface area for the glue to adhere, and add lateral stability for when the trigger is pulled. Hope that is descriptive enough
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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 20, 2013 13:24:31 GMT -5
Man, JB Weld smells like lemonade from hell...
I've got JB Weld on the trigger (paper clip used as reinforcement) and the ball of the bolt handle to try to make it more ball shaped.
Stock is on its second coat of stain (Minwax Dark Walnut if anyone wants to know), currently drying it the merciless Texas sun.
Handguard is in its final stages, basically just sanding until it fits.
I feel I'm right on schedule for tomorrow.
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Post by brownien on Jun 20, 2013 22:08:49 GMT -5
If you don't mind me asking, what is tomorow?
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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 20, 2013 22:38:04 GMT -5
If you don't mind me asking, what is tomorow? I'm meeting with a photographer tomorrow. Yeah, I'm a terrible planner. Well, she's done. Sally Springfield is all done. I'll get you guys some pictures after the shoot tomorrow. Now it's time to catch up on all that sleep I lost. |
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ScottCollins
Private 1st Class
A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.
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Post by ScottCollins on Jun 22, 2013 12:04:49 GMT -5
Getting the pics up anytime soon? I'm just really curious on how it's going to turn out.
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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 22, 2013 17:25:05 GMT -5
Ah, crap' forgot to tell you guys. The shoot went well, but it'll take a few weeks for me to get the pictures, meantime, I'll get the rifle itself up. EDIT: Only picture I have right now, I'll work on getting some more. i.imgur.com/I636WXE.jpg |
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Post by aj czarkowski on Jun 22, 2013 17:38:28 GMT -5
Looks pretty good!
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant 
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jun 22, 2013 17:46:26 GMT -5
It looks darn good. Great job. The barrel appears to extend a little longer in front of the upper stock band and bayonet lug but that is just nitpicking. It also could just be the angle of the picture. Truly excellent effort. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Atomic Racoon on Jun 22, 2013 17:48:25 GMT -5
Thanks guys! Time and funds permitting, I'd like to replace the bolt and add the odds and ends I left off (safety, firing pin, cut-off) and add a bayonet and sling.
Before Sally was finished, I kept telling myself "never do this again, you cheap fool" and "you should have bought a stock". But now she's finished and she works, I'm just so proud of myself. She's clearly not perfect, but just being able to recognize it as an 03A3 and knowing that I put all that work into it... I dunno, man. It's weird.
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