AR Sponsor
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Stoner 66A carbine project update (was "Not quite an AR15, but.....") (Page 2 of 11)
My phone was not cooperating at all. I finally had to break down and load the app. I hate doing that because apps make it difficult to protect your precious bodily fluids. Anyway....progress on the spare barrels. ......
Hoping more stuff arrives at the shop today. |
The past few weeks have been pretty mundane. Waiting my turn for the CNC machines to turn some Commando and carbine barrels. Working on parts to make the gun semi auto. Prepping other parts to fit on the project. One of my project sponsors needed an AR carbine build for a customer, so I made a lightweight barrel out of a botched M4 profile ( the 203 cut was off by a few thousands) and parked it.....and drilled for and installed an FSB. And the best part was, while I was digging through my build parts to finish out the barrel, I found some long lost Colt factory 633 floor sweepings from the 1990's. Now I can build a 633 upper 
|
Cut the anchor rod down to 7" and glued the t-nuts and coupler in place. 
It will look better when it cures and I sand it. 
Plastic wrapped styrofoam plug came right out leaving a nice plug to keep the foam from oozing out of the front end. Fill it with the appropriate am out of expando foam, let it cure, then reinstall the butt plate. |
Finished up my fixed stock. Sanded and painted the part that goes under the metal stock attachment piece. Waiting on barrels, fixtures, and for me to make a couple small, critical parts and we'll get her welded together and test fired. Then I'll phosphate all the parts that need it.
|
|
That's hot. Do you happen to know what the twist is on your barrel? Is that the original barrel or did you make one? About a decade ago I was hanging out in a Library with the wife and kids and came across this book called "The Teams" and it was about SEALS, I think mostly in Vietnam. And I just about jumped out of my chair when I read that they fed the stoner Light rifle (I think the 63a) with 68 and 77 grain FMJ ammo. I think those were the right weights. Or 69 and 75. It seemed opposite of what the Hornady / Sierra match ammo was. (Sierra has 69/77 and hornady has 68/75). Anyways... it was heavier than M193. FMJ. I was like waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?. And then I posted it on here and took some crap for it but somebody in the know confirmed it. Anyways... point being, I was curious if it had a faster twist than 1/12 if they inteded to shoot some of the same ammo that the Stoner Light Rifle was using. |
|
Nice work! I trust you are planning to run this by technical branch for a OK? If not you may have a substantial surprise in store. On your barrel reproduction effort. Take the time to Mag Partical Test all the barrel extentions you plan to reuse in your project. You will find many do not pass for this reason alone, plus many others. BTW some reproductions were built in Ohio that are way out off spec so be carefull what you are working with. |
|
Thanks for the advice. The barrel company is doing NDT of the extensions as part of the contract (either MPT or x-ray). Only using USGI extensions. I have an aftermarket one and it stands out like a sore thumb. As far as FTB, I appreciate the concern. It's not being made for resale or volume production (just one for me). It has more than enough blocks and modifications to prevent full auto parts addition which I've detailed here already. I'll post photos as the build continues. Thanks again!
|
Made a fixture to hold the gas tube in place for welding. Consists of a 1/2"x16" piece of round aluminum rod, three 1/2" hose clamps, and two approx 5/8"long sections of salvaged 63A gas tube section. Had to polish the aluminum rod down a hair so that the gas tube friction fits. Small C clamps will hold it in place if needed. The hose clamp tabs rest snugly against the tube /op rod channel in the front of the receiver to help keep the gas tube holes lined up. Next I get to make one to hold the trunion in place for welding.
|
|
This thread fills me with mixed emotions. I love that you’re doing this and have the skills and resources to make it happen I’m sad that I will never have one I’m angry at Robinson for only going half way with the M96 and then abandoning owners And then I’m sad for me and others again that we will never have the chance to experience such a cool rifle 
|
| A group of guys are working on 63 receivers, barrels, flash suppressors, furniture etc. A couple gents have purchased large quantities of chopped up Stoners and are harvesting parts. Maybe, just maybe enough parts will be available for people to build their own. Maybe a couple of larger manufacturers will get involved. We are prodding them. Then again, maybe MKE will make them. They have a rifle they can reverse engineer and are more than capable of doing it. Know what you mean about Robarms. Bought an M96 in 1999 and sold it in 2013. A real Stoner has always eluded me. When available, didn't have the money. When I had the money, no Stoners around. Now I'm just too old to have than much tied up in a gun. The semi will suit me fine. |
Trunnion alignment welding fixture finished. The long, pointy end goes into the barrel's chamber/bore (hence the brass) and holds everything in line during the initial tack welds of the trunnion to the receiver. Barrel and carrer group then come out and trigger housing and mag well are remved. A copper plug goes in the trunnion bore, then the trunnion pins are inserted and welded in place. I'll post photos of that process when we get to it.
|
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Stoner 66A carbine project update (was "Not quite an AR15, but.....") (Page 2 of 11)
AR Sponsor