Stoner 66A carbine project update (was "Not quite an AR15, but.....")

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Stoner 66A carbine project update (was "Not quite an AR15, but.....") (Page 1 of 11)

Posted: 9/27/2017 11:37:58 AM EDT

Parts gathered, need to prep about 20 parts and we can start welding.

https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/Not-quite-an-AR15-but-it-is-retro-and--/123-712571/

Posted: 9/27/2017 11:47:25 AM EDT

[#1]

Posted: 9/27/2017 1:50:44 PM EDT

[#2]

Love it! In for pictures as you go...

Posted: 9/27/2017 3:38:26 PM EDT

[#3]

This is an awesome project!

Can't wait to follow along and see results.

Posted: 9/27/2017 3:53:28 PM EDT

[#4]

My inner SEAL is crying out in lust!

18Z50...Back there I could fly a gunship, I could drive a tank, I was in charge of million dollar equipment, ...then I was promoted to E-8!

Posted: 9/27/2017 4:04:47 PM EDT

[#5]

Tag!

Posted: 9/27/2017 7:30:12 PM EDT

[#6]

Oh my god, I know there is no way i can be as excited as you are about finishing that thing up OP but damn i'm excited!

Posted: 9/27/2017 7:38:06 PM EDT

[#7]

Wow.

Posted: 9/27/2017 8:50:20 PM EDT

[#8]

Wheres the "Like" button??? To many wow's to post! Can't wait to see this stick finished!

Posted: 9/27/2017 8:57:20 PM EDT

[#9]

So awesome. Where did you get the receiver or did you bend it yourself?

Posted: 9/27/2017 9:11:59 PM EDT

[#10]

Tag

Posted: 9/27/2017 11:17:33 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
My inner SEAL is crying out in lust!

18Z50...Back there I could fly a gunship, I could drive a tank, I was in charge of million dollar equipment, ...then I was promoted to E-8!

View Quote

RAMBO
That was actually a really good movie, except for the ending where he shoots up the whole downtown.
The sequels were pathetic.

Posted: 9/27/2017 11:54:22 PM EDT

[#12]

Looks like you need to find a 63A magwell.

Posted: 9/28/2017 8:21:19 AM EDT

[#13]

SA_R4, the 80% receiver was purchased as is. Militaria show find.

Sarge, the mag well was the first part I acquired after getting the receiver and I did not yet have a direction to go in the way of build. Now that I am focused on the 63A copyish, I suppose I could fabricate two metal pieces and weld them on. I only have $25 in this one, so I'm loathe to spend much more on the proper one ;)

Posted: 9/28/2017 5:13:37 PM EDT

[#14]

Damn cool

Posted: 9/28/2017 6:31:09 PM EDT

[#15]

Sweet!!!!!

Posted: 9/28/2017 6:48:14 PM EDT

[#16]

Hurry!

Posted: 9/28/2017 9:02:34 PM EDT

[#17]

Now build one of these for a match made in Vietnam.

Posted: 9/28/2017 9:47:04 PM EDT

[#18]

Nice piece, Retroguy. have a spare slide and barrel for my 1966 S&W M39 for just that purpose

. Sadly, my 39 is alloy frame. Just waiting for HPA to pass and I'll make a Hushpuppy.

Posted: 9/28/2017 10:41:51 PM EDT

[#19]

Very cool

OST

Posted: 9/29/2017 4:09:10 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Tag

View Quote

Posted: 9/29/2017 7:09:04 PM EDT

[#21]

I want......

Posted: 9/29/2017 7:30:03 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
SA_R4, the 80% receiver was purchased as is. Militaria show find.

View Quote

Interesting. I wonder if someone made a bunch of these or if it's a one off.

Posted: 9/29/2017 11:26:56 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:

Interesting. I wonder if someone made a bunch of these or if it's a one off.

View Quote

Cadillac Gage made a bunch of them. They turn up every so often (or so some people have mentioned). Supposed to be some in Europe.

Posted: 9/30/2017 1:50:43 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

Cadillac Gage made a bunch of them. They turn up every so often (or so some people have mentioned). Supposed to be some in Europe.

View Quote

Oh, so it is an original unfinished receiver. Very nice

Posted: 9/30/2017 11:13:25 PM EDT

[#25]

I'm enjoying following your progress.

Posted: 10/4/2017 11:11:49 AM EDT

[#26]

99.9% of serious gun owners have never even HEARD of a Stoner 66. I've been looking for one since 1982. I don't think any were actually made. Good for you for hunting up and building one of your own.

ka

Posted: 10/4/2017 7:41:29 PM EDT

[#27]

Someone once posted an ad for the Model 66 here I believe. I don't recall seeing one in Knight's collection. From what I have been told by someone who worked with Mr. Stoner, the few semi autos given to Cadillac Gage execs were considered machine guns by ATF (so most likely none were marketed). And thank you for your compliment. Worked on it a little at the shop this past week. Prep only needed on 17 more parts now.

Posted: 10/4/2017 8:22:09 PM EDT

[#28]

That's so awesome.
Could someone tell me the difference between the 63 and 66?

Posted: 10/4/2017 8:37:54 PM EDT

[#29]

This is awesome.

Posted: 10/4/2017 8:54:09 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
That's so awesome.
Could someone tell me the difference between the 63 and 66?

View Quote

The Stoner 66 was supposed to be the semi-auto only version of the Stoner 63. Unfortunately, given the modularity of the Stoner platform, it is my understanding that the Treasury boys considered it too easy to convert.

I wish to God that someone would reproduce these commercially. Robinson was close but missed the mark in so many ways.

THIS build looks freaking awesome.

ka

Posted: 10/4/2017 8:57:18 PM EDT

[#31]

https://www.smallarmsoftheworld.com/archive/detail.arc.entry.cfm?arcid=2372

Posted: 10/4/2017 9:03:48 PM EDT

[#32]

63 was the select fire version aimed at military and police market. The 66 was a semi auto only* variant aimed the civilian market to compete with the Colt semi auto AR15. (*allegedly the receiver didn't meet ATF standards for semi autoedeness...for all we know it could have had the same receiver as the 63 allowing select fire parts to be installed). Mine will not fall into that category as it will have enough features to preclude the installation of select fire parts. In the time it took me to type this post, a couple others beat me to it. Sorry for any redundancy.

Posted: 10/5/2017 3:09:48 AM EDT

[#33]

The 66 was also made out of aluminum instead of steel for the stamped receiver section.

Posted: 10/7/2017 6:42:57 AM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
The 66 was also made out of aluminum instead of steel for the stamped receiver section.

View Quote

If thats true the barrel trunion would have to be aluminum too because its welded in.

Posted: 10/7/2017 1:07:23 PM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:

If thats true the barrel trunion would have to be aluminum too because its welded in.

View Quote

Might have been, just going off what has been told to me and the advertisements of the time.

Posted: 10/12/2017 10:51:10 AM EDT

[#36]

It's been 5 days...any updates? I really can't wait to see this done.

Posted: 10/17/2017 1:41:02 PM EDT

[#37]

Been keeping busy aquiring more parts, cleaning stuff up, working, etc. Next couple weeks I should have some progress photos. Thanks!

Posted: 10/17/2017 2:12:50 PM EDT

[#38]

Posted: 10/28/2017 7:07:17 PM EDT

[#39]

Cleaned off the welds and demil damage from the trunnion, the mounting point/ejector housing/bolt hold open, and the cocking handle catch/hand guard mount thingy.

I milled the rivets off of the airsoft handguard and removed the hardware. Modified the front bracket to fit the real 63 receiver. Attached the front bracket and the rifle magazine well to the handguard using button head machine screws and kep nuts obtained form Ace Hardware. Didn't re-rivet them as I will have to use the handguard for other variants.

15 or so more things and we can start welding. Trying to post photos.

http://i.imgur.com/a/c2xEn

"This will not be over quickly and you will not enjoy it.

Posted: 11/1/2017 9:51:22 PM EDT

[#40]

Managed to post update photos. Link is in the previous post.

Posted: 11/2/2017 8:16:27 AM EDT

[#41]

Looking better each time, thanks for the update.

Posted: 11/2/2017 1:24:03 PM EDT

[#42]

Looking Great.

I M N V S

Posted: 11/27/2017 5:11:51 PM EDT

[#43]

Modified an airsoft grip to fit an original trigger housing. in addition to fitting my hand better, because the grip is wider at the top, it prevents the selector from going around to Full Auto. Pics to follow.

Posted: 11/27/2017 9:22:35 PM EDT

[#44]

Posted: 11/28/2017 10:23:00 AM EDT

[#45]

Posted: 11/28/2017 12:47:06 PM EDT

[#46]

Talent/skill envy... thanks for sharing.

Posted: 11/28/2017 11:54:56 PM EDT

[#47]

Wow...

Posted: 12/5/2017 5:23:48 PM EDT

[#48]

Man this is too cool. Wish there were a faithful 63A repro out there.

Can't wait to see it finished.

Posted: 12/5/2017 6:18:47 PM EDT

[#49]

Thanks. Me as well. Been working on getting some spare barrels made and making salvageable parts for my build from demil parts (the open bolt configuration sear slot in the receiver needs to have a small plate welded in to prevent interaction between the sear and the op rod, so I'm cutting a small plate out of a demil receiver piece and there needs to be a block welded into the receiver to prevent the rifle/carbine auto sear from engaging the bolt carrier, so again cutting a piece from a demil receiver to weld in place, turning down a firing pin so that it doesn't lock in the open bolt position, make a piece to keep the selector from rotating to "AUTO", and finally a block to be welded in the trigger housing to preclude the installation of a rifle/carbine auto sear for which I'll probably use a piece of demilled trigger) and gathering materials to make a couple jigs to hold the gas tube and trunnion in place for welding. Also sorting through about 15-20 AR15/M16 build kits to see what I have to build for my sons, nephews, and friends. And the holidays......and life in general. No new photos to post. Maybe next week if the barrels get chambered and all my little parts done.

Posted: 12/6/2017 8:24:27 PM EDT

[#50]

Well, I did some stuff today, but Imgur is having issues, so can't post pics right now. If I had pics, these would be the description....

Pic #1 Had a few spare minutes today. Made a plate that will be welded into the receiver's open bolt auto sear slot to prevent the sear from engaging the sear notch in the op rod. I made it from a small piece of demil receiver section that was under the rear sight to begin with. Has a little "S" stamped into it. I'll clean it up Friday, time permitting.

Pic#2 MG handguard mounting/cocking handle latch plate thingy ready to be welded into place (again, salvaged from a demil 63A receiver). It makes me sick to see all those guns cut up and it's just one more thing to despise about our gubmint. The only silver lining is some of these parts will help another gun live again.

Pic #3 So I didn't have to ruin a perfectly good bolt tail/roller/select fire auto sear trip engagement piece, I took a slightly demil damaged one and removed the select fire auto sear trip engagement portion. I removed the select fire auto sear from the trigger housing and am making a block to be welded in its place (to preclude the installation an auto sear in my trigger housing). That's what the remainder of the demil damaged trigger to the left is for. Next I'll fashion a small rail/block from a demil receiver piece to be welded into the receiver to prevent the installation of a trigger housing that stlll has a select fire auto sear.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Stoner 66A carbine project update (was "Not quite an AR15, but.....") (Page 1 of 11)

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