[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Rhodesian inspired RPD build (Page 1 of 4)
Posted: 7/14/2017 5:56:45 PM EDT
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Welp. Ive talked about doing this long enough and its finally happening
This will end up being months long project as I'm going to put my own twist into it. The parts kit was ordered today. Down to business, Ive considered building one of these for a long while now. I built a 16" version earlier this year. 
I really enjoy the 16" but I want something a bit smaller and more handy. That's where this picture comes into play 
The above is reportedly a Rhodesian soldier with a modified RPD. Barrels been chopped back, how much is any ones guess. I'm guessing its around 11" which is the length I plan to build mine as. Handguard has been removed and a AK grip has been welded on. Probably the most interesting part of the Rhodesian RPD is the fact it lacks a stock. The recoil spring for a standard RPD is in the buttstock much like a fullsize FAL or a AR15. How exactly they reconfigured the spring is again anyones guess as I never could find any info. Theres also a weird C shaped front end to the receiver. Anyways from my research they used these modified RPDs to counter ambushes to their convoys by having overwhelming full auto fire. For my build I am going to get a 16" chrome lined barrel. I'm going to have to have it cut back to 11" and then also recontoured to move the barrel accessories back a few inches. The piston will have to then be chopped and welded back on to account for the shorter gas system. Of course to keep things legal it will also have to be modified from a open bolt full auto to a closed bolt semi auto. To keep it legal in regards to barrel length I am going to assemble this as a "firearm". Its similar to how a "pistol" is with short ARs that have braces and such. The difference being is a "firearm" has a OAL above 26" which allows for a vertical front grip to be used, where as a pistol cannot have a VFG. Neither can have a normal stock legally, so the running plan is to weld a buffer tube extension onto the rear of the gun to contain the recoil spring. After it is built and it functions correctly Ill submit the paperwork to turn it into a SBR so I can attach the real stock later on. Lastly I have sourced a spare top cover. So Ill use the spare top cover to weld a rail onto so I can install a red dot. I have found only 2 modern examples of a Rhodie inspired RPD. They were built by a smith down in LA and he made a SBR and also a post sample auto. I will be building mine very similarly to how he did those 2. I want to retain enough barrel at the muzzle end for a suppressor. I'm also looking into options such as fluting or dimpling on the barrel to reduce weight. Few more pics 
Anyways that's enough of my rambling on. I will update this as I move forward with this project. Hope you guys enjoy |
. Maybe semi belt feds, but belt feds none the less
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Quoted:
LOL really its doesn't look that bad/hard of a build.. The only difference between this one and the first build is going to be some really important measuring and welding of components |
laters..
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That smith in LA might be a member here. I remember him posting about some shorty RPDs he built. For some reason that first pic looks familiar.
https://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_2/469104_.html&page=1 |
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That smith in LA might be a member here. I remember him posting about some shorty RPDs he built. For some reason that first pic looks familiar. |
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There's a thread in the rpd section. Not sure if be was the smith or someone that knew the smith. I messages that member hoping for more info on barrel accessory spacing but didn't get a reply. I found out who the smith is and i emailed his company looking for info but again I never got a reply. Quoted:
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That smith in LA might be a member here. I remember him posting about some shorty RPDs he built. For some reason that first pic looks familiar. |
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Yeah I think it's Flem or something like that and he used to be on that Sons of Guns show. |
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OST.
That is/was flem's (sons of guns) handle here. Not sure if he's still around or not. I tried messaging him a year ago about doing a project and never heard back. You may want to reach out to Vince from the show, he does stuff like this too and may be able to link you up with flem. Good luck! |
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OST. That is/was flem's (sons of guns) handle here. Not sure if he's still around or not. I tried messaging him a year ago about doing a project and never heard back. You may want to reach out to Vince from the show, he does stuff like this too and may be able to link you up with flem. Good luck! I was always curious for a pic of the piston. Honestly the barrel accessory spacing I can prob figure out pretty easily once I get a barrel and all the accessories in hand to start measuring stuff |
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Is Vince a member here? I was always curious for a pic of the piston. Honestly the barrel accessory spacing I can prob figure out pretty easily once I get a barrel and all the accessories in hand to start measuring stuff Vince |
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Very, very nice, OP. At least DSA is still making the host guns.
I, on the other hand, wanted something like this ever since I used a PKM in A-stan: 
VLTOR and MarColMar were making semi-auto PKMs for a while. I've been out of the loop too long to know if anyone else still is. Doubt they'd be allowed to be imported into the Philippines, anyway, but I can wish. There wouldn't be any more paperwork than a Ruger 10/22, there. 
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Quoted:
Welp. Ive talked about doing this long enough and its finally happening This will end up being months long project as I'm going to put my own twist into it. The parts kit was ordered today. Down to business, Ive considered building one of these for a long while now. I built a 16" version earlier this year. http://i.imgur.com/6eGZtiam.jpg I really enjoy the 16" but I want something a bit smaller and more handy. That's where this picture comes into play http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Rhodesia_RPD.jpg The above is reportedly a Rhodesian soldier with a modified RPD. Barrels been chopped back, how much is any ones guess. I'm guessing its around 11" which is the length I plan to build mine as. Handguard has been removed and a AK grip has been welded on. Probably the most interesting part of the Rhodesian RPD is the fact it lacks a stock. The recoil spring for a standard RPD is in the buttstock much like a fullsize FAL or a AR15. How exactly they reconfigured the spring is again anyones guess as I never could find any info. Theres also a weird C shaped front end to the receiver. Anyways from my research they used these modified RPDs to counter ambushes to their convoys by having overwhelming full auto fire. For my build I am going to get a 16" chrome lined barrel. I'm going to have to have it cut back to 11" and then also recontoured to move the barrel accessories back a few inches. The piston will have to then be chopped and welded back on to account for the shorter gas system. Of course to keep things legal it will also have to be modified from a open bolt full auto to a closed bolt semi auto. To keep it legal in regards to barrel length I am going to assemble this as a "firearm". Its similar to how a "pistol" is with short ARs that have braces and such. The difference being is a "firearm" has a OAL above 26" which allows for a vertical front grip to be used, where as a pistol cannot have a VFG. Neither can have a normal stock legally, so the running plan is to weld a buffer tube extension onto the rear of the gun to contain the recoil spring. After it is built and it functions correctly Ill submit the paperwork to turn it into a SBR so I can attach the real stock later on. Lastly I have sourced a spare top cover. So Ill use the spare top cover to weld a rail onto so I can install a red dot. I have found only 2 modern examples of a Rhodie inspired RPD. They were built by a smith down in LA and he made a SBR and also a post sample auto. I will be building mine very similarly to how he did those 2. I want to retain enough barrel at the muzzle end for a suppressor. I'm also looking into options such as fluting or dimpling on the barrel to reduce weight. Few more pics http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/14463280_1359938504031377_7212720454062058062_n.jpg http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC03301.jpg Anyways that's enough of my rambling on. I will update this as I move forward with this project. Hope you guys enjoy Might be a bit of machine work, but use the UZI-style recoil spring/rod/bolt design as a jumping-off point. |
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Very, very nice, OP. At least DSA is still making the host guns. I, on the other hand, wanted something like this ever since I used a PKM in A-stan: http://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/1232/88675.JPG VLTOR and MarColMar were making semi-auto PKMs for a while. I've been out of the loop too long to know if anyone else still is. Doubt they'd be allowed to be imported into the Philippines, anyway, but I can wish. There wouldn't be any more paperwork than a Ruger 10/22, there. 
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Oh my! 
It's modular and is backpack fed. I have MANY more photos of that but will need someone to post/host them. As for the short barreled RPD: Couple of issues you need to understand is when you chop the barrel in front of the gas regulator you change the "gas pulse width" or the time that gas is applied to the piston. The shorter the distance between the muzzle and the regulator the shorter the width or time that gas is applied to the gas piston. You can overcome to some degree by oversizing the ports on the regulator housing and regulator. The action return spring is in the butt stock. On a full auto it can be moved forward (10 pounds of crap in 5 pound sack situation). On a semi it really must stay aft where it is... |
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Very, very nice, OP. At least DSA is still making the host guns. I, on the other hand, wanted something like this ever since I used a PKM in A-stan: http://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/1232/88675.JPG VLTOR and MarColMar were making semi-auto PKMs for a while. I've been out of the loop too long to know if anyone else still is. Doubt they'd be allowed to be imported into the Philippines, anyway, but I can wish. There wouldn't be any more paperwork than a Ruger 10/22, there. |
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That was made in my shop!
It's modular and is backpack fed. I have MANY more photos of that but will need someone to post/host them. As for the short barreled RPD: Couple of issues you need to understand is when you chop the barrel in front of the gas regulator you change the "gas pulse width" or the time that gas is applied to the piston. The shorter the distance between the muzzle and the regulator the shorter the width or time that gas is applied to the gas piston. You can overcome to some degree by oversizing the ports on the regulator housing and regulator. The action return spring is in the butt stock. On a full auto it can be moved forward (10 pounds of crap in 5 pound sack situation). On a semi it really must stay aft where it is...
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The action return spring is in the butt stock. On a full auto it can be moved forward (10 pounds of crap in 5 pound sack situation). On a semi it really must stay aft where it is... Circled in red I believe is a guide rod, with a spring, and that a protrusion was attached to the gas piston that captures this guide rod, effectively moving the entire recoil spring assembly outside and in front of the receiver. Attached File Circled in blue I still have no idea WTF this is. Attached File |
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Unless you move it outside the gun, like I believe is what was done on the RPD in the OP's picture. I've studied that picture quite a bit, considering a similar build over the years, that photo is the only information I can find on the subject anywhere on the internet. Circled in red I believe is a guide rod, with a spring, and that a protrusion was attached to the gas piston that captures this guide rod, effectively moving the entire recoil spring assembly outside and in front of the receiver. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/125898/Capture-254407.JPG Circled in blue I still have no idea WTF this is. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/125898/Capture1-254409.JPG Eta: For what it's worth there are still a ton of former Rhodie soldiers that are relatively young guys, and on Facebook. People here have posted groups or pictures before where they are active. Someone must have carried one, or know someone who did, and go from there. |
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Do you think Ian McCollum would know? Eta: For what it's worth there are still a ton of former Rhodie soldiers that are relatively young guys, and on Facebook. People here have posted groups or pictures before where they are active. Someone must have carried one, or know someone who did, and go from there. How it was done isn't truly important. Just knowing that it worked that way would be enough to engineer a similar solution. It doesn't address what I think is Len's point about the semi auto, because there needs to be a striker spring in the receiver, which in current builds piggybacks on the recoil spring. Some provision would need to be made for that. |
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Do you have the specs on it? What's the barrel length and weight? You can send me the pics in an IM and I'll post them. Quoted:
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That was made in my shop!
It's modular and is backpack fed. I have MANY more photos of that but will need someone to post/host them. You can send me the pics in an IM and I'll post them. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |