Category Archives: gunsmithing

DIY, gunsmithing, IPSC, shotgun

Speed Cycling and reliability mod for Baikal MP-153

5 Comments

There is always that one particular brand, type or batch of shotgun ammunition that does not work with semiauto shotguns. Some shotguns are more picky than others and even same shotgun models some individual guns cycle same ammunition that other guns struggle with.

For DIY person it’s tempting to fix this uncertainty. Naturally lapping the bolt carrier rails, polishing all metal-to-metal contacts will help the gun to cycle. With gas operated shotguns drilling gas ports slightly larger might also help.

After doing all above I still found that there exists ammunition that does not cycle reliably with my Baikal MP-153.  Mostly really old 24g skeet and trap ammunition. Some may ask that why bother? Those asking that question don’t get the tickling sensation when fixing something makes things better.

Continue reading Speed Cycling and reliability mod for Baikal MP-153 →

DIY, gunsmithing

Fixing bugs in Nextorch WL10

Leave a comment

Nextorch WL10 is a reasonably priced, bright and light weapon light with rail mount.

I don’t go to details about the lamp itself, please refer this review http://www.laymanslights.venturous.org/blog/2013/09/nextorch-wl10/

The issues with the lamp are:

  • The switch can toggle (turn ON / OFF) from recoil (or simulated recoil by slapping)
  • Sometimes the power switch doesn’t click, i.e. the lamps work only as push activated, not toggled on

Continue reading Fixing bugs in Nextorch WL10 →

DIY, gear, gunsmithing, handgun, IPSC, pictures, pistol

Light Mount to Special EDCE

1 Comment

The year turns to time with less light which means some SRA competitions in the dark w/ weapon lights.

I have currently shot mostly with my custom 2011, Special EDCE, but my only pistol with a light mount is CZ Shadow.

As we all know, xx11 pistols have different grip angle than CZ, which is a problem as currently my wrists tend to turn to xx11 angle, so in the dark when you can’t properly see, the CZ points upwards if the wrists are not adjusted.

So set to enable mounting my pistol light (Nextorch WL10) to the Special EDCE. The options were to attach or machine some rail. We went with the latter.

Here are few pictures of the process:

nextorch_light_profile
measuring the mounting profile on Nextorch WL10
Milling the mount to dust cover
Milling the mount to dust cover
Finished mount
Finished mount
End product
End product

Unfortunately the dust cover does not have very much structural strength so we had to make some compromises which makes this a custom fitting between the gun and the lamp in question. So the result is not an actual picatinny/weaver rail, only similar to.

DIY, gunsmithing, IPSC, rifle

IPSC Semi Auto Open Division Rifle Build

2 Comments

Last season (2014) I decided to try shooting in Open Rifle Division and started more detailed specification (i.e. spreadsheet) on will be in the rifle.

Initial specs were pretty simple with at least 15 inch free float and 1-6x variable scope, but soon came more complicated. First I was thinking about a carbon float but with some insights from an experienced gunsmith and thorough browsing through the web I came to conclusion that a slim keymod float would be the choice:  keymod is mostly holes –> light, but enables accessories and slim profile (1½”) gives better grip and adds to lightness, still being stiff enough. At the moment I couldn’t find many ways to acquire 15+ inch slim keymods to Finland so I went with Leapers UTG in FDE and thus started acquiring also the magpul parts in FDE.

I had grown fond of Magpul MIAD grip (with the largest back piece) in my two other rifles (Standard and Minirifle) so that was the obvious choice for this build too. The A2 stock was also a little clumsy on some specific stages and adjustable stock would have had it’s place. I was wondering between Commercial- or MilSpec, when I found out that Commercial stock can be extended further than the MilSpec enabling a setting for proper eye-relief in both prone and standing positions as head is usually on more forward position on prone and some other specific shooting positions (more about this on a later post). Combined with a proper pull length for my physique/shooting style, the longer setting has its place (at least when shooting with t-shirt instead of plate carrier which would add to the pull length). So the stock was selected to be Magpul CTR Commercial Spec.

Status of the Open Division build with standard division rifle for scale
First parts have arrived! (current standard division rifle for scale)

Continue reading IPSC Semi Auto Open Division Rifle Build →

DIY, gunsmithing, IPSC, rifle

Tuning unused USGI Magazines

Leave a comment

I recently acquired some USGI style magazines. The magazines were Brownells branded and “3rd generation” (light brown colored and non-tilting follower). One note about the followers was that the “top round” bulge is on the other side than in magpuls and my previous usgi magazines (gen1 and gen2)

I ran into some problems while test firing the magazines in my tuned competition rifle: the action made some rounds stood up and collision to inside corner of the barrel extions and bolt slipped to the rim. This of course happened on stage 2 in a small weekly competition ( http://youtu.be/ISoByoDOwyY?t=16s )

jam with un-modified and un-used usgi mags
jam with unmodified and unused USGI mags

Continue reading Tuning unused USGI Magazines →

DIY, gunsmithing, IPSC, minirifle

NEA15-22 part VIII – A functioning minirifle!

Leave a comment

I got a new Chiappa firing pin which (as described in previous posts) is not very good as it is: fat striker head, does not protrude for proper contact with the hammer. So off to the range for test fire and some “gunsmithing” i.e. filing the pin into the place.

From top: the enchanded (broken) pin, new Chiappa pin and the old (broken) Chiappa pin
From top: the enchanded (broken) pin, new Chiappa pin and the old (broken) Chiappa pin
firing_pin_evolution
Firing pin evolution: Some light strikes with the fat pin, going down to the sharpened pin and also some duds

In the beginning I got a lot of Failure-to-Fires (FTF) which was sort of a good thing as I  noticed that there was some problems with the extraction of rounds that had been deformed, i.e. the non-fired rounds extract fine, but the ones that have been hit with the striker did not always extract.

It still appeared that there might be some contact between the weight behind the bolt and possibly the hammer was also touching the slide rail (wear on the side of the hammer). So I once again filed the weight and also did a little polish/dremel on the bolt rail where the hammer might be touching.

Continue reading NEA15-22 part VIII – A functioning minirifle! →