Guns that can be "built" No Smith Required.

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bannockburn said:
Elkins45


Aye and that's the rub...after you find out that the bag o' surplus parts you bought are pretty much all useless and you wasted a fair amount of time and effort on trying to make them work! If you go into this thinking you're going to save a bunch of money by getting a great deal on a frame or a slide assembly and then shopping around for parts, you're in for a rude awakening.

And then there's the matter of what is your time worth on this labor of love because at some point you'll get fed up with the whole deal and just set it aside for awhile till you have the patience to pick it up again. Of course all of these things are forgotten (at least temporarily), the first time you pull the trigger and everything works, just like it's supposed to!
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Mine worked flawlessly from the very beginning, but I took the time to make sure everything was secure and square before I started drilling holes. And mine actually did end up costing less because (a) I did it before all of the craziness when there were genuine Glock lower parts still available at ‘normal’ prices, (b) I bought a used slide and barrel combo rather than buying parts piecemeal, (c) I built mine in 40 S&W so nobody was bidding against me on the slide and barrel and (d) the frame kit I bought was one of the less popular options so it was on a clearance sale.
 
kcofohio said:
Most, if not all all of 80% 1911s are aluminum. And once the the cuts are made, the slide would be running on non anodized metal. Maybe if one could get a raw aluminum and after the cuts and fitting, have it anodized.
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It is easy enough to do yourself. But you do get some funny looks going to stores asking for lead sheets, sulfuric acid, and a variable battery charger.
 
herrwalther said:
It is easy enough to do yourself. But you do get some funny looks going to stores asking for lead sheets, sulfuric acid, and a variable battery charger.
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I've never looked into how it's done. Now I will have to do some searches. You're made me curious. :)
 
herrwalther said:
It is easy enough to do yourself. But you do get some funny looks going to stores asking for lead sheets, sulfuric acid, and a variable battery charger.
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I already have all that stuff in my garage. FYI if you have trouble finding sulfuric acid there’s a brand of drain cleaner called Liquid Fire that used to be just a bottle of industrial grade sulfuric. That was 20 years ago so maybe it’s changed.
 
I have built a few AR rifles and AR pistols. I go with a lower receiver and pay to transfer from FFL - then build everything out with a parts kit or parts of my choice (i.e. better triggers, bolts, mag release, etc.). Palmetto state Armory barrels in most forms are pretty good and prior to covid were great deals. Still good deals comparatively but choose your parts. No doubt could take an 80% and do similar, but I’m good with receiver build and up. I enjoy and learned a lot doing my first one - still learn as I do this. Building black powder rifles and pistols is fun too.
 
I keep tinkering with the idea of building a falling block (or similar single shot, non-top break) that takes Savage prefit barrels.

Going even further, tap the barrels and make gooseneck scope mounts for them.

Screw the heavy 223 barrel on for a range day, twist the Featherlite 243Win pipe on for a coyote/antelope combo hunt, mount the 35Whelen tube on for the Elk hunt. It'd be impressive if they held zero, but I wouldn't count on it.

Although, I'd have to figure for either quick change bolt faces, or just stick with one bolt face size.
 
kcofohio said:
I've never looked into how it's done. Now I will have to do some searches. You're made me curious. :)
Click to expand...

This was the video that got me started down the DIY anodize rabbit hole. Very useful.



Elkins45 said:
I already have all that stuff in my garage. FYI if you have trouble finding sulfuric acid there’s a brand of drain cleaner called Liquid Fire that used to be just a bottle of industrial grade sulfuric. That was 20 years ago so maybe it’s changed.
Click to expand...

I got 6qt from an auto parts store so I have enough acid to do at least 5 more receivers. I will probably need a better battery charger before I need to replace the lead cathode or get more acid.
 
I am old enough to remember building stereo equipment from a kit and when people woulsd build bosts. No matter what it is talented people like to senjoy their talent.
 
Sten mark 2, 3 and 5.
I would recommend a mark 2 or 5 or a little of both.
If you want to do a pistol then a mark 5 for sure.
For my next one I'm thinking sten mark 3 pistol, vertical feed with ppsh-41 seventy something round drum mag, chambered in 7.62x25.
 
If you want to build ones that are legal to own, it requires quite a bit of machination to turn a Sten into a closed-bolt semi auto. I bought a kit some years ago before I did the research, then found out the amount of machining involved, and dumped the kit. Definitely not a 'No Smithing required' build.
 
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