Composite gun parts..Ideas?

[wannabeagunsmith]

Hey all, I am in a class that focuses on manufacturing composite parts for the aircraft industry, and for my final project I need to create something, anything out of composites. For those who don't know, composites are material like fiberglas, carbon fiber, kevlar, etc. So my question to you all is what would be a cool, and simple composite shooting/firearm accessory I could make? I don't currently have any ideas!

 

[onfloat]

what about a holster? Instead of kydex.

 

[mnrivrat]

If you want something that hasn't been done before then I can't think of anything at the moment. Just about every part of a gun other than the firing pin , springs, and barrel, has been made from a composite (that I can think of at the moment anyway)

Many accessory items have also been made of composite materials.

Even cartridge casings have been done. (shotgun anyway)

I quess I'm no help unless I wake up with something - sorry.

 

[ku4hx]

A shooting stick

 

[TRX]

If it's something you're actually going to make, I'd suggest a magazine follower. It would be corrosion-resistant, self-lubricating if the right material was used, and a bit lighter than the common molded plastic followers.

 

[olafhardtB]

Magazine springs? Revolver cylinders with steel inserts? Some of the guts in lever actions, tubes for tubular magazines?

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

A carbon fiber stock? With internal storage and room for lead weights to provide proper balance.
B

 

[Sunray]

Composite parts for aircraft are mostly about weight reduction. Not much of that that hasn't already been done in the firearms world. Or has proven to be prohibitively expensive.

 

[ucbandit10]

For my composites class, I made some composite panels out of different materials (fiberglass, CF, etc.), stacked the panels in different orders, then shot them with different calibers to see if the order of materials mattered. Had one material that would stop a 22lr. Nothing stopped the 7.62x54r though. At the we stacked all the panels together (16 total, 4 different materials), and the mosin still went through all of them.

 

[Justin]

Make a composite or carbon fiber AR15 or AR10 float tube with a diameter of less than two inches, is 15-16 inches long, and weighs less than one of the Troy Alpha or Battle rails.

 

[Gord]

A set of carbon fiber 1911 grips would be pretty cool, and you'd probably be able to sell 'em in a hurry afterwards if so inclined.

 

[oneounceload]

Carbon fiber revolver grips

 

[Nickel Plated]

Carbon-fibre AR lower?
IDK, with the small size of most guns parts, I don't think carbon-fibre or fibreglass, will make any sort of meaningful difference weight-wise compared to the plastics already in widespread use.
Like a carbon-fibre magazine follower? That's like putting carbon-fibre door handles on your Chevy Suburban. A pointless solution.
I'd go for a gun barrel with a thin steel inner lining and composite wrap to add strength.
I do believe that some fancy barrel makers already do this so it's certainly possible. Expensive, but for a one-off student project, certainly doable. Atleast in a weaker cartridge.

 

[wannabeagunsmith]

Good ideas all! The grips sound cool as well.

 

[tarosean]

Rifle stock.

 

[maxxhavoc]

Find somebody with a high-end scoped rifle. Wrap it with something for spacing and vacuum mold a case liner for it and a few mags with carbon fiber. Design it so you can use thin foam as padding. Either do it as a flat insert for a drag bag, bond it into a "tactical" case, or better yet make the outer case as well using auto-grade "fancy" CF.

I got to play with some of the composites out of the C-17s. If you make a custom lightweight, nearly indestructable case for the right person out of that stuff, you could sell it for a ridiculous amount.

 

[olafhardtB]

How about an inflatable stock or recoil pad, cheek rest?

 

[tacxted]

Full length replica mosin 91/30 stock with cut for side scope mount. With aluminum pillar bedding and modern sling attachment points. And while your at it a replica mosin bayonet to go with it.