My "Rat Rifle" project

[johnnydollar]

Like many a "rat rod", my "rat rifle" was built from parts laying around the garage. In this case, a single shot Marlin .22 barreled action, a 22" piece of 1" square tubing (plus a pair of 5" long pieces of the same), a couple of pieces of flat steel 21" long and 1" wide, a handful of 5/16" bolts and nuts, and an unused Harris bipod and a vintage 12X Redfield scope. In true "rat rifle" fashion, out of pocket expenses since this project started a week ago amount to about $25.00.

After a mishap or two early in the building process, the barreled action was attached to the 1" steel tubing "stock" with a rather inelegant amount of JB Weld. The stock features an adjustable mono-pod, an adjustable butt plate, and a length of pull that is adjustable with just a trip back to the drill press. I've only shot it twice (maybe 80 rounds total), and it has a ways to go in the accuracy department. I do not believe that the rifle's accuracy woes can be attributed to a flexy stock, however. A new scope--if one can be found cheap enough--would also help. Here she is:

 

[LoonWulf]

And this is what happens when you leave too many things in parts bins for too long, they come ALIVE!!!!!!!

Cool project! Are there no screw holes that you could use to secure the action to the chassis more securely? The jb weld even if it's high enough to creat a mechanical lock will most likely let go eventually, but it does make a good bedding platform.

 

[Legionnaire]

Mad Max cool! Nice job!

 

[ontarget]

I was thinking of building a chassis stock myself. Thanks for showing me I'm not crazy. Definitely cool.

 

[johnnydollar]

And this is what happens when you leave too many things in parts bins for too long, they come ALIVE!!!!!!!

Cool project! Are there no screw holes that you could use to secure the action to the chassis more securely? The jb weld even if it's high enough to creat a mechanical lock will most likely let go eventually, but it does make a good bedding platform.

There was a threaded boss on the bottom of the receiver that held a 5/16-24 screw. This was one of the "mishaps" in the building process. The 5/16-24 bolt I used, and the 5/16-24 threads in the threaded boss were good for 10-12 ft/lbs of torque, but the two threads by which the threaded boss was secured to the receiver would not hold anywhere near that amount of torque. I pulled the threads right out of the receiver. Here is an "after" pic of the threaded boss. (This is the reason for the JB Weld):

 

[<*(((><]

Use a helicoil for new receiver threads.

 

[LoonWulf]

Ahhhh......
You may want to do as suggested and use a solid or helicoil style thread repair. Or perhaps drill a.couple of new holes in the recievers to take 1/4-28 or similar bolts. That should get you plenty of holding power. 10ft/lbs is more torque than you need, most specs call for 50 in/lb or less. Probably why the threads pulled out.

 

[adcoch1]

I would tap that hole with a bigger tap and use a bigger bolt. Had that happen before, used a stud ground with a channel in the end to clear the bolt( hole went clear through the receiver tube) and a nut on the bottom of the stock...

 

[johnnydollar]

When and if the JB Weld gives up the ghost, I'll try some of those ideas. Right now, it is glued down and seems to work okay. Thanks for the compliments and the suggestions, fellas.

 

[Skylerbone]

Likin it, not gonna lie. Seems everyone who collects enough stuff has at some point ended up with a barreled action and no stock to be had. I’d really like to see what a 3-D Printer could do about making a receiver block foundation. Maybe UHMW plastic or phenolic resin for a rimfire. Build it completely flat to slide on bags at the bench.

 

[Mauser lover]

That is really... cool? That word just doesn't do this project justice. How about... Fantasmagorical!

On first glance I thought for sure that those were Erector set pieces... Which gives me an idea...

Anyway, I know you said that the accuracy could be worked on... but do you have some pictures of your targets for us?

 

[Offfhand]

CLASSIC

 

[johnnydollar]

Here are some pics from an earlier stage of this project. First, a pic of the threaded boss that held the single, 5/16-24 action screw. The second pic shows the 1/2" hole (second from the left) that I drilled in the tubing for the threaded boss to pass thru. I screwed a 5/16-24 allen bolt into the boss from the bottom and tightened it against the tubing. In the third pic, you can see the flat washers (just forward of the bolt handle) that kept the barreled action from resting directly on the 1" tubing. Unfortunately, I over-tightened the 5/16-24 allen bolt and pulled the threads out of the receiver, which led to the JB Weld fix.

 

[johnnydollar]

CLASSIC

Thank you, sir, for what I am sure is a tongue-in-cheek comment. My rat rifle certainly doesn't belong in the high-end .22 thread, but it has been a fun project so far.

 

[Mauser lover]

My rat rifle certainly doesn't belong in the high-end .22 thread

So?!? It's fantastic! I love it. Good spirit of "rat rodding"!

I think the JB adds a certain appeal to it too!

 

[johnnydollar]

That is really... cool? That word just doesn't do this project justice. How about... Fantasmagorical!
Anyway, I know you said that the accuracy could be worked on... but do you have some pictures of your targets for us?

No target pics (they're just awful!). The main problem is that the gun shoots 6" or so lower than POA with the scope elevation adjustment screw about to fall out. My working hypothesis is that the barrel, which is completely free-floated, needs some support. With this in mind, I jammed a shim between the stock and the barrel just ahead of the action. This has brought the barrel up higher off the stock and may well bring POA and POI back together. If need be, I may add another shim toward the end of the barrel. The scope is also rather dodgy. It features a side-adjustable objective, but 75 yards is the shortest parallax adjustment it will allow (I shoot the rifle at 50 yards exclusively) and it remains blurry at the shorter distance. It does have a ways to go yet.... Thanks for the compliments!

 

[entropy]

Gives me an idea for the old single shot .22 action I have in the rafters in my shop.....

 

[theotherwaldo]

I've been considering building an ultralight stock, starting with an aluminum crutch and some 1"x2" aluminum channel... .

 

[Reloadron]

Creativity at its very finest. Pretty cool really.

Ron

 

[Picher]

Where can I start? Sorry...words fail me. Sometimes you see things that haunt you the rest of your life! LOL

 

[RPZ]

Meccano!

Like it!

 

[Legionnaire]

I've been considering building an ultralight stock, starting with an aluminum crutch and some 1"x2" aluminum channel... .

Aluminum crutch ... reminds me. I've always wanted to build a legal version of the sniper's rifle in the original Day of the Jackal movie.

 

[johnnydollar]

Back to the drawing board.... My rat rifle took a tumble at the range, and is once again in two pieces. (FWIW, it still won't shoot worth a crap, consistently hitting 4-6 inches below POA, with a grouping that wouldn't make a squirrel in the entire country anxious.) I've got to get the JB Weld off, then some drilling/tapping and/or heli-coiling is in order. Here we go again....

 

[hdwhit]

johnnydollar wrote:
Here she is:

Bravo!

My first degree was in Agricultural Engineering so I dearly love "uncomplicated" approaches to solve problems and this one is elegant in its simplicity.

Really inspired design and thoughtful execution.

Just chalk up the problems with the threaded boss to "teething troubles" and keep on with what you're doing.

 

[hdwhit]

Legionnaire wrote:
I've always wanted to build a legal version of the sniper's rifle in the original Day of the Jackal movie.

The original 1973 movie starring Edward Fox, or the 1997 remake with Bruce Willis?