My "Rat Rifle" project

[adcoch1]

Its better with the peep...

 

[Deltaboy1984]

This is so cool!

 

[Stumper]

It ain't gonna be right until you paint it.

 

[WestKentucky]

I’m waiting to hear the story on accuracy.

 

[johnnydollar]

I’m waiting to hear the story on accuracy.

It shoots like crap. It shot better in its original wood stock. But it has been fun.

 

[johnnydollar]

More remodeling. I lightened the rifle by substituting 1" aluminum struts for the original 1" steel struts that run back to the butt plate. While I was at it, I shortened the length of pull. The next step involved trimming 8-9 inches off the "fore stock". When using the peep sight with the rifle in its original guise, I noted that the front sight was too short. So, with a longer 6-48 screw, I shimmed the front sight with material cut from a mini blind. The "cheek piece" is held on by a cut-down leather toe strap (raise your hand if you know what that is). Here she is one more time:

 

[Legionnaire]

I like it. Have you thought about making your own bipod?

 

[johnnydollar]

The peep sight didn't work out, so it's back to the 12X scope for now. (And, no, I'm happy with the Harris bipod as it is.)

 

[johnnydollar]

FINIS!
While it was fun, my rat rifle project was also very frustrating. Call it a bad idea, poorly executed. The rifle never shot well--indeed, much worse than it did in its long-gone wood stock. I had taken it apart once before, only to put it back together when a new idea occurred. As frustration with its performance at the range mounted, a solution--pictured below--came to mind in the form of a hacksaw. Thanks to all who have followed the progress of this ill-fated project, and thank you all for the compliments you have given it.

 

[ACES&8S]

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

I agree,,,,, I can't unsee that!
Yet it has a zombie effect to it, I am bitten!
Be ware what you want, lest you get it.

 

[entropy]

SBR. Cut that receiver or remove the rest of the barrel. Just sayin....

 

[johnnydollar]

SBR. Cut that receiver or remove the rest of the barrel. Just sayin....

Already did that...should have posted it earlier.

 

[entropy]

Some pics are better left unposted....or better yet, not taken.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Aw shucks. It was just beginning to look Mad Max Fury Road Worthy too.

 

[johnnydollar]

One more pic from The Last Rites of the Rat Rifle Project:

 

[entropy]

 

[LoonWulf]

Awww well, bye bye rat rifle. Fun project to follow.

I know the feeling. A sledge or if the object is small enough to lift itself, is generally my preferred method of removing those types of projects from my radar....
Hack saws usually take more time than I can stay mad at something, but honestly if I could find a big enough hacksaw I might have lopped up my Kia this afternoon lol.

 

[bannockburn]

johnnydollar

I admire your creativity and your efforts to date in designing and building this minimalist rifle! Bravo!
Please keep us updated with any progress reports.

hdwhit

I think Legionnaire meant the original 1973 version. I seem to recall in the remake he uses some sort of remote controlled 20mm. cannon mounted in the back of an SUV.

 

[Hoxviii]

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!

Have you though about shimming the scope mount to get more elevation? Like a 20 MOA mount on a long range rifle?

As you know, you'll never get past the parallax issue, but I don't see why canting the scope couldn't get you closer to being on target in the middle of the scope elevation adjustment range.