$30 Fx Impact rail extension solution instead of $160 Saber Tactical one

[Pistonjohn]

Much credit to this thread: https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/fx-impact-bipod-rail-extension-for-28-or-less/ , which essentially only needs a 1/2-Inch Extension Riser Mount and a 1/2-Inch Picatinny Riser Mount.

I made my attempt of this approach, and it works wonderfully! 

However, a problem pops out with this setup: If you look closely, the rail extension actually is touching the fill port extension, making it hard to put on and take off. So my question is do you know parts don't give this problem or should I just file away a little bit of the rail? The red circle is where the parts touch:

What tools do I need? The material is 6061 Aluminum.

Appreciate any input!

 

[douger]

dremal tool 1/2 round it a bit 

 

[Healthservices]

just don't get carried away...

 

[Metalmaniac]

 A milling machine with a 3/4 end mill would be best. But if you don’t have access to one. Use a rotary grinder with a carbide bit to remove the majority of metal then finish with a sanding drum. All work done in a vice with soft jaw insert. Do not use a stone on it! A stone will clog up and be a useless tool and could explode! MM

 

[darylm]

Like Douger said, just dremel it out.

 

[qball]

Just dremel it! 


BUT before you dremel it, I’ve been done that road too but getting the ST extension rail is well worth it in many ways. 


- it’s longer, reach the end of 480cc bottle

- stronger with zero flex which is important 

- mlock attachement with arca rail rails, comes handy



I’m all about being cheap and DIY but the ST rail extension is well worth the price. 

 

[mtnGhost]

A milling machine with a 3/4 end mill would be best. But if you don’t have access to one. Use a rotary grinder with a carbide bit to remove the majority of metal then finish with a sanding drum. All work done in a vice with soft jaw insert. Do not use a stone on it! A stone will clog up and be a useless tool and could explode! MM

This is exactly right. You can't use a grinding stone with aluminum. It gums up / doesn't grind and can explode.

Furthermore, those cheap / thin overseas made rail extensions don't handle lateral stress to well. I had one from Amazon that snapped on me and I'll never buy another one.

 

[FelixS]

https://www.mcmaster.com/aluminum-files/half-round-files-for-aluminum-and-soft-metals/

 

[Joedirt199]

Tufforce have a rail extension that is 1/2" high that would eliminate your extra little rail piece you added. That is what I have on my RTI Prophet.

On second thought, it looks like there is not enough room between in the bottle neck area for the one piece mount as the mounting block is too long to fit to the tiny rail section.

 

[Scotty1]

Why not just move it one slot forward? No can do?

 

[Pistonjohn]

Thanks everybody! I filed the base down about 1/10th of an inch and I'm now golden, great help from yall! 



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@Healthservices Nice gifs! 



@qball I agree and love ST products! But at the same time I can't help but feel some of them are grossly overpriced. I'd be very surprised if the ST rail cost more than 10 bucks to make.



@mtnGhost The Saber Tactical rail and the 20 bucks parts from amazon are all made in 6061 Aluminum, I'd be very surprised if either of them fail.



@Scotty1 Yeah nah in the pic that's as far as I can go, after filing it down a bit they are not touching anymore!