Raptor gets an upgrade

[mtnGhost]

Decided to repurpose one of my .30cal TJ barrels that I had setup for my MKII. I chopped off part of the breech where the forward o-ring groove once was, and then turned the last 3.75" of the breech side down to 0.5". I re-throated the breech conservatively for supporting both pellets and slugs, and then cut an internal o-ring groove to fit a #010 o-ring. Threaded the muzzle end with a 1/2-20 with generous length, bored the transfer port, added divots for the barrel set screws, and then polished the crap out of the bore  

I had one mishap last night drilling the transfer port. My drill press chuck failed, and right before the bit punched through to bore, I heard a snap, then my drill bit went flying!!! The barrel itself was fine, except the but left a gouge right near the breech, which would have certainly cause problems with air escaping towards the magazine. I knew that I had to chop it off. The barrel was 26.75", and I decided to take it down to 26" on the dot once I removed the damaged area.

In all, this was a lot of work to get it turned on centers and configured exactly how I need it. The last thing that I'll do to it is fit a shroud so I can make sure if the factory air stripper and tensioner, but it feels pretty damned solid as is!!!

Power - my first shot was 999fps with a 44.75gr JSB. The rifle isn't tuned, and I have somewhere north or 800psi to play with. I do not think that I will need to max it out to shoot the 62gr Varmint Knockers, but I'm anxious to drive out and test it tomorrow

 

[Yo]

SMOKING HOT!!! Yo!

 

[DrAngler]

Killer work. Nicely done. 

 

[Ranchibi]

Very nicely done to get all that machined to spec! Hope to see how she shoots with the new barrel!

 

[biohazardman]

Looking good it is. Great job hope it shoots as good as it looks.

 

[jwrabbit123]

nice should shoot better now so barrel is held in with a pin? or set screws?

 

[zx10wall]

Oh dadgum! That’s gonna be a hoss!!  

 

[Buckshutr]

I'm jealous of people that have skills and the equipment to put them to use but I sure like seeing the results!! Nice!!

 

[Oregun]

Down right beastly... nice job Ghost!

 

[Motorhead]

Beastly is right ... Nice !

 

[mtnGhost]

Man, this thing is cranking out some major power today. Out at my testing range today - forgot to bring my 5/16 and long 4mm hex wrenches (for adjusting HST and the hammer buffer) - so it's untuned, and just dumping a massive volume of air per shot where I left it nearly wide open

LabRadar reads the 62gr Varmint Knockers at 931fps average (ES of 15). It is grouping ragged holes at my 50m zero, and little loosey goosey at 112.6m (3.8 mils) - but this is a brand new barrel and again not tuned. Bottom right on the photo

I also had some fun and shot part of a mag of 43.8gr (top right in the photo), humming at 1044fps. These are grouping terrible given the hammer settings, but shooting 1.5 mils at 112.6m!!!! Incredible

(Left targets are from me re-tuning my Vet)

 

[Ranchibi]

LOL that’s shooting HOT! Dang good groups considering you forgot the keys and spanner wrench to tune her . Just wait till you tune her and the barrel seasons!

 

[mtnGhost]

LOL that’s shooting HOT! Dang good groups considering you forgot the keys and spanner wrench to tune her

. Just wait till you tune her and the barrel seasons!

Yeah, although I had a spanner on my AR multi-tool, the HST and buffer were just open waaaaaay too far. So much so that I was only getting ~10 shots per fill, and I cringed each time I heard the air continuing to leave the barrel as the projectile was already 1/2 way down range I guess this just served as a stress test of sorts.

I was banging my head for a while tonight trying to figure out how the 43.8gr NSAs were shooting 1.5 mils at 112.6 meters with a 50m zero. Then it struck me: it was zeroed with the 62gr VKs going 930!!! I swear, that would have been on my mind all night if I didn't have the epiphany

 

[DrAngler]

Lol

that is some impressive performance. Hopefully your enjoying this. It seems you are. 


definitely cranking some energy down range. Too cool  

 

[jwrabbit123]

did you try it with out moderator? I am curious about the weight on end of the long barrel with no barrel supports ?



is the barrel rigid like in the Veteran that is threaded in ? what is OD of this barrel and the OEM one , so threads like 1/2 - 20 so must be .500 range ?

Also DID They send you out a new barrel to swap out the defective one ?

LOU

 

[mtnGhost]

did you try it with out moderator? I am curious about the weight on end of the long barrel with no barrel supports ?



is the barrel rigid like in the Veteran that is threaded in ? what is OD of this barrel and the OEM one , so threads like 1/2 - 20 so must be .500 range ?

Also DID They send you out a new barrel to swap out the defective one ?

LOU

This particular blank is 0.550". The 17" factory barrel is 0.587". I shot it the entire time without a moderator exactly how it was sitting in the last photo on my mat. No barrel droop with the Ronin attached though. TJ's uses hand forged chromoly steel for their barrels.

I also have two new 30 cal TJ blanks sitting here at 497" and .500", I could theoretically use the latter with this rifle (since the block barrel slot is also 0.5"), but I like having that shoulder pressed flush against the block. It adds some rigidity. 

I'm going to cut this one down to 24" soon.. I need those couple of inches to fit it in my hunting pack.

Lol

that is some impressive performance. Hopefully your enjoying this. It seems you are. 


definitely cranking some energy down range. Too cool

Yes sir! With the 26", I estimate that it would put out somewhere north of 140FPE with this ammo. I'm hedging on being able to run heavier (>60gr) 30 cal slugs at 930-940 with a 24" barrel, and shooting the middle weight ammo from NSA 100FPS higher. I don't care much about shot count. It's a lot of air at that power, but I'm confident that I will get at least 1 mag running it hot.

 

[Ranchibi]

LOL that’s shooting HOT! Dang good groups considering you forgot the keys and spanner wrench to tune her

. Just wait till you tune her and the barrel seasons!

Yeah, although I had a spanner on my AR multi-tool, the HST and buffer were just open waaaaaay too far. So much so that I was only getting ~10 shots per fill, and I cringed each time I heard the air continuing to leave the barrel as the projectile was already 1/2 way down range

I guess this just served as a stress test of sorts.

I was banging my head for a while tonight trying to figure out how the 43.8gr NSAs were shooting 1.5 mils at 112.6 meters with a 50m zero. Then it struck me: it was zeroed with the 62gr VKs going 930!!! I swear, that would have been on my mind all night if I didn't have the epiphany

LOL that’s funny...cringing as you still hear air being expelled with the projectile halfway down range! Curse of the large plenum with the rifle outta tune!

 

[mtnGhost]

LOL that’s shooting HOT! Dang good groups considering you forgot the keys and spanner wrench to tune her

. Just wait till you tune her and the barrel seasons!

Yeah, although I had a spanner on my AR multi-tool, the HST and buffer were just open waaaaaay too far. So much so that I was only getting ~10 shots per fill, and I cringed each time I heard the air continuing to leave the barrel as the projectile was already 1/2 way down range

I guess this just served as a stress test of sorts.

I was banging my head for a while tonight trying to figure out how the 43.8gr NSAs were shooting 1.5 mils at 112.6 meters with a 50m zero. Then it struck me: it was zeroed with the 62gr VKs going 930!!! I swear, that would have been on my mind all night if I didn't have the epiphany

LOL that’s funny...cringing as you still hear air being expelled with the projectile halfway down range! Curse of the large plenum with the rifle outta tune!

Hahaha.. EXACTLY!!!!

 

[edosan]

Good work my friend, why didn´t you make an adaptor instead of working the barrel direct? that way you can use it in any AG .30

 

[Ranchibi]

LOL that’s shooting HOT! Dang good groups considering you forgot the keys and spanner wrench to tune her

. Just wait till you tune her and the barrel seasons!

Yeah, although I had a spanner on my AR multi-tool, the HST and buffer were just open waaaaaay too far. So much so that I was only getting ~10 shots per fill, and I cringed each time I heard the air continuing to leave the barrel as the projectile was already 1/2 way down range

I guess this just served as a stress test of sorts.

I was banging my head for a while tonight trying to figure out how the 43.8gr NSAs were shooting 1.5 mils at 112.6 meters with a 50m zero. Then it struck me: it was zeroed with the 62gr VKs going 930!!! I swear, that would have been on my mind all night if I didn't have the epiphany

LOL that’s funny...cringing as you still hear air being expelled with the projectile halfway down range! Curse of the large plenum with the rifle outta tune!

Hahaha.. EXACTLY!!!!

Don’t feel bad..I’ve done the same with my .22 Raptor before I learned how to tune these properly with their balance valves! Wasted a ton of air and ammo! LOL !