Barrel Cutting

[my1911s]

I completed cutting my barrel to 16 ¼” this week and adding my Choate flash hider. Took her to the range this morning, less than ideal conditions, below freezing and windy. It appears I’m working in the 2” range now but I seem to have an issue with shifting POI. This could have something to do with the scope mount. Hanging a scope on a 184 series mini is not a joy of precision. I also seem to have lost my ability to count as I was trying to fire 5 shot groups (see picture) form a 30 round mag. I fired some 4 shot groups and some 6 shot groups. Maybe I will go back to loading 5 at a time in the 20 round mag.

I moved the front rest toward the receiver for several shots (left bottom) and shifted the POI down. I believe shooting technique is critical on this beast, guess I’ll continue to work on that.

[Mini14GB4Me]

At what distance were you shooting?

[my1911s]

100 Yds.

[tri70]

I realized also that pressure points on the forearm will make the poi shift. I installed a quick release stud to mount a bipod to and always shoot with it in the same position. I've also though about bedding the forearm for stiffness too.

[my1911s]

I’m running a BC folder and have resisted the urge to bed the stock. I’ve bedded several wood stocks but my test with the injection molded material, indicate less that stellar adhesion with the epoxy bedding. I know about using a Dermal tool to cut “teeth” for the epoxy to lock to but it looks like a maintenance issue to me.

[my1911s]

Last night I cleaned the bore good and applied a little more tension to the vertical set screws on my scope mount. I went back to the range this morning, a cross wind was blowing and gusting at 17mph. I set up the big target to sight in my scope after the base adjustment and fired two five shot 100 yard groups at 1 ¾” each. After making my scope adjustments I setup and fired two groups at the 4” targets (picture) at 100 yards. The first group came in at 2 5/8” with one wide left; I believe a wind gust got me on that one. The other four rounds grouped 1 5/8”. The second five shot group measures 1 ¾”. These were fired back to back with no cool down. I believe it’s time to begin fine tuning a load for the new barrel length. I have so far done the following modifications to my mini:


Trigger job (56 oz.)
Installed a 10 power Cats Eye scope
Installed a BC folder
Free floated and blueprinted the gas block
Installed a reduced gas bushing
Performed the Harris modification
Built up and re-bored the stock pivot boss
Built and installed a cheek piece
Cut the barrel to 16 ¼” with 11 deg. crown
Installed a Choate 07-07-13 flash hider.

[tri70]

Looks good, with groups like that the mini will kill alot of varmits!;)

[rutro]

Nice rig my1911s, and nice work too. Excellent shooting also I might add. I'm a BC folding stock nut, I only have three, 10/22, Mini14, and Mossburg 500. I'm realy interested in your cheek peice. What's it made of? If I may ask.....;)

[my1911s]

Posted 1/27/07
BC Folder Accurizing

My cheek rest issue was compounded by the high B-Square scope mount and made a cheek weld impossible. My fix was to mill a cheek piece from maple, lacquer it and attach it to the stock with 8-32 screws. It’s a little high for iron sights but perfect for the scope. The screws pass through 3/16” holes drilled between the stock wires and counter bored on the back to form flat bottomed counter sinks. This keeps the nuts from spreading the wires in the stock.


After cutting the blank, I used a 3/8" cove bit to route two groves in the back to create a channel for the stock wires. The rest of the rough shape was cut with round over bits and sand paper. I later cut 1/4" off the height and recut the upper contour more like that of a wooden stock.

[rutro]

My1911s said;
My fix was to mill a cheek piece from maple, lacquer it and attach it to the stock with 8-32 screws.

Nice work!!! I'll have to remember that. Next time we spend some time at my Dad's I might have to use his router and drill press.