Ruger Standard Train Wreck

[JohnK454]

If there is interest, I have a story (and pics) of rebuilding one of the worst abused Ruger Standard 22s I have ever seen. Not exactly destined for home cast bullets, so thought it best to ask first.

 

[Ben]

Let's see it.

Ben

 

[Rick]

Sure. This is the projects forum and rebuilding a Ruger is a firearm related project. Let's what your doing.

 

[Brad]

Dude, you can't mention soemthing like that and then hold out on us.

The story is gonna be interestng, I can tell.

 

[JohnK454]

Ok. It came to me in a ziplock. A previous owner had "opened it up to 22mag" with a drill bit. The gripframe had been pried apart and cracked at the welds by something large inserted into the magwell. Almost looked intentionally destroyed.

I had an idea, and some parts, so I started by making a new barrel from a leftover piece of 1-7 twist AR barrel...

 

[JohnK454]

And the threads and tube...

If you look close you can see where our worthy also used to prick punch around all the pin holes in the gripframe... inspection of the pins revealed each were tapered on the ends with a grinder. LOL! May as well laugh.

 

[JohnK454]

Next up was the ejector. All the prying had severely loosened the rivet, so I made a backing bar with a tapered seat and re-staked.

The round nosed punch stores in a cavity in the back of the backer bar so I won't spend all day looking for it next time...

 

[Ben]

Are you finished with your project or is it still " in progress." ? ?

You are just about as good with a camera as you are a lathe.

Ben

 

[JohnK454]

Finished.

 

[Brad]

I may not have a backing bar but I am riveted.

This is awesome stuff. I love it.

 

[JohnK454]

Thanks! Now over to the Bridgeport to whittle away everything that doesn't look like a barrel...

Making the extractor cut...

 

[Brad]

Those last 3 photos are just fabulous. That is some very fine machine work.

I used to think I had a lathe, now I realize I just own a thing that spins metal. You own a lathe.

 

[Rick]

Wow!

Just wow!

 

[JohnK454]

Thanks... it is just an imported chinese 12x36. Constantly reminds me that it isn't the Hardinge HLV I learned on. But I do know it's foibles - mostly.

Side note - I make my own thread masters on this lathe also:

 

[Brad]

It isn't the tool, it is the user. You know how to make that lathe work.
I got mine last fall, had never used a lathe before. Lots of learning has happened.
Mine too is an imported 12x36.
If I ever get half that good I will be a very happy man.

 

[JohnK454]

Barrel tensioning device:

 

[JohnK454]

Before I post more pics... the next ones are baffle pics. Any issues with NFA items? I am a 07/02 FFL. Entirely legal, but some sites have issues for various reasons. If anyone wants to verify via ezcheck my FFL # is 1-63...04997. Or I can skip ahead to the finished product.

 

[Brad]

I am not an attorney so I don't know the legal issues? Probably best to keep them private and avoid any chance of troubles. I prefer to keep the Feds away.

This thread has been excellent. The machine work is great and so seeing the setup and tools you made. I couldn't have been more fascinated.

You are an artist in your work. I am in awe.

 

[Rick]

That would be a asbcowner question. I don't have a problem but I have no idea what or if problems could/would arise. I do wonder if it's wise to post the number in open forum on the internet. Don't know if that could/would cause problems either.

 

[JohnK454]

That's not the full FFL #, for the reason you mentioned. First tbree, last five lets you verify on tbe ATFs site.