Axis Bullpup Build

[daviscustom]

Just got word from sinman that my barrels are finally in route to him from McGowen.....I hope they are worth the wait.

This build will be re-energized once I get the barreled actions back. I got the Form-1 paperwork about 3 weeks ago, so everything is ready to continue forward. I haven't worked on it much for a long time.....been waiting on barrels for so long I finally had to walk away for a while.

[missed]

Yeah progress!

[daviscustom]

Progress has been happening on this project over the last 2 1/2 months, but I wanted to work out a few things before I showed my progress in case I decided to punt and order a Tacticool........which I haven't ruled out yet.

I approached this stock design from a "making it work" point of view and although I did give some consideration to what the final product would look like, my top goals were to make it compact and accurate.....and make it comfortable to shoot. Most would say if it isn't comfortable, you won't be accurate shooting it, but they are still I think separate issues that go hand in hand.

Bullpup rifles are notorious for having crappy triggers and I have created a design that I think transmits the feel of the actual trigger to the shooter very nicely.

Anyway I started off just inletting all the parts into a hunk of walnut and tried to place them where they needed to be for the finished stock as I did this. Not knowing exactly what the final product would look like was a hindrance, kind of a catch 22 situation where I needed to know information on the final form of the stock, but the final form was in part dictated by how the parts were installed in the stock.....and whether it would all come together into something that was comfortable to shoot was in the mix too, right along with the aesthetics too.....was it going to be something I would take out in public when it was done. In retrospect I think the aesthetics of the final product would have bee more successful if I have started from that end and figured out how to make it work....but I think that would have been difficult to do without the experience I now possess. As it sits now the stock is not finished. It have gotten to the point where I feel I won't be embarrassed to show it in public, but I still have some refining to do, hopefully a little weight to shave off too. I have not bedded the action yet, or shot it, but here is a few pics of my progress so far.

Here is the stock with the main parts installed and a chunk of aluminum in front of it to simulate what the suppressor will look like.....haven't started on it, but I do have the paperwork.
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/stockinprogress_zps7cb47715.jpg


Sliced off the bottom of the stock and made it into a removable cover to house/gain access to the trigger linkage. The trigger linkage is basically an enlarged version of a 1911 trigger bow that straddles the magazine.
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP7928_zpsaf37a76c.jpg


Here is the first stage of reshaping the stock....drawing on an Anschutz position rifle for a little inspiration.
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP7930_zpsb79f79ef.jpg


Still need to make a few cover plates to cover the holes on this side.
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP7933_zpse61c0edd.jpg


This is the last pics I took, I have made a few more refinements but not a lot....still looking for refinements and places to lighten....the scope is not attached, just sitting there to give an idea what it will look like.
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP7939_zps52a84217.jpg


If anyone has suggestions on refinements, feel free to speak up. There are things that the internal mechanism will not allow. I wish I had designed the trigger linkage so the forward trigger could be up closer to the action but hindsight is 20/20....maybe someday, but that would require significant rework....I just want to see what I can do with what I have at this point.

[daviscustom]

Got a little done this morning. Finished up the side cover to keep crap out of the mag latch hole and the trigger access hole.


Started by making a plate the finished size (other then thickness) then used a router to inlet the hole in the stock.
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP8203_zps2dccae7a.jpg


Fit the cover plate to the opening.
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP8207_zps5096a85b.jpg

Planed the cover plate to fit flush in the hole and flush with the bottom, and installed 3 screws to hold it in place....and went ahead and slightly beveled the edges of the opening and the plate to reduce the chances of the finish chipping when installing and removing the plate. This also makes the fitting a little less fussy so minor gaps don't show up too bad.
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP8208_zpse2d7bb3e.jpg


This cover plate is almost not going to show at all since the adjustable cheek rest will cover most of it.

[missed]

Looks excellent! I had the thought of a solenoid trigger mechanism on a bull pup would be slick. This really makes me want to build one!

[daviscustom]

Very sorry for the delay to those of you that were interested in this build. I have been working on the rifle and I will take updated pics the next time it is fully assembled. I am basically down to bedding the action, finishing the machine work on the scope mount (waiting for CNC access at work), building the suppressor (still kicking around designs), and anodizing all the aluminum parts.

I got side-tracked with the suppressor design and with starting to build a second host for the suppressor (DI 45acp AR pistol)....and life got busy for a while too....still is busy as far as that goes, but I will try to get some updated photos up soon.

[upSLIDEdown]

I forgot all about this, but remember I really enjoyed reading through the thread. Looking forward to seeing where the project is currently.

[daddyusmaximus]

Wow. Impressive project. You got some skills...

[CAPTBEACH]

All I got to say is...DUDE...YOU GOT MAD SKILZ...

[daviscustom]

Ok, sorry for the delay, it has been a busy weekend and I finally just decided to put it together and take a few picks to get you guys caught up on the project.

I was originally thinking about stippling this stock in the recessed areas, but in the process of carving them out, I kinda liked the hand carved texture and decided to live with it a while and decide later. I am not thrilled with the height of the stock, but I am pleased with the way it feels in a standing position...reminds me of a position rifle. Still have the suppressor to build, so it will add length and make it more of a standard rifle length and proportion.

Seems a little busy visually to me too, thinking about stippling all the recessed areas and staining them dark or coating the recessed areas with textured bed liner to match the grip. All the metal parts will end up being black except maybe the barrel, and it will be bead blasted at least.

Questions, comments, and suggestions welcome!

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP9354_zps5c32fc34.jpg

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP9369_zps7fc69677.jpg

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP9360_zps79c9cec4.jpg

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP9358_zps77efbe6e.jpg

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP9363_zpsb3d14346.jpg

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP9367_zps5cf8963b.jpg

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP9375_zpsc5c37c62.jpg

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/daviscustom/458%20socom%20build/IMGP9370_zpseb95e734.jpg

[charb52]

I think the hand carved look in the recessed areas looks awesome! Really cool build

[daddyusmaximus]

That thing is wicked.

[daviscustom]

Thanks guys. The forend area ends up being a "T" cross section on the bottom edge and the texture in the recess makes it much easier to hold on to the rifle. My original plan was to make a palm rest and maybe a fore-grip attachment to go on the rail, but after handling the rifle a bit I don't know if I will get in a big hurry on them....that flared bottom edge makes for a nice grip in a shooting stance too.

[boltguy308]

Incredible build!