Disaster. Snappy snap crack :(

It wasn't me! · 24-05-2008 01:03PM

Best of luck with it anyway. I've read a few reports of this happening, so may be inclined to shy away from the Anschutz aluminium stocks in future myself.

Sparks · 24-05-2008 01:04PM

I'm told that they've redesigned the alu stocks since to avoid this problem IWM. (Which is cold comfort, but still

)

It wasn't me! · 24-05-2008 01:56PM

Sparks wrote: »

I'm told that they've redesigned the alu stocks since to avoid this problem IWM. (Which is cold comfort, but still )

Ah, that's good so. I'm sure Anschutz will be accommodating. From reading Stirton, they seem to bend over backwards in cases like this.

kerryman12 · 24-05-2008 02:18PM

rrpc wrote: »

Isn't sintered aluminium better for heat resistance and machining?

I would have thought that would make it easier to weld.

AS a rule aluminium is not easy to weld - but it is possible. Because it is cast it mean you need to do a lot of preparatory work first - heating up the section involved etc. The question is - is it worth while in this case. You best bet is talk to Anschutz and only if you are getting no where look at a repair job. Then look for a coded welder with experiance of welding Aluminium and the correct equipment to do the job - a standard MIG welder will not be good enough with some bolt ons etc.

On a seperate note in relation to JW's posts. Are firearms covered under contents in a standard home insurance policy or do they need to be specifically nenbtioned. Also in relation to the cover outside the house can you give a little more infor- is this part of a standard policy or was it a special request?

demonloop · 24-05-2008 09:24PM

Sparks, I'm assuming you're not an NSRA member, and thus covered, but I know of one example of a home contents policy covering a damaged rifle, it was a wooden thumhole stock that was dropped and broken.

Most policies will cover items up to £1000 without the need for them to be specifically named on the policy, and its only sports equipment after all.

Worth a try if Anschutz doesn't come up with a solution, as I suspect they might. They are usually quite accommodating to be fair, if not I suspect they might get you a good discount on a replacement, if he does feel free to suggest that I'd happily get it charged to me and sent over with an order.

Thats all assuming they have stock of the *ahem* stocks

If no discount/replacement is forthcoming I'm sure we can set up a very cheap one for you, cost+shipping.

PM me if you need any help as mentioned above

Sparks · 24-05-2008 09:30PM

Sounds great demonloop, and I might throw in an order for a peli case (either a 1700 or a 1720) while I was at it

Sparks · 24-05-2008 09:34PM

demonloop wrote: »

Sparks, I'm assuming you're not an NSRA member, and thus covered

Ooo, actually minor problem there - at least one of our shooters down here (an NTSA lad) was over in La Hague a few years back and had all his kit stolen (bar his rifles). His Irish insurance refused to pay out because he was out of the country, and the NSRA insurance refused to pay out because he was from the ROI. As far as I know, the NSRA won't insure any ROI people anymore because they won't pay out and rather than take your money and stiff you later (and expose themselves to lawsuits), they just won't insure you at all. Last time I looked, anyway.

demonloop · 24-05-2008 09:51PM

You could be right about the insurance, the underwriter is English based and might not cover ROI, that wouldn't surprise me actually.

The offer still stands if you get any joy from Anschutz, I get stuff over every 2 weeks or so and it would be easy to stick it in the box.

IRLConor · 25-05-2008 01:55AM

demonloop wrote: »

You could be right about the insurance, the underwriter is English based and might not cover ROI, that wouldn't surprise me actually.

I need to check the exact details but as far as I know the NSRA will insure RoI shooters but only for claims which originate in the UK.

bigred · 25-05-2008 08:45AM

IRLConor wrote: »

I need to check the exact details but as far as I know the NSRA will insure RoI shooters but only for claims which originate in the UK.

Trinity is UK soil is it not?

:D:D

25-05-2008 09:44AM

bigred wrote: »

Trinity is UK soil is it not? :D:D

Careful now... I believe that your watch lies on 'British Soil' and you wouldn't want for it to get lost now or anything would you???

Say 'I love the Queen' ten times and then maybe you can get it back.

Renegade_Archer · 05-06-2008 01:51AM

Even if the stock could be welded, could you ever trust it again? Every wild shot from then on would have an extra suspect...

rrpc · 05-06-2008 09:35AM

Renegade_Archer wrote: »

Even if the stock could be welded, could you ever trust it again? Every wild shot from then on would have an extra suspect...

Not really, so long as it was welded straight, it should have no impact on the functioning of the rifle. The break is behind the action, so even if it wasn't spot on, the adjustments on the butt would be able to negate any misalignment.

Sparks · 05-06-2008 11:22AM

Uwe got back to me this morning (he's been in Munich and then Milan) and they still carry the spare part and it'll cost me €280, which I can live with. I'm worried about a repeat though, so I asked if they've seen this before. Either way, it looks like a chunk of the next paycheque is now spoken for

(I looked more closely at where the break is - it's right on the spot where the cheekpiece bolts meet the stock so it'd be a bloody awkward weld to do since you couldn't distort that part very much or have any sloppy stuff around the join, so I'm just going to go with the new part I think. And a peli case

).

milkerman · 05-06-2008 11:46AM

Hi Sparks,
Have you considered gluing & pinning the break by using an epoxy glue and aluminium strip 'splint' screwed in place? It wont be pretty but would get you out of a jam while you are waiting for the new stock.
I have used an epoxy putty to do 'temporary' repairs on aluminium. Two years on the repair is still holding up. Cant remember the name of the product but it comes in a clear plastic tube with the motto 'Sets like steel' on the outside.

Sparks · 05-06-2008 11:49AM

Might give it a try just for the heck of it milker, even if only to tide me over until the new part gets here.

Rovi · 05-06-2008 12:16PM

There are some amazing adhesives in use in the aviation/automotive industries, to the point of replacing welding and other mechanical means of joining components.
That said, I've looked at the photos of the broken component again, and that certainly looks like a pretty obvious 'weak point' in the structure; as such, it's always going to be likely to break there.

As you've already resigned yourself to purchasing a new replacement, I'd suggest it'd be worth doing some experiments with the broken part.
If it were mine, I'd weld up the break, and then look at adding some reinforcing straps or webs to improve the rigidity and strength of the structure.
I wouldn't worry about 'sloppy stuff' getting in the way, aluminium is easily machined or milled.

It mightn't look 'pretty', but it'd be much stronger, and you fancypants target guys don't appear to be too worried about the aesthetics of the guns anyway, going by some of the 'bubba' jobs I've seen on various stocks and grips over the years.

johal · 05-06-2008 09:46PM

hi sparks
i weld aluminium most days and i have both mig and tig. if you want to weld it i will do it for nothing if you get it down to me in cork. do not put "glue" on. it keep it clean or it will interfere with future welding.if you get your new stock you can keep this one as back up
regards john

meathstevie · 05-06-2008 09:57PM

Sparks, this might sound daft now but could you not get one made in steel instead of aluminium. I know it'll be a good bit heavier but it'll also be a hell of a lot stronger. In relation to the weight bit, do your rifles have to weigh in at a certain weight or is that a misconception I have about small bore target shooting ?

It wasn't me! · 05-06-2008 10:17PM

There are upper weight limits for ISSF rifles, and steel would put it well over I'd say.

Grizzly 45 · 05-06-2008 11:37PM

On the steel stock.This might sound compleatly daft.BUT a good machine shop will be able to get the stock made into the config you need WELL within the weight limits as well,using the correct steel for the job helps too.or failing that you could get "lightening holes" drilled in it to take the weight well down.Anything that would be stronger than aluminium.

BTW the glue that milkerman is on about is JB Weld.Can and cant be lucky with it.Better to get it tig welded.

milkerman · 06-06-2008 12:32PM

Looking at the photos again I would be tempted to use 3mm ali plate to 'splint' the break. There is a shortage of metal at the point where the break occurred and therefor a shortage of gluing surface. The sides of the frame appear reasonably flat & that would make splinting easier.
A skilled welder would secure the joint but I fear the generated heat might cause distortion in the frame & the same design induced weakness would still be there.
PM me if you want a small amount of suitable plate for the job.

thehair · 06-06-2008 05:00PM

what you need sparks is arrowlight glue i have used it on all metals
with great succed steve:)

Rovi · 06-06-2008 05:34PM

thehair wrote: »

what you need sparks is arrowlight glue i have used it on all metals
with great succed steve:)

It's not Araldite you're thinking of, is it?
I wouldn't like to be betting my life that any of their consumer products would be suitable for this repair; there might be something in their Aerospace/Automotive ranges, but that's well beyond what's available to the general public.

I'd be strongly of the opinion that this particular repair needs the application of a TIG welder.

thehair · 06-06-2008 06:15PM

Rovi wrote: »

It's not Araldite you're thinking of, is it?
I wouldn't like to be betting my life that any of their consumer products would be suitable for this repair; there might be something in their Aerospace/Automotive ranges, but that's well beyond what's available to the general public.

I'd be strongly of the opinion that this particular repair needs the application of a TIG welder.

araldite that is the one your opinion is right tig welding i hope he is a
good welder:Dsteve

Sparks · 29-07-2008 05:49PM

A more complete post to follow sometime tomorrow, but first a quick teaser (with thanks to demonloop for lots of logistical support):

It's FrankenRifle!

29-07-2008 06:06PM

Nice to see those raiser blocks making a come back!

Roof was beginning to sag a bit

bigred · 29-07-2008 06:15PM

So.. I'll be seeing you down the range tonight??

demonloop · 29-07-2008 06:22PM

Glad it got there in one piece (pun intended)

rrpc · 29-07-2008 10:27PM

You have SERIOUS cant issues :eek:

Well done to all concerned on the replacement stock, now for the TIG welding

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Disaster. Snappy snap crack :(

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