Project Howa mini carbon chassis

So I thought I would give it a crack.
In still in the early stages yet with lock down it's been bloody tricky getting hold of parts. Got a lot of stuff ordered but waiting to be delivered.

I'm going to try and build a carbon chassis style stock to try and build an ultra light weight Howa mini.
I am following the same method as @Robojaz so I won't go much into detail on how to build a plugs/mold.
Started off with this
Attachment 139667
Next job was to rough it down to something workable
Attachment 139670
After a bit of work this is where I'm up to until I can get more parts next week to confirm details for in letting etc.
Attachment 139668
Attachment 139669
Rear carbon tube will be eventually epoxied into the main carbon body.

If you end up making a couple I will buy one.

very interesting

This is gold. Been thinking of doing same. Maybe as a single shot and with a straight ali tube. Keep the pics coming :thumbsup:

Very nifty idea. Well done!

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Will be watching this closely :thumbsup:

So today it was time to have a crack at the butt end of the stock.
Basically all ally. Needs a lot of cleaning up yet and had a bit of trouble with contamination on the welds. Bit of a mk1 and open to suggestions.
Attachment 140013
Attachment 140014
Will attach an adjustable carbon cheek rest via tapped bolts into the ally recoil pad mounting plate.
Will also put a small bag rest bar in as in the last photo but didn't have the material.
Attachment 140015
Clamping bolts will be switched to Allen dome head bolts
I could have had the sleeve shorter but wanted it to be secure and does allow for some length of pull adjustment

@Remmodel7 where are the updates! Impatiently waiting in anticipation! :thumbsup:

@kiwi-adam been a bit of a slow process getting parts but finally got the metal work with suppressor fitted back on Friday so hopefully things should move a little faster now

Looking good.
Have you thought about making a mold for the butt stock to make a carbon part that slips over the tube?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SixtyTen

Looking good.
Have you thought about making a mold for the butt stock to make a carbon part that slips over the tube?

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Not yet but as the stock is essentially 3 components it could easily be swapped out at a later date for something different

Awesome!

Finally making some progress.
Moulds completed just need a little tidy up.
Carbon fibre this weekend
Would post pic but not working

Don't forget:
1- release agent
2- release agent
And 3 release agent!
I have learnt the hard way.

closed cell "polystyrene" is the go, it can be shaped in multiple ways, sanded etc then after moulding your carbon fibre over it you pour in the petrol and watch the styrene turn to gloop and pour out.
of course no use for making multiple stocks but for a one off its quick and easy

^^^Shit that's a good idea. F*ck ya for adding another project to my list when we are unleashed from the hospital:thumbsup:

Might as well leave the polystyrene in there for what it weighs. Only other issue with that method is that it will grow slightly compared to your mold. Also you can't add any textured or checkering surface to the outside surface

Texture doesn't bother me but, grow slightly compared to mold?

I'm probably just a dumbass but I don't compute. (Be gentle, I haven't had a lot of sleep for last 6 weeks)

If you use a fibreglass mold your outside dimensions are set. Ie if you make your mold by copying a factory stock the end product will be exactly the same. If you carbon wrap a plug it will end up bigger

Only reasonably slightly on the external dimensions though right?

I can live with a couple mm oversized for the loss in weigh.

Attachment 148328
First carbon out of the mould.
Attachment 148327
But of a stuff up with the epoxy but happy with the shape

@Remmodel7 looking good!
What's the weight of this first prototype?
Any thought towards making a mould of the Butt Stock and doing that in CF as well?

Total weight as it is is 550 but no bedding yet.
Body and tube only weighs 280.
All the weight in the butt is in the air cell recoil pad. Think I will ditch it for something lighter.
Haven't looked at a carbon but yet. Could try make one at some point

I'm aiming for the end product to be around the 500g mark

Looking good. How did you go about getting your centerline overlap to come out nice?

Very cool mate, I'm keen to see the completed stock.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SixtyTen

Looking good. How did you go about getting your centerline overlap to come out nice?

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@SixtyTen the two mould halves have indexing studs from when I moulded around the plug. When the halves are joined together they line up petty good.

Attachment 152894
Attachment 152895
Finally managed to get a complete stock together bit of a learning curve with the carbon fibre and the mk2 will be a lot tidier. Didn't really try to finish this one well. Just wanted to make sure that it all worked.

Also can anyone recommended a result light weight recoil pad? The stock with pistol grip weighs 501g. However the butt assembly weighs 260g. I'm thinking of fully redesigning the butt section. If anyone has any ideas or stocks that might work let me know

Yea I looked at shooting one of those adapting one. Ended up going full carbon. "Buffer tube" on this is full carbon as well. Maybe need to many some sort of carbon butt

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Remmodel7

Also can anyone recommended a result light weight recoil pad? The stock with pistol grip weighs 501g. However the butt assembly weighs 260g. I'm thinking of fully redesigning the butt section. If anyone has any ideas or stocks that might work let me know

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The Warehouse sell lightweight recoil pad blanks for around $2.50. They market them as jandals.
Or try your local para rubber, the high density foam for some packing cases or gym flooring would work.

jb weld epoxy (gun metal colored one) is the best epoxy i have found so far. dont make any mistakes this stuff is super strong!!

Or not bother with a recoil pad?
It is a Howa Mini, and the selection of cartridges don't offer much in the way of recoil anyway...