.38/.357 prototype

[Sparky_NY]

Sparky,

 Are you saying that you have a pile of not actual good bolts? I would call them good learning experiences if you do like me. They started way back in about 1985 with the very first attempts with the RG-G bolts that needed silver soldering, what a mess that was for me. I must have made over 30 of them to get 10 maybe use able ones. It wasn\'t until I met up with cutter on this forum and purchased some of his one piece bolts that I actually finished that gun and started a second one.

 

  The bolt material that I used on the 4 inch bolts and will probably use on the 5 inchers also is oil hardening drill rod. Not sure how well the material is going to drill for you with the pre- hardened stuff.

bruski

I bought 20pcs of 4140 prehard 9 inches long, 3/4 dia,  from a guy on ebay,  $2.00 each plus shipping.    I figured I would make a couple spares and have some for the .410 gat in the future.   I don\'t have any not good bolts, YET   LOL    4140 is what most gun makers use for their bolts as well as barrels.

 

The prehard isn\'t too hard (Rc28-30 ) and it has additives to make it free machining,  the real danger is work hardening if you dwell or take too light a cut,  the O1 drill rod you have will work harden about the same way.    I have a cnc toolroom type lathe with flood cooling, so I can do peck drilling and keep it cool.    We shall see how it goes.

 

I also learned a lot from building my 22 gun,  it started life as a D&E gun that I got about 80% done when I found out about all the problems people were having.    I started over, using only the frame and housing, making all new internals with the RGG design but smaller to fit in the DE housing.    I did the bolts with my own version extractors and flat firing pins.   The gun shoots great !    The experience from that taught me a lot both in machining and gatling gun design.    I am only a hobby guy, never did machining for a living.   I also have a jet 13x40 manual lathe and a CNC bridgeport with a 4th axis.

[Cutter]

I also have a few items and material left over

from previous builds. I’m going to build two

of these one with 3/4 bolts and one with 7/8

I have the 7/8 bolt blanks , carrier and

enough brass for a two piece pan.

I’ll pin them together and cut as one.

 

How many are being built around this forum ??

[4171]

I’m working on 2!

Mike

[Cutter]

So far we have

 

Sparky

Bruski

4171 = 2

RumRunr

cet119

Me = 2

[Sparky_NY]

I wonder what stage the various builders are at.    Some of them are very quiet,  I didn\'t realize that many were building them.

[4171]

I just started on the barrels.

Mike

[RumRunr]

Hello all- I am still getting materials,slow going because of how busy we are at work.. it\'s getting in the way of fun lol but unfortunately bills take priority.


I am following everyone and their thoughts and ideas, progress.


Cheers

[bruski]

Sparky,

 I like your bolt design with the AR-15 extractor. I am waiting to see how they will work on extracting before I cut any more extractor slots in the bolts. Still have plenty of other machining to do on them for now.

bruski

[Sparky_NY]

Sparky,

 I like your bolt design with the AR-15 extractor. I am waiting to see how they will work on extracting before I cut any more extractor slots in the bolts. Still have plenty of other machining to do on them for now.

bruski

Only problem I see is that its going to be quite a while before any actual extraction tests are made.      I looked at many extractor designs for rifles, the common thing I see is that the hook is curved to match the shell which gives far more contact area than a straight edged hook.     In that searching and looking I found the M16 style extractor is a very common upgrade for the remingtion 700 rifle which is a good sign.     Although its possible to use a off the shelf AR15/M16 extractor, I opted to make them so the curve would exactly match the 357 case and save some money, not to mention making my own is a good learning experience.     I made very similar ones for the 22 gat BUT they are extremely tiny,  they work exceptionally well.

 

Later, when I get into my shop, I will post some drawings for the M16 extractor that I found.    I found a 3d solid on grabcad for it as well as plain drawings.

[Sparky_NY]

M16/Ar15 extractor      files are for orig extractor

[Sparky_NY]

And here is my version.   Main differences are radius to match .357 case, raising the pin higher and making it easier to machine.  I raised the pin to enable a shallower boss there keeping the bolt cutout as shallow as possible for clearance to the firing pin.(edges of that boss still need radius/chamfer) Going to use O1 ground flat stock 1/4 thick and harden just the hook.     Both mine and the original have the floor cutout in the bolt .108 below the bottom of the extractor rear section where the spring sets.   Spring is original Ar15/M16 and there are a lot of aftermarket higher power ones avail too as well as the O ring trick.

 

Files are in F3d fusion 360 format and step file.

[Dave]

 

I also have a few items and material left over

from previous builds. I’m going to build two

of these one with 3/4 bolts and one with 7/8

I have the 7/8 bolt blanks , carrier and

enough brass for a two piece pan.

I’ll pin them together and cut as one.

 

How many are being built around this forum ??

 

Dont count me out! I still have 2 in the works! SOMEDAY!

[Stirlingking]

Hello all, especially Cutter.  

I hope this is the right forum to post this message.

Greg, “Deasertrat” (Desert Rat), join date June 8, ’15, passed away peacefully sometime last week, unexpectedly. 

We were each working on a RG-G Gatling Gun, though I was doing most of the fabrication/machining.

We were designating his model an M1868, and mine an X1968 “Experimental Vietnam model”, complete with flat black finish and all the earmarks of weapons of that period.

The 2 models were to be displayed and demonstrated together to contrast 100 years of “progress”.

I decided to complete Greg’s model in his memory.  I will be accelerating work on his and mine to make sure they are done this lifetime.

Now that I have committed myself with this post, I need to stick to my word.  I will be making more regular posts of progress, and hopefully find someone with a camera.

Put Stirlingking down for 2.

Regards.

- Ted

[Cutter]

Stirlingking,

 

Hi Ted,

Very sorry to hear about Greg.

“ Best friends live forever in the memories we keep “

 

I’ll definitely give you a heads-up next time I’m in Laughlin.

If I can help with the Ted & Greg projects, just let me know.

Take care

Cutter/Jerry

[Cutter]

The two piece pan is pinned together and fit

into the carrier. I’ll setup the pan today, cut tomorrow

well, that’s the plan anyway.

[bruski]

Started machining the bolts and as long as they were in the indexer, I cut a .125 x .080 deep x 1 inch long slot for some extractors that I have on hand from a 9mm gun. If they work out, I will post the part number for them. If they don\'t work out, I can always cut the pockets longer and deeper for something different.

bruski

[Sparky_NY]

Bruski and Cutter, both your work looks great !     You guys are really making progress.

[Cutter]

Setup, a simple program, push the button, take a nap.

I’ll be back in and hour.

 

(Geezer schedule) 

[4171]

 

Hello all, especially Cutter.  

I hope this is the right forum to post this message.

Greg, “Deasertrat” (Desert Rat), join date June 8, ’15, passed away peacefully sometime last week, unexpectedly. 

We were each working on a RG-G Gatling Gun, though I was doing most of the fabrication/machining.

We were designating his model an M1868, and mine an X1968 “Experimental Vietnam model”, complete with flat black finish and all the earmarks of weapons of that period.

The 2 models were to be displayed and demonstrated together to contrast 100 years of “progress”.

I decided to complete Greg’s model in his memory.  I will be accelerating work on his and mine to make sure they are done this lifetime.

Now that I have committed myself with this post, I need to stick to my word.  I will be making more regular posts of progress, and hopefully find someone with a camera.

Ted

Sorry to hear about your friend, Mike

[Cutter]

Start cutting bolts next, that’s going to take awhile