Fitting the nose cap???

[Razz]

I'm getting ready to fit the nose cap on my Va rifle from Jim Chambers, I'm wondering if it is too small?
Since a picture is worth a thousand words I'll add a few. I know I need to remove some more wood, the pencil lines are 1/16" from the barrel edge. Would it help to anneal the brass so I can work it better?
Thanks,
Razz

Here is a link to all my progress pictures Chambers Mark Silver Va Rifle

 

[William Joy]

You can bend it to fit....

 

[Herb]

You can call Chambers and ask them about it. I did. They make only one size nose cap. File the casting gate off the front. Set it on the slim waist of the barrel. Then you tap it forward, spreading the sides as you go. I still think it is too small and would have liked a larger one, but it worked.

 

[bioprof]

I wouldn't start bending the nose cap. You still have a lot of wood that you need to remove along the sides of the barrel channel. Most builders only leave 1/16" along the side flats and then sand it down to a knife edge. You need to fit the muzzle cap in place first and then work the nose of the stock down to the muzzle cap.

Most precarved stocks have a lot of extra wood that still needs to be removed. This allows for customizing and extra wood for carving. You can't thin out the forestock enough by machine; it requires hand work to get the precise dimensions.

The nose cap looks like it is the right size to me. Most beginning builders leave way too much wood along the forestock. Take off enough wood until it gets scarey, then take off some more.

 

[bingo1952]

As as already been mentioned file off the casting sprue. You can then file that half octagon to fit your barrel and square the rear of the cap. The octagon is way too small as is. After doing that fit the cap to the stock and finish the wood and brass together and it will be seamless.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Take off enough wood until it gets scarey, then take off some more.

Then you can break out the sandpaper or scrapers depending on the flavor you choose, and get it down to final finished dimensions.

:shocked2:

 

[Birddog6]

Most likely it is the correct nosecap, but only one way to be sure. File off the casting sprue & turn the cap around & see if the cap fits the octagon of the barrel. Nutherwords put it on backwards. If the octagon is too small slightly you open it a lil to fit with a file. If it is too large you can close it up a lil in a vice but do it on the octagon end, not the open end as it will bend too much. If it is Obviously too small or too large, then ask Jim or Barbie for another one. And they do make them in several sizes.

To fit the cap, lay it along the wood & cut off the wood necessary on the end that would let the cap up far enough on the stock. Then I make a mark around the stock so I will have the cap out toward the muzzle (usually even with it) 1/8" more than I want, rasp the wood down & get it all fitted, then I work that last 1/8" off to get a really good wood/metal fit on the cap. I normally have the finished nosecap about 1/16" to 1/8" from the end of the muzzle.

:thumbsup:

 

[Mike Brooks]

I throw those away and make one out of sheet brass.

 

[Vaino]

I kinda agree w/ Mike Brooks...the cast MCs don't leave a whole lot of wood for attachment and I use "MicroBed" epoxy when the cast ones are used....Fred

 

[Roy]

I throw those away and make one out of sheet brass.

I have a few of them laying around too... :haha:

 

[Birddog6]

Depends on what I am building. Sometimes I use a cast one & sometimes I make them. Either way I use Acruglas under them & either a rivet or a screw countersunk from the indside & filed flush on the outside.
:thumbsup:

 

[varsity07840]

I've found that alot of them are made to fit the muzzle of a straight barrel- 7/8, 15/16 ,etc.
If you have a swamped barrel the muzzle widths are different and you usually wind up with one that has to be filed to fit.

Duane

 

[agill]

After you file the casting sprues off you can remove the barrel and then place the casting on the barrel below the muzzle where it is narrower and move it towards the muzzle. This will help shape the casting. I saw this on Ron Ehlert's "Assembling Kentucky Rifles from a Kit" DVD.

 

[Allan Gray]

After you file the casting sprues off you can remove the barrel and then place the casting on the barrel below the muzzle where it is narrower and move it towards the muzzle. This will help shape the casting. I saw this on Ron Ehlert's "Assembling Kentucky Rifles from a Kit" DVD.

Good tip! :thumbsup:

 

[Herb]

What I said. Chambers said they have only one size. You can call them and see what they say about it.

 

[Razz]

Thanks All. I am going to clean this one up and give it a go.