titanium rifle action?

taiwanluthiers · Nov 7, 2017

I know they are out there and I'm seeing that 6AL4V titanium costs basically the same as pre hardened 4140 steel...

So is that grade of Titanium suitable for rifle receivers?

mhajicek · Dec 19, 2017

This has been languishing a bit, but hopefully it will get to you. I make orthopedic plates from 6AL4V, and have also used it for some medieval armor, so I'm pretty familiar with its properties. It's very rubbery compared to steel. If you make a spring out of Ti, compared to the same spring made from steel it will be a softer spring, but it will spring further before taking a set. This makes it very tough and durable, but could allow things to flex further than you would like under high pressures. It's also not as hard as a hardened steel, so it may wear a bit fast. For something like an AR upper and lower set I imagine it would be great though, and you could thin it out to make it very light. You can also hard anodize it which would help with surface wear, we do that to our bone plates.

300sniper · Dec 19, 2017

I'm about to do two Fuzion Ti actions with Proof carbon fiber barrels I believe they are going into CF stocks also. Seems like a nice combo for a long range hunter. I haven't started working on them yet, but I'm making sure to keep everything greased well.

mhajicek · Dec 19, 2017

300sniper said:
I'm about to do two Fuzion Ti actions with Proof carbon fiber barrels I believe they are going into CF stocks also. Seems like a nice combo for a long range hunter. I haven't started working on them yet, but I'm making sure to keep everything greased well.

Just looked those up. Wow they're expensive! Let us know if it's worth it!

tdmidget · Dec 19, 2017

But why? Because it can be done? Of course an action can be machined from Titanium, but why? How will it be better than current steels for this purpose? When the cost of machining it will be seriously higher, why? I remind you that this forum is called PRACTICAL machinist. It is not far out, ridiculous, just because it can be done, machinist. Even in the A10 aircraft , where the entire aircraft is built around a 30mm gatling gun, the major use of Titanium is armor for the pilot, not in the weapon. Where is the PRACTICAL part of this?

john.k · Dec 19, 2017

I seem to recall that one of the multitude of different sniper rifles the US military has been using has a titanium action.Seein as turbine blades are investment cast from various Ti allys,it should be possible to do likewise with an action.........Rugers used to be the gurus of Ti casting,so if you were really keen they could probably cast a one off for you.......at a price.

tdmidget · Dec 19, 2017

john.k said:
I seem to recall that one of the multitude of different sniper rifles the US military has been using has a titanium action.Seein as turbine blades are investment cast from various Ti allys,it should be possible to do likewise with an action.........Rugers used to be the gurus of Ti casting,so if you were really keen they could probably cast a one off for you.......at a price.

Stimulate that recall and tell us which one. This has nothing to do with turbine engines. Ruger is indeed at the foremost of investment casting, but not titanium and not one offs.

300sniper · Dec 19, 2017

tdmidget said:
But why? Because it can be done? Of course an action can be machined from Titanium, but why? How will it be better than current steels for this purpose? When the cost of machining it will be seriously higher, why? I remind you that this forum is called PRACTICAL machinist. It is not far out, ridiculous, just because it can be done, machinist. Even in the A10 aircraft , where the entire aircraft is built around a 30mm gatling gun, the major use of Titanium is armor for the pilot, not in the weapon. Where is the PRACTICAL part of this?

If lighter weight is your goal, I can see the practicality in it. This one here is built identical to his match rifle, except using a slightly lighter action (Deviant Hunter vs. Deviant Tactical), Proof carbon fiber wrapped barrel and KMW carbon fiber stock shell. He could save a little more weight with a TI action. It is nice to have a familiar rifle when shooting elk at 1k yards, but less weight to hump around.

quasi · Dec 21, 2017

shooting elk at 1k yards

ya right

JLarsson · Dec 21, 2017

quasi said:
shooting elk at 1k yards

ya right

Is there a particular reason you think that such a thing is not done? Not many people can - or should - but long-range hunting is becoming more and more common. The problem isn't getting equipment that is up to the task. The problem is sorting out the various ethical issues involved, the answers to which will vary from individual to individual.

300sniper · Dec 21, 2017

quasi said:
shooting elk at 1k yards

ya right

You don’t think it’s possible and happens regularly?

72bwhite · Dec 21, 2017

quasi said:
shooting elk at 1k yards

ya right

why not 2 legged varmints are taken at that range

why titanium receiver because they want it lighter,
same reason they have those real skinny barrels on light weight hunting rifles.
or the fancy carbon fiber ones, because they don't want to be humping a heavy
rifle up and over hills and what not.

quasi · Dec 21, 2017

can they be hit at that range , of course. Can they be killed humanely at that range? No. I am not aware of any expanding bullet that will expand at such a low velocity, unless you are using a 50BMG with explosive bullets.

Furthermore, long range hunting is a contradiction in terms. There is no hunting involved, it is Sniping more or less.

jonok · Dec 21, 2017

Shooting big game at more than 350 yards or so is just ballistic masturbation.

At that range, an inconvenient flea fart turns a kill shot through the steam room into a gut-shot, unrecoverable, slow agony death sentence for an animal that deserves better.

It's fun to watch the Sunday morning hunting porn where the dudes with the $4000 rifles pound sheep at a zillion yards after trekking a million vertical miles for the privilege, but it only stands to reason that for every animal they show a clean kill of, there were more we don't see that got hit, and died inhumanely.

michiganbuck · Dec 21, 2017

1000 yards and my 06 98 might drop 16 feet and wind swing almost 2 yards...So for the sake of the animal would not shoot over 400 yards..Most often I will not shoot over 200. Took my Santa Rosa Island 320" Roosevelt elk at about 160 yards.. with a 300 Weatherby in a Remington action. Wind and heart beating I could not steady so went prone and put my shoe against the barrel. first shot and kill shot about 1/2" apart. Had to stop him from going off the cliff.
Guess shooting bad guys I would take a 1000yd shot. likely take 3 shots to feel the range and kill on the forth, being lucky,

jonok · Dec 21, 2017

Pretty sure you and I need to go fishing or drink some beers...

300sniper · Dec 21, 2017

quasi said:
can they be hit at that range , of course. Can they be killed humanely at that range? No. I am not aware of any expanding bullet that will expand at such a low velocity, unless you are using a 50BMG with explosive bullets.

Furthermore, long range hunting is a contradiction in terms. There is no hunting involved, it is Sniping more or less.

A 230 Hybrid at 2000+ fps is still pretty devastating, from what I hear.

Buy if you don't have the skills to take a shot like that, or don't feel comfortable taking a shot like that, they please don't. But don't think there aren't people out there that are fully capable of doing so. They know their equipment and none of the ones I know would take the shot if they were not 100% confident in it.

jonok · Dec 21, 2017

Buy if you don't have the skills to take a shot like that, or don't feel comfortable taking a shot like that, they please don't. But don't think there aren't people out there that are fully capable of doing so. They know their equipment and none of the ones I know would take the shot if they were not 100% confident in it.[/QUOTE

Put it back in your pants, dude, it's not impressive...

I currently have 7 US quarters (in a frame, glued to a piece of parchment with inscriptions) that have 5 shots through (each of) them without violating the outside edge. Each of these represents a different rifle that I (personally) built, and each was at 200 yards.

I feel pretty good about my equipment and skills, and I still think that "long range hunting" is asinine.

(obviously, I wasted a few quarters along the way...)

jonok · Dec 21, 2017

Long range coyote shooting, on the other hand

michiganbuck · Dec 21, 2017

Buddy Wayne shot an elk across a ravine about 500 yards away.. Went down the side and back up to find a big brown bear had claimed his prize...You just walk away..

titanium rifle action?

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