Captain1201
Plastic
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2020
I'm installing a steel bullet guide in the trunnion of a Saiga 7.62 x 39mm rifle. I'm in the process of converting the magazine well to receive standard AK47 magazines. The bullet guide just alters the height of the trunnion about an 1/8" or less, so the rounds will properly feed using standard AK47 magazines.
I am hand tapping a thru hole to fasten the bullet guide to the trunnion of the rifle using a round socket flat head screw. I always use plenty of tapmatic oil, and make a practice of going very slowly.
I've been using a drill/tap kit supplied by the vendor, which includes a 6-32 H3 tapered tap, drill, 6-32 socket flat head screw, and an allen wrench But, the taps have a tendency to break very easily. Breaking taps creates a real mess, trying to get the broken taps out of the hole. They break off right at the surface of the bullet guide, and they're a real pain to remove.
I realize that the vendor of the bullet guide kit isn't probably supplying me with the highest quality tap, probably mediocre quality, yet still affordable, and I don't want to spend a fortune either.
There's a "YG" brand tapered tap for around $6 on Amazon.com, which I would expect to be higher quality than the vendor is supplying, if it's not a fake, knowing Amazon.com these days, not to mention that six bucks sounds cheap for a "YG" tap.
Should I being using a different tap than a tappered tap in order to acquire some added strength in the body of the tap?
Should I drill a slightly larger diameter hole to reduce the amount of stress on the threads/body of the taps?
I'm not really sure of the drill size the vender is supplying in the drill/tap kit. There isn't really a lot of stress on the bullet guide, it just acts as a ramp that the rounds slide over so that the rounds chamber properly into the barrel. I blue locktite the screw as a precautionary measure so the screw doesn't back out from the recoil over time.
So, tapping a drilled hole that is slightly larger than recommended by the handbook for a 6-32 thread might provide sufficient holding power on the screw along with the locktite. If so, what drill size would you suggest?
Any advice on how to potentially remedy this issue would be very greatly appreciated!
I am hand tapping a thru hole to fasten the bullet guide to the trunnion of the rifle using a round socket flat head screw. I always use plenty of tapmatic oil, and make a practice of going very slowly.
I've been using a drill/tap kit supplied by the vendor, which includes a 6-32 H3 tapered tap, drill, 6-32 socket flat head screw, and an allen wrench But, the taps have a tendency to break very easily. Breaking taps creates a real mess, trying to get the broken taps out of the hole. They break off right at the surface of the bullet guide, and they're a real pain to remove.
I realize that the vendor of the bullet guide kit isn't probably supplying me with the highest quality tap, probably mediocre quality, yet still affordable, and I don't want to spend a fortune either.
There's a "YG" brand tapered tap for around $6 on Amazon.com, which I would expect to be higher quality than the vendor is supplying, if it's not a fake, knowing Amazon.com these days, not to mention that six bucks sounds cheap for a "YG" tap.
Should I being using a different tap than a tappered tap in order to acquire some added strength in the body of the tap?
Should I drill a slightly larger diameter hole to reduce the amount of stress on the threads/body of the taps?
I'm not really sure of the drill size the vender is supplying in the drill/tap kit. There isn't really a lot of stress on the bullet guide, it just acts as a ramp that the rounds slide over so that the rounds chamber properly into the barrel. I blue locktite the screw as a precautionary measure so the screw doesn't back out from the recoil over time.
So, tapping a drilled hole that is slightly larger than recommended by the handbook for a 6-32 thread might provide sufficient holding power on the screw along with the locktite. If so, what drill size would you suggest?
Any advice on how to potentially remedy this issue would be very greatly appreciated!