Steel for A 50BMG

[wonderwolf]

weasel_master and I were talking today about the steel needed for my 50BMG bolt action I've had in the works since last march.

I'm finally getting around to getting the receiver steel for it and was originally going to get 4140/4130 tube but that was going to be expensive seeing that the receiver tube is 2.5" OD X 2" ID given 1/4" walls and 36" long. I had a couple of guys who pointed out the receive is just taking the recoil and non of the pressures so I looked at some lower grade steel tube. 1020 A513 was recommended to me but weasel_master pointed out that it might be too hard and brittle for my application. So you guys with machine skillz (big steve?) let me hear what you have to say on the subject. I really want to get the 50 done this month as I'm in a large machine shop and have access to lots of tools.

I don't have any CAD skills so if you want a picture of what I'm kinda going for I'll have to scan or take a picture of my ideas on paper. but the way the bolt is going to sit on the gun is going to be much like the steyr 50

The other specs I can give right now is I'm using 4130 for the bolt and barrel extension using a M2HB turned down to fit in the long receiver tube. 3 locking lucks on the front for sure...might be able to fit a 4th for a rear lug (shallow).

[Big Steve]

36'' long? What, does the butt pad go right on the end of it? If it can be mild steel just get some 1018 DOM tube. Or if you want it cheaper get welded seam. That rifle in the pic doesn't look to me like the rec. is 3 feet long.
Steve

[wonderwolf]

The receiver tube is going to encompass the barrel and barrel extension to the forward part of the barrel where the barrel will be threaded.

The pic of the steyr 50 is mostly just to show how the bolt will be in relationship to everything...I have things down on paper...I'll find a way to post something to show how its gonna work. The butt pad will not go on the tube like the holmes design shows the receiver tube will transition to the bolt guide tube then the butt plate will be mounted on that. prolly more confusing than it should be but it makes sense in my head. :icon_biggrin: trust me I stayed at a holiday in last night


I'm about to pull my hair out with this steel thing.....Everywhere I look they don't list the alloy (1020,1018 etc) they simply just say DOM (which I finally figured out means drawn over mandrel hehe I'm smart).which really tells me nothing though for the prices I'm seeing $45 for 36" pc 2.5" od 1/4" walls I'm sure its a lower grade like 1018.