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Gunsmithing Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

LRI

LRI

Lance Criminal
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Mar 14, 2010
    6,346
    7,709
    53
    Sturgis, S. Dakota
    www.longriflesinc.com
    #1
    Been a little while since I updated anything about this rifle. This is a Barnard action switch barrel gun for Palma and NRA 600 any/any matches.

    I made a few changes on this rig from the standard Barnard stuff. Most notable was the addition of a recoil lug between the action/barrel and enlarging the ejection port a bit. I also pulled everything to the rear more than I usually would so that the owner could peel cases from the port without having to stretch as much.

    This thing is chambered in 6mm CM as it sits. An interesting cartridge. You start with a 243 Winny and end up with something that resembles some inbreeding between a Gibbs and Ackley cartridge. The customer and I suffered a bit of a learning curve as there was a slight goof up with some of the chambering tooling. I guess there's been a few revisions with the cartridge and we ended up with version "B" reamer along with version "A" gauge. Made for a very puzzling phone call when the owner told me he won his first 600 yard match with a 200/13x (while fireforming mind you) but his brass was almost .100" longer than it should have been!

    Needless to say I was mortified (I assumed I somehow chambered the rifle too deep) and when I got the barreled action back I was even more puzzled when the GO gauge plopped right in with .001" clearance.

    More phone calls. . .

    As stated, we got it all sorted and she's a healthy gun now.

    Here's some photos. I'll start from the beginning

    PARTS!

    DSC_0083.jpg


    Taking #'s from the action:

    DSC_0088-1.jpg


    Puter doodles

    DSC_0091.jpg


    Writing code from the Barnard barrel tennon prints (which I later changed as there's a few things I wanted different)

    DSC_0084.jpg


    Barrel work:

    DSC_0087.jpg


    DSC_0098.jpg


    DSC_0113.jpg


    Houston, we have a barrel tennon:

    DSC_0087-1.jpg


    Inletting the stock begins:

    DSC_0011-1.jpg


    DSC_0005.jpg



     
    #2
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    Here's some more:

    Primary inlet with the mounting holes for the accy rail:

    DSC_0038.jpg


    Making the rail: (FROM A-2! -cuz I can
    smile.gif

    DSC_00022.jpg


    DSC_00012.jpg



    The trigger guard was a biche. No gettin around it. Pulling the action to the rear complicated things. I knew it would and finding an elegant solution took me awhile to sort out. I liked the end result. This is a two operation part.

    DSC_00124.jpg


    DSC_00213.jpg


    DSC_0001-3.jpg


    Now for some cheek piece hardware. Again all scratch built.

    DSC_0063.jpg


    DSC_00333.jpg


    Buttplate assy installation:

    DSC_00302.jpg


    DSC_00343.jpg


     
    #6
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    Thanks for lookin! Hope you enjoyed!

    I've wanted to do a Palma gun like this for a long time. Nice wood and an identity with traditional wood guns with all the black metal parts. I'd of liked to coat the barrel and anodize all the aluminum stuff but the customer had to rein me in a bit. probably for the best since this is a "working" gun that he'll shoot the dickens out of.

    Comments welcome.

    C
     
    #12
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbell</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Son , thats finer than frog hair. I am very impressed w/ how that turned out. What wood and how was it finnished? </div></div>

    jbell,
    I will jump in here and answer this one for you. The blank is a piece of Turkish walnut from Luxus Walnut in Ohio. Great people to work with. The finish is about a month worth of work mostly watching each coat dry.
    The stock was finish sanded dry down to 400 grit being careful to use a block or hard rubber backer to protect the corners and flats. I dont like SHARP corners but did not want them rounded over either.
    Once dry sanded the work starts. First I kept the stock wet with Dalys Teak oil for almost 16 hours to be sure it had a chance to soak in. Then starting with 400 and working through each grit to 1000 I wet sanded with the oil and let it dry thouroghly doing each grit twice. Then I wet sanded to 1500 as many times as needed to make sure the pores were full and the surface smooth. Then you just keep rubbing a coat of oil in with the heel of your hand until you get the desired sheen.
    You can control the sheen with the number of coats you apply. The more coats the shiner the sheen. The most important thing is to let each coat dry completely before applying the next, otherwise you will get nowhere slowly.
     
    #15
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    You know, I can't see the photos that well on my computer. Could you just ship the rifle to me so I can take a look at it?





    Well, it was worth a try. Beautiful job.
     
    #18
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cinch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very nice, Chad. How's the new shop coming? </div></div>


    First, thanks for the kind words. Very, very appreciated.

    As for the shop:

    I don't have any photos as of yet. The landscaping is being completed now. The building is essentially done. In floor heat, lots of lighting, and MORE ROOM!

    As for when to move in? Knowing my luck it'll be a week after never and during a snow storm.
    smile.gif


    It's all I can do right now just to keep up with the work load. You guys are killin me. (bring it on!)

    Again, thanks for the kind words guys. Nice to hear.

     
    #19
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    Sweet rig. I have two Barnards myself; they are great actions, and the trigger is endlessly adjustible.

    I love the Walnut stock. Who did your basic shaping of the stock from the blank?

    I'm thinking of having another wood stock rifle built.

    JeffVN
     
    #22
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    nice work on the rifle.

    The person that asked about the bolt stop they are little pins that slide in a grove in the bolt and then has a dog leg in the front of the bolt so when you remove the bolt you have to lift the bolt handle again to around verticle and the bolt slides straight out.

    If anyone is looking for stocks for Barnards a standard Rem type blank can not be used as the Barnard Trigger is longer and the action is a larger diameter so you must use a slightly different blank but i know MasterClass can supply the blanks if you are looking for one. It is interesting that you went with the recoil lug instead of the cross bolt in the stock for bedding it would likley retain the recoil better with that full sized lug but most of the ones we build we use a recoil spiggot and alloy v block to bed them on it is an advantage if it rains this way as theaction sits on the sides of the V and it becomes a water tite junction but there is clearence betweenn the bottom of the action and any eain just flows away we also do other actions on them like Lawtons.

    I think you did an amasing job on the rail do you have a total weight on the rifle it must be fairly heavy? but the blued rail and trigger guard realy look great nice job.
     
    #23
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    My reasoning for the lug:

    I was an assistant armorer for the 2003 US Palma Team. My best friend David Karcher was on the team that year and he'd spent a nice chunk of change to have a rifle put together on a CG Millenium action after making the tryouts.

    A very well known/respected plumber in the Palma circles built the rifle for him and it was a very nice piece from all outward appearances. Initial testing proved that it was a minute of pie plate gun for accuracy though. Vertical, big round groups, etc. . .

    He brought the thing to me and I went from one end of it to the other. I put on a new barrel, completely rebuilt the stock (a Robertson Composite H/H) and pulled my hair for weeks to get this ready for worlds in Bisley.

    I laminated carbon fiber inside the stock and bedded the gun over and over to get rid of the vert. in the groups. No one could understand how the thing could shoot sub 1/3rd minute for half a string and then suddenly go bezerk and trace the entire 8 ring.

    IN THE END I finally figured it out. The CG action didn't use a conventional recoil lug. It relied on little rubber/plastic washer thingy's that the guard screw went though in the stock. Then it registered in sort of V shaped wedge block made from AL in their stock.

    The guy that built it made a lug that screwed to the action via one of the guard screw holes. It had been bedded conventionally afterward.

    The problem was the lug. There wasn't' enough of it and it was only held into the action by 2 threads. (seriously) Take a block and attach it to something by two threads then whack on it with a hammer. It doesn't take a genius to figure out it's not going to stay put regardless of how nice its machined. Because of the builder's reputation/notoriety I never questioned it or even looked twice at it. Lesson learned: when they don't shoot and you didn't build them, leave no rock unturned.

    I found all this out too late. David took his Tubb 2k rifle to Bisley and shot it instead. He did well but was very disgruntled over the whole gun thing and who originally built it. Considering he blasted the nationals the year before (2002 national champion in Service Rifle) I have no doubt he had the snuff to win.

    What I learned:

    There's a reason why a lug goes between the barrel and action: It works. It works every time so long as it's made right, fitted well, and bedded properly. there's a reason why it's a good idea to make it part of the action: It also works and performs well.

    I'm sure there are all kinds of examples of other recoil systems that are just as good, however I really doubt that a guy will be able to argue that one clearly stands out as the best.

    Engineers can bicker all they want. There's too many Remingtons, Nesika's, BAT Machine, and other brands out there at the 1k yardlines at Perry, Raton, Canada, etc for it to be really conclusively argued.

    Every Palma gun I've built to date is capable of a solid 1/3rd minute of elevation hold at 1K when in competent hands and none use anything more exotic than a tombstone shaped washer between the barrel and action.

    Thanks for asking, great question and hope my answer helped.

    C
     
    #24
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    Thanks for your answer we build a lot of Palma rifles and Geoff not only did nis firle but James Corbets for the Comm GAmes but we wont go into that here as it was a farce with the electronic target failures.

    Anyway the Millinium rifles are totaly different and if i was to bed in conventionaly a recoil lugg would be a good option. we use the flexi bed bedding systems with the hard rubber inserts but if people do not know how to set them up correctly they will never shoot.

    Also just wondering do you have any pillars for 1.6" diameter actions? i think you said you make them from stainless steel? i have to bed a 375 on a 8000 action.
     
    #26
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    This is the first test target. went to the range yesterday to get the front sight leveled up, that took about 10 shots. It was starting to rain so I had to cut the range session short plus deer season is coming here in MI. so all the idiots were out in force.

    Group details:

    Barnard palma rifle
    6mm Competition Match
    Berger 105 VLD
    Win case
    Rem. 9 1/2
    47.0 H-1000 Fireform load
    Bartlein SS 1-7.5 5R 30"
    Rifle built by Long Rifles Inc. Chad Dixon
    5 shots iron sights 100 yds. .277" (no scope for this group)

    Sorry the picture is not better but you get the idea.
    dcp_0297.jpg
     
    #29
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    The 200/13x wasn't bad either!
    smile.gif
    Nice job John.

    Soooo Whats next??

    I'm still dying to build that "instantly disqualified from nationals nitrogen powered space gun in 22PPC". Nothing like a rifle with a tank strapped to the shooting stool! (or your back if you wanna look tactical. . :):)
     
    #31
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 200/13x wasn't bad either!
    smile.gif
    Nice job John.

    Soooo Whats next??

    I'm still dying to build that "instantly disqualified from nationals nitrogen powered space gun in 22PPC". Nothing like a rifle with a tank strapped to the shooting stool! (or your back if you wanna look tactical. . :):) </div></div>

    You got my entire 2010 gun budget and then some. We will have to see what the folks in Washington allow me to keep in 2011, less than 2010 I am sure. Just need people to losen up their wallets and start working on their homes again.
     
    #32
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mudcat-NC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hopefully I am never at John's house cause I suspect a certain rifle is going to come up missing!

    My gosh that is a beaut! Shooting good too I see.

    John
    </div></div>

    John,
    If you ever make it up to Michigan, your welcome at our house anytime.

    John
     
    #33
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    That's a bloody nice build mr C.Dixon - great work .Barnard's are such great actions - I have a bias as Steve one of the owners of Barnard and I shoot together a lot so each new rifle I have gets a Barnard action .I have slotted mine in the AIC stock with a recoil lug and am currently building one to fit into the Bell and Carlson A2 Type stock -this stock is for a magazine but I am using a single shot chambered for a 284 shehane.I wont have a recoil lug but will recoil onto the two bolts half way down the action and fit an aluminum block to take up the recoil and fill the magazine space ,Here is a link I have posted before of the AICS being built
    http://brianherlihy.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album15
     
    #37
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    I'll see about gettin some photos going on the current build. An old Arnold Arms action fitted with a Kreiger chambered in 6mm Dasher and shoe horned into an Anschutz Benchrest stock.

    FRANKENGUN as it took the whole day today to whack out the existing inlet and then machine a tub for a block of cedar to serve as the new foundation to inlet and bed over.

    Not too shabby.

    I'm going home!

    nite.

    C
     
    #40
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: brokefromguns</div><div class="ubbcode-body">nice YAK-54 on the laptop! </div></div>


    RC planes are my escape mechanism. The summers here in SD are pretty nice and it's really hard to keep a good work ethic sometimes with a trailer full of planes to go fly. . .
    smile.gif


    That one is my "little one" with a DA-85cc gasoline engine. Wingspan is around 93-96 inches. Something like that. She's a terror in the sky.

    Latest projects include a successful modification of a Moki 2.1cid (34cc) glow engine that'll now buzz a 16x16 prop to over 10,200 rpm on the ground. (60% nitro)

    It's always interesting when my cop buddies show up and my bench looks like a meth lab from "cooking" up fuel for my race planes. Hydrometers, gallon jugs of nitromethane, methanol and Klotz oil. . .

    Fun stuff.

    Next is a 80cc twin rotary motor for my 42% Kelly all composite pylon racer to go compete in Formula 1 Pro (USRA) I want 3.5hp/cid. That will make this thing ultra competitive. Hopefully I won't have to use heavy dosages of nitromethane to get it. It's pretty hard on parts. (pistons/rings shed tears in presence of nitro. . .)

    I called JE race pistons a few weeks ago and they got back with me yesterday. Sending me 4 slugs of some new "unobtanium" grade of aluminum so I can machine my own pistons for this thing. Ultra high silica content so that they remain dimensionally stable under heat. My hopes are to delete the piston ring and run a "pinch" bore like the little Rossi, Nelson, and Jett Q-500 engines use. Less friction and more RPM potential. From what I've gathered it's tough to do on a 1.500" cylinder bore. I'm gonna give it hell anyway. I have a couple ideas and I recently met the CEO of Twin City Plating in Minneapolis and we had a good talk about coatings. He's confident he has something that might work for me.

    We shall see.

    Thanks for the kind words guys.

    C

    Gotta love winter projects. . .

    Here's what I got so far. Crank and rods are all done. Cylinders are turned and bored to near finish. Still have to cut the X and transfer ports. Waiting till I get the jugs and case done as I'm not sure where stuff's going to line up yet. One piston is done but I really want a ringless design so I am starting over on this. I'm hoping for 9500rpm on the ground using 20% nitro with a 19x20 pitch prop. (SuperCool props out of Australia)

    Getting into RC race planes can quickly become obsessive. . .

    DSC_0003-1.jpg


    DSC_0004-2.jpg


    FormulaONEKELLY.jpg


     
    #45
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    Nitromethane is funny stuff.

    It doesn't burn for chit. Pour some on the floor and toss a match at it and you'll get this lazy little blue flame.

    Hit the same puddle with a hammer and your likely to go shopping for a new hammer and forearm.

    It doesn't atomize for crap either. I "globs" in big ol fat drops. One of the tricks is getting the combustion chamber shaped so that the stuff will cling together in a big ol ball of kaboom right up near the plug.

    This is where port geometry becomes really important and it's exactly where I'm struggling. Alfred Jante conjured up an idea that I think I'm going to try. He said to incorporate a pair of transfer ports on each side with a pair of boost ports opposite of the exhaust. Set the geometry up so that they all shoot each other right on the dome of the piston. This will slow and condense the intake charge into a lazy fog that doesn't want to piddle out the exhaust port.

    Becuase Nitro is so much heavier than methanol I think I'm going to try this out. I have to have quite a bit of exhaust port duration/timing to make any power in the upper RPM (at the expense of killing some of the powerstroke) range so the more I can keep inside the cylinder during the exhaust/transfer cycle the better.

    I have some other ideas as well. I want a rear rotary/drum valve instead of reeds. It'll be a biche to start but I don't care. Just has to run hard at WFO. . .

    Silicon bronze is fine and I plan on it actually. I have a stick of 78236 on the shelf. It'll work so long as its plated. It'll be a disaster if I use a ring though. Too soft. Even with a plated (chrome) liner it's borderline. I really want a ringless setup as it'll transfer heat so much better. Ringed engines really depend on the piston ring to conduct the heat to the liner and out to the fins. Be nicer if the whole skirt did it instead. Just have to sort out the design so that it doesn't twist itself into something that bites the liner and sticks. (I have a suspicion this will be a rather steep learning curve-and expensive)

    We shall see. . .

    Fun stuff!

    Nite, off to go race go karts.
     
    #49
    Re: Barnard Palma Rifle completed.

    Here are some professional photos of the finished project. Just happen to have a friend who is a professional photographer.

    John

    06.jpg


    01.jpg


    04.jpg
     
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