New Bolt Action

[BigGrib]

So i started making my prototype bolt action for a tennis ball barrel and was wondering what everyone thought of it. It is a 2.5" barrel with a couple of 2" - 1 1/2 bushings glues together. right now it is only a little bit longer than the uh breech but will be extended to cover the slide for the bolt handle so pressure doesn't escape when fired. other than that the bolt is very very tight (seals well) in the barrel and was thinking about cutting grooves for orings but want to fire it a few times before cutting into the bolt to set orings in it. anyway like i said this is just a prototype not actually set in a real barrel yet, so i'm always open to suggestions about anything i can do better.

Updated New Title I finished the prototype and integrated it into a new tennis ball barrel for my big 1 1/2 pneumatic which will be remade considering the valve is too far forward on the over under style.

Anyway here are some new pictures of the integrated barrel/bolt action system. I had to lengthen the bolt so that it covered the bolt handle slide in the closed position. in the open position the bolt slides back far enough so the tennis ball can be loaded. It take a little push, something that a spring fed clip could easily handle.

I'm going to find a nice meaty spring to go inside behind the bolt to automatically slide the bolt forward on it's own or with a little assist from the shooter because it does take little push to pop the tennis ball past the tapered lip into the barrel and hopefully to keep the bolt closed as i do not want a forward slide lock. There is however a rear slide lock to lock the bolt open so you can load a new ball.

Now based on this design would anyone have a way to make this a semi automatic as far as the bolt system goes, i already have a design for the clip.

Any input would be appreciated.

[tansit234]

I like it, I notice you still need to cut the lock groove along with the o-ring grooves. Looks sturdy though. Better than the sliding barrel versions for sure, cool lookin bolt handle too

[BigGrib]

one thing i forgot to add on the real thing there is going to be a big mean spring that pushes the bolt forward hopefully i can get one strong enough to push the tennis ball forward into the barrel, therefore the bolt lock is actually in the back and down. i have been playing with it and i duct taped it to the end of my tennis ball barrel after extending the length of the bolt by 2 3/4 inches to cover the bolt slide and putting a tennis ball in the end past the bolt and firing it and it seals very very well so unless i start seeing leaks i dont think i'm gonna put orings in it. especially because i think going back and forth against the open breech would kill the orings.

[qbnbountyhunter]

Nice!, I like it, the bolt handle is so sexy, a nice spring would definetly give it a more realishtic "cha-ching!"

[BigGrib]

yeah that bolt handle is a drill bit extender it's just sitting in there right now, i'm gonna fix a way for it to screw into a sleeve inside the bolt itself,

[tansit234]

you could try winding your own spring with some stiff wire if you can't find one you like. best way is to do a solid pack of coils and stretch it. the more you stretch and compress it the stiffer it will get up to a point.

[BigGrib]

thanks for the tip, i'll have to try it cause the spring i want is really specific, just a hair under 2 inches diameter and 7 inches long with like 15-20 psi