billfer Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I took a little time on my pro-e station this morning and came up with an idea for a slide rack for my ruger .22 I've got a program written to cut this tomorrow morning on one of the mills at work. I have 4 blanks cut and I hope to get at least 3 good ones from that.....we'll see. Once they are cut I'll need to drill and tap 2 holes for a 4-40 thread in the slide on my Ruger and attach the racker with 2 socket head cap screws (and a little locktite). I will post pictures on Monday of what I have before I send them out for anodizing then some pictures after install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Abrahams Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 nice work! i wish more people would start marketing slide rackers. there is just not much to choose from right now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Sweet. Nice to have another option. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billfer Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 I was able to get into the mill last saturday and machined 4 slide racks for the blanks I had. The job ran smoothly and all turned out well. The next job was to drill and tap the slide to enable me to attach the slide rack. Turns out the slide is a bit hard and my drill bit just skated around instead of drilling. I solved that problem with a carbide center drill. Once I got into the metal a bit everything was fine. Must be case hardened for a ways then softer once you break through. Anyways once I got the drilling and tapping done I took one home and put it on as you can see in the pictures. The next step is to send them out for anodizing. I'm thinking I'll just have them done in black to match everything else. I should be able to get them out in the next few days. When I get them back I've got one more feature to machine in and it will be done. I'll take some more pictures then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billfer Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 Here is a couple more pictures Once they are anodized they should look a little better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joecichlid Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 It kind of reminds me a little of one Power Custom sells. I thought about getting one seven or eight years ago but never did. The only major difference between your slide racker and their's is that they use set screws to clamp it to the bolt instead of drilling and tapping it. The trick with a .22 is to keep the weight down so as not to affect the cycle of the gun. Bt the way, how do you like your VQ upper? Another goodie I have been wanting for way too long. lol Joe W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Gonsalves Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Has anyone tried the Power Custom version? Billfer's looks nicer but I have no way to make one like it. Thanks! http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/Pro...p;s=25722#25722 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billfer Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 I put one of the slide rack parts on the scale and it weighs in at .298 oz. It will be somewhat lighter after I finish doing couple more cuts on it. Good point on the weight issue joecichlid. Didn't see the one Brownell's has before I started this one but, making my own has been more fun Oh and I just got the VQ a couple days ago and haven't tryed it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Billfer - Not a bad part. You might want to keep it in house and not for sale though. Power Custom Bolt Racker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Keen Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I've got the Power Custom slide racker on my Ruger and it works fine. Ive used it for Bullseye, and just general plinking at the range and it's never had one problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joecichlid Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 uscbigdawg I don't see selling it as a problem since it is a different design. With some lightning cuts or holes well placed it would be a great product. Nice thing is that if it is aluminum you can have it anodized in different colors unlike the Power one that is Ti. I say go for it, looks pretty good to me and my guess is that it would cost less than the Power one by a long shot. Joe W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billfer Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 I am fortunate that the the company I work for allows me to use their equipment for doing some of my home projects on my own time. It would be wrong for me to sell anything I make and benefit financially from it. This is just a fun little project I felt like doing and thought I would share its progress with others. Anyways.....long story short....not for sale. Check out some of the other parts I've made on my mini chopper build in the "show us your motorcycles thread". I got a second place award for it at a Donny Smith bike show in 2007. I enjoy doing this kind of work. Slide racker parts will likely be sent out early next week for anodizing. I will post pics after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgkeller Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Nice. Now do a left thumb rest like the ones open shooters use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joecichlid Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Very cool, I can't wait to see the anodized versions. Having access to tools like that has to be a blast. I wish i had access to a nice end mill so I could install a slide racker myself. Heck a lathe would be fun so I could make it too. lol Joe W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billfer Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 I got my parts back and as it turns out I had them hardcoated instead of anodized. I had a bunch of stuff going out for hardcoat and threw mine into the pile. The finish is more of an olive drab color and that works out fine for this job. I will say that the surface on these parts is HARD. In fact the tools I used to do the last couple cuts didn't like it to well. So I post a couple pictures with it mounted on my trusty Ruger just to see what you guys think. The picture quality is not too good but you get the idea. Billfer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joecichlid Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I like it. One thing you might look at is using lightning holes instead of the slot on the handle of the racker. It will add a little weight but greatly increase the strength of the part. I can attest to the fact that under the stress of a timer I have bent slide rackers, STEEL slider rackers. Keep up the great work, I can't wait to see more versions of your slide racker. Joe W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trodrig Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Can anyone tell me if the racker from Power Custom fits on the Mark III 22/45? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speculatorking Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 (edited) Can anyone tell me if the Power Custom Bolt Racker fits on the MKIII 22/45? Update, I found out today it doesn't fit. Edited December 12, 2009 by speculatorking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speculatorking Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) Just noticed Volquartsen Custom home page shows a new product "Bolt Assist for Ruger MKII and MKIII". Looks pretty slick. https://www.volquartsen.com/products/1080-bolt-assist-for-ruger-mkii-and-mkiii Edited November 16, 2010 by speculatorking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrinityIXP Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 I originally read this thread 6 months ago after the VQ Bolt Assist I purchased cracked after 3 months of use. I was pretty hacked off since the other VQ products I have purchased have been excellent. After a bit of research, I decided that my only real option for a MKIII bolt racker was to have one custom made. The first gunsmith (Briley Manufacturing here in Houston) refused my request becuase they felt the bolt material was too tough to drill/tap. I asked around various gunshops for a good 'smith and found a guy who would take on the request. He made the the racker out of titanium and directly attached it to the back of the bolt with some hex-head screws. I have put a few hundred rounds through my pistol with the racker and have had no consistent malfunctions or change in operation. Overall, I am quite happy with how it turned out. Anyway, thanks to the OP for the inspiration for this mod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tambarika Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Just noticed Volquartsen Custom home page shows a new product "Bolt Assist for Ruger MKII and MKIII". Looks pretty slick. https://www.volquartsen.com/products/1080-bolt-assist-for-ruger-mkii-and-mkiii i'm on my second one. they did a redesign since the first version cracked and broke at the joints after 100 rounds. second version is working well, although it needs to be retightened once per match. can't use locktite since i dissolve it during cleaning with brake cleaner. real poor customer service on this product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzShooter Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Nice. Now do a left thumb rest like the ones open shooters use. Buy a set of grips from NILS GRIPS in GERMANY. They are expensive but are worth the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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