U.S. patent application number 12/330409 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-07 for rimfire action platform conversion.
Invention is credited to Jarmo Kumpula, Timothy R. Ubl.
Application Number | 20120137563 12/330409 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46160876 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120137563 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ubl; Timothy R. ; et
al. |
June 7, 2012 |
RIMFIRE ACTION PLATFORM CONVERSION
Abstract
A rifle conversion platform assembly comprised of components to
fit around an existing action such that attachment locations such
as a hand guard, pistol grip, and butt stock attachment locations
are provided to have conventional rifle components, which in one
form may be components of a high caliber semiautomatic rifle such
as an AR-15, attached thereto.
Inventors: |
Ubl; Timothy R.;
(Hutchinson, MN) ; Kumpula; Jarmo; (Minnetrista,
MN) |
Family ID: |
46160876 |
Appl. No.: |
12/330409 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/75.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/16 20130101;
F41A 11/02 20130101; F41A 21/48 20130101; Y10T 29/49716
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/75.03 |
International
Class: |
F41A 21/48 20060101
F41A021/48; F41C 23/16 20060101 F41C023/16; F41C 27/00 20060101
F41C027/00 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. The housing assembly as recited in claim 3 where the main stock
has an adjustment system comprising a plurality of threaded
receiving locations; configured to be longitudinally adjusted with
respect to the stock before being attached to the action.
3. A housing assembly operatively configured to be fitted to an
action where by the housing assembly is configured to have a butt
stock, a pistol grip and a hand guard effectively mounted thereto,
the housing assembly comprising: a) a main stock having a pistol
grip mount region and a butt stock mount region and the main stock
operatively configured to be attached to the action, b) wherein the
action comprises a threaded first attachment location near the
longitudinal front of the action, and the action comprises a second
attachment region near the longitudinal rear of the action, c)
wherein the main stock comprises a first action attachment location
which is aligned with the first attachment location of the action
such that a threaded member passes through the first action
attachment region of the main stock and threaded into the first
attachment location of the action, d) wherein the main stock
comprises a longitudinally projecting interior extension which fits
within the second attachment region of the action to secure the
longitudinally rearward portion of the action within the main
stock, e) an optic mount configured to be attached to an upper
portion of the action, f) a hand guard mount having an attachment
portion which is operatively configured to be attached to the main
stock, the hand guard mount further having a threaded hand guard
interface region configured to have the hand guard mounted thereto,
g) wherein the pistol grip mount region and the butt stock mount
region of the main stock are configured to have the pistol grip and
the butt stock mounted respectively thereto wherein force applied
to the hand guard attached to the hand guard mount at the hand
guard interface region and force applied to the pistol grip mounted
to the pistol grip mount region is transferred to the main stock
which in turn transfers force to the action, and h) the optic mount
is operatively connected to the main stock by way of having the
action interposed therebetween i) where the hand guard interface
region is a threaded member and the hand guard comprises a female
threaded barrel nut and a forward hand guard portion attached to
the female threaded barrel nut.
4. (canceled)
5. The housing assembly as recited in claim 3 where the optic mount
has a picatinny rail in the upper portion thereof.
6. (canceled)
7. The housing assembly as recited in claim 3 where the action is a
10-22 action.
8. The housing assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the hand
guard attached to the hand guard mount is a tubular hand guard.
9. (canceled)
10. The rifle as recited in claim 11 where the action is an action
of a 10-22.
11. A rifle comprising: an action; b) an optic mount comprising an
upper ejection surface and a main stock comprising a lower ejection
surface, the upper ejection surface and lower ejection surface
overlay and provide unrestricted access to an ejection port of an
action; c) the action furthermore comprising a trigger assembly
which in turn comprises a trigger, d) a barrel mounted to the
action at a longitudinally forward location; e) the main stock
fixedly and removably attached to the action, the main stock having
an interior surface defining an action-receiving chamber, the main
stock further having a forward attachment location, a pistol grip
mount region and a butt stock mount region, f) the optic mount
attached to the upper region of the action, g) a hand guard mount
attached to the forward attachment location of the main stock, the
hand guard mount having a hand guard interface attached to a hand
guard, h) a pistol grip attached to the main stock at the pistol
grip mount region, and i) a butt stock attached to the butt stock
mount region of the main stock; and j) where the hand guard
interface is a threaded member and the hand guard comprises a
female threaded barrel nut and a forward hand guard portion
attached to the female threaded barrel nut.
12. The rifle as recited in claim 11 where the hand guard interface
is a male threaded member of the same outer diameter as the inner
diameter of a barrel mount.
13. The rifle as recited in claim 11 where the main stock and the
optic mount are fastened to one-another only through the
action.
14. The rifle as recited in claim 13 where the main stock is
configured to be first fixedly and removably attached to the
action, and thereafter the hand guard mount having a surface
defining a barrel passage is repositioned from a forward muzzle end
of the barrel so as to have the barrel pass through the barrel
passageway of the hand guard mount and the hand guard mount is
thereby operatively configured to be attached to the forward
attachment location of the main stock.
15. The rifle as recited in claim 14 where the hand guard mount is
not directly attached to the optic mount.
16. The rifle as recited in claim 14 where the hand guard, pistol
grip and butt stock are all attached to the main stock and the main
stock is attached to the action whereby any actual force applied to
the hand guard, pistol grip or butt stock is not directly
transferred to the optic mount.
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] Firearms training, and more specifically rifle training, is
a key element for supreme rifle craft. Training is an essential
element for proficiency in performance with any firearm, and in
particular a long gun such as a rifle.
[0002] Many shooters, whether in law-enforcement, military or a
competition, train with a rifle to be supremely proficient
therewith and maximize the shooter's personal performance. Although
dry firing with a rifle is an essential component, actual live
fire, which incorporates manipulation of a trigger ("breaking the
trigger" in common firearm parlance), the actual operation of an
action and the feedback of a projectile, namely a bullet impacting
a target is an important element of training. However, high-power
rifles and particular semi-automatic rifles generally use calibers,
which are expensive to shoot. Most high-power rifles utilize
centerfire cartridges such as .223, 7.62.times.39, .308, and .270
to name a few of the more popular centerfire cartridges. However,
the cost per round fired for a shooter can be very prohibitive when
the shooter is conducting a high volume of training or ammunition
expenditure is high in general.
[0003] Dry firing (firing a long gun without a live round in the
chamber or in the magazine) is a popular option to train many
elements of rifle craft, such as transitions, engagement, reloads,
trigger mechanics, and a plethora of other elements of
high-performance shooting. However, there still remains a need for
actual live fire for the shooter.
[0004] For certain training elements such as shooting on the move,
trigger mechanics work, target transitions and other training
aspects, live fire is a critical element of productive training.
For example, for training such as shooting on the move, the shooter
must undergo a high volume of training to coordinate their steps
with breaking the trigger. Mastering this skill can take a large
amount of ammunition expenditure to become proficient. Of course,
this is one example of why it is important for live fire
practice.
[0005] At the time of preparation of this application, ammunition
prices are rather cost-prohibitive. A common round as noted above
is the Winchester .223 and its close derivative, the 5.56 NATO
round. Although with economies of scale this particular cartridge
used to be relatively reasonable to purchase in volume, through
various present factors ammunition prices have nearly doubled and
almost tripled. An average cost for a single .223 round can be
anywhere between $0.35-0.60. Of course with a heavy practice
regimen of for example 1000 rounds, the cost of a training session
for the ammunition alone can be $350-$600.
[0006] However, the tried-and-true rimfire .22 long rifle has
remained at a relatively steady predictable price. This extremely
popular and tried-and-true round has been available in the
marketplace for decades and has a solid reputation for
dependability and general utility. Although other rimfire
cartridges are on the market and of course can be utilized in the
broader scope of the teachings of the disclosure below (along with
other centerfire rounds), by far and away the .22 long rifle round
remains an economical form of firing a round. At the time of this
preparation, .22 long rifle is available in bricks of 550 from a
cost range anywhere between $13 to $26 US. This of course provides
a cost per round of about $0.02-0.04 per round (where of course the
marketplace provides more costly ammunition with balance bullets,
precision measured powder loads, and other features which provide
more expensive .22 ammunition for precision shooting).
[0007] With regard to high-power rifles, a very common rifle
utilized by law-enforcement, military and competitive shooting is
the AR-15 platform. The AR-15 rifle system has many derivatives,
such as the AR-10 which is provided in .308 caliber, the M-4, and a
plethora of other variants. In general, the AR-15 rifle platform is
somewhat modular and generally comprises a lower receiver, a
trigger group in the lower receiver, an upper receiver, a hand
guard, a pistol grip and a butt stock. The upper and lower receiver
elements are at the central foundational structural components
where the external components including the hand guard, pistol grip
and the butt stock are attached thereto (namely, the pistol grip
and butt stock attached to the lower receiver and the hand guard
attached to the upper receiver surrounding the barrel itself). The
trigger group or trigger assembly is housed within the lower
receiver, where various aftermarket triggers such as triggers from
JP Enterprises.TM. can be placed therein. Therefore, it can be
appreciated that most shooters have become accustomed to the hand
guard, pistol grip and butt stock. Further, a necessary attachment
to their rifle is some form of an optic or sighting system.
Although iron sights are still utilized in some degree, generally
the trend in the firearms industry is to utilize an optic such as
an Acog, EO-Tech, Elcan, and a variety of magnified objects to
maximize performance of the rifle. For example, a common training
system is providing an Acog attached to the upper receiver and
further providing a red dot system such as a J-Point provided by JP
Enterprises.TM. attached thereto. This specific setup allows for
quick acquisition of a target with the J-Point reflect optic, and
further allows better accuracy through the Acog at, for example,
longer distances over 50 yards. The fundamental point is that it is
very important that shooters train with the same or very similar
platform as to the platform that will be used in performance.
[0008] A common .22 long rifle action is the Ruger.RTM. 10-22 .
This tried-and-true rifle system has been utilized in various
derivatives for decades. The .22 long rifle system is relatively
inexpensive and can be purchased for between $200-$350 for a
complete rifle. Further, the Ruger.RTM. 10-22 has various
aftermarket magazines and certain reloading components, such as the
Butler Creek reloader providing quick and convenient reloading of
magazines, in particular when a shooter is conducting a higher
round count volume training session, say of 300 to 500 rounds.
[0009] Therefore, there is a need in marketplace for a platform
conversion for a long gun with all of the external components of a
high-power rifle but yet utilize an inexpensive cartridge which in
one form is a rimfire .22 long rifle. A further element to be
considered is the accuracy of a converted rifle. Therefore,
provided in one is form a system where the elements that engage the
shooter, such as the butt stock, pistol grip, and hand guard and
all the forces upon these components are directly transmitted to
(for example) a main stock which can be attached to a Ruger.RTM.
10-22 action. As described in detail herein, having an optic mount
separate from a main stock and directly attached to the Ruger.RTM.
10-22 can provide better accuracy, whereby the relationship between
the optic or otherwise the sighting system and the action and
barrel is a direct connection and is not to be interfered with by
any forces applied to the gun by the shooter. In other words, the
fewer connections between the optic and the chamber provides for a
more direct desirable arrangement to enhance accuracy.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] Disclosed herein is a housing assembly configured to be
fitted to an action of a rifle. The housing assembly in one form
has a main stock, a hand guard mount and an optic mount. The optic
mount is configured to be attached to an upper portion of the
action. The hand guard mount has an attachment portion which is
operatively configured to be attached to the main stock. The hand
guard mount further has a hand guard interface region configured to
have a hand guard mounted thereto.
[0011] The main stock has a pistol grip mount region and a butt
stock mount region configured to have a pistol grip and a butt
stock mounted respectively thereto wherein any force applied to a
hand guard attached to the hand guard mount and further any force
applied to a pistol grip mounted to the pistol grip mount is
transferred to the main stock, which in turn transfers force
directly to the action, and the optic mount is operatively
connected to the main stock by way of having the action interposed
therebetween.
[0012] The housing assembly has an adjustment system in one form
configured to be longitudinally adjusted with respect to the stock
before being attached to the action. The hand guard mount emulates
a threaded attachment of an AR-15 upper assembly.
[0013] In one form the hand guard configured to be mounted to an
AR-15 upper assembly can be mounted to the hand guard mount and the
optic mount has a picatinny rail in the upper portion thereof. In
this form the orientation of the optic mount, the pistol grip mount
region, and the butt stock mount region are of a similar
orientation with respect to a trigger of the action as an AR-15 and
preferred base action is a Ruger.RTM. 10-22.
[0014] The hand guard attached to the hand guard mount is a tubular
hand guard in one form. The main stock is configured further in one
from to be first fixedly and removably attached to the action, and
thereafter the hand guard mount having a surface defining a barrel
passage is repositioned from a forward muzzle end of the barrel so
as to have the barrel pass through the barrel passageway of the
hand guard mount and the hand guard mount is thereby operatively
configured to be attached to the forward attachment location of the
main stock. In this form the hand guard mount is not directly
attached to the optic mount.
[0015] The hand guard, pistol grip and butt stock are all only
attached to the main stock in one form and the main stock is
attached to the action whereby any actual force applied to the hand
guard, pistol grip or butt stock is not directly transferred to the
optic mount.
[0016] Further disclosed herein is a method of converting a rimfire
action and barrel assembly to a different rifle platform. The
method includes retrieving the barrel and action assembly
comprising an action having a lower and upper region and a barrel
rigidly attached thereto. The method further includes positioning a
main stock to the lower region of the action and rigidly attaching
the main stock to the action. Then the method includes rigidly
attaching an optic mount to the action at the upper region thereof.
Thereafter a hand guard mount is attached to the main stock,
thereby passing the hand guard mount through the barrel where the
barrel passes through a surface defining a barrel passageway in the
hand guard mount. The hand guard mount further comprises a hand
guard interface region.
[0017] Thereafter the method includes rigidly attaching a pistol
grip to a pistol grip mount region of the main stock and further
attaching a butt stock to a butt stock mount region of the main
stock. Finally, the method includes attaching a hand guard to the
hand guard mount at the hand guard interface region. Of course the
above steps can be executed in different orders of operation. This
method converts the action to an AR-15 type platform where the
position of the hand guard interface region of the hand guard
mount, the pistol grip mount region of the main stock, and the butt
stock mount region of the main stock are all orientated with
respect to one another in a position of similar dimensions to an
AR-15. In one form of attaching the main stock to the action, an
adjustment system is provided where the action is longitudinally
positioned with respect to the main stock prior to rigidly
fastening the main stock to the action. The main stock can be
rigidly attached to the action by way of a threaded member
extending through a first action attachment location of the main
stock and engaging a female threaded portion and a first attachment
location of an action. Further the main stock is not directly
attached to the optic mount and is only effectively attached
thereto via the action interposed therebetween. Other variations
and aspects of the disclosure are enclosed herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a rifle system;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a rifle system;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a rifle system showing an
interior action and barrel assembly having a rifle conversion
platform assembly positioned therearound along with other rifle
components such as a hand guard, pistol grip and butt stock;
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a side exploded view of a rifle system where in
the central portion thereof are positioned the three main
components of the rifle conversion platform assembly which comprise
the main stock, the optic mount and the hand guard mount;
[0022] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the rifle conversion
platform assembly, not including the various screws and set screws
that are utilized therewith;
[0023] FIG. 6A shows an isometric view of an action and barrel
assembly which in one form can be a Ruger.RTM. 10-22 base
platform;
[0024] FIG. 6B shows a lower view of a the main stock;
[0025] FIG. 7A shows the action with a main stock mounted
thereto
[0026] FIG. 7B shows a rearward view of the main stock;
[0027] FIG. 8 shows a forward view of the main stock mounted to the
action;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a partial section view of the action in the main
stock taken along a plane perpendicular to the lateral axis;
[0029] FIG. 10 shows an isometric view of the main stock and the
optic mount mounted around the action with the action interposed
therebetween;
[0030] FIG. 11 shows the fore-grip mount rigidly mounted to the
main stock;
[0031] FIG. 12 shows an exploded view where the base assembly is
shown in the central portion and a hand guard, barrel nut, pistol
grip and butt stock are shown in an exploded view positioned around
the base assembly;
[0032] FIG. 13 shows the various attachments positioned around the
base assembly;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a side view of the isometric view shown in FIG.
13 where the hand guard mount is shown in a disengaged position
from the main stock.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, there is a rifle system 20. In general,
the rifle system can be generally broken down into a butt stock
region 22, a pistol grip region 24 and a hand guard region 26.
Before further description and still referring to FIG. 1, an axes
system 10 is defined whereby and is provided to help explain the
general relationship of components, but not necessarily limit such
relationships or narrowly define the orientation of the rifle, and
of course a vertical direction of the rifle could be positioned in
any direction relative to the flux field of gravity. The axis 12
indicates the longitudinal axis pointing in a longitudinal forward
direction. The axis 14 defines a vertical direction and
substantially orthogonal to axes 12 and 14 is the lateral axis 16
pointing in a first direction, with the axis 16' hereby defined as
a second lateral direction.
[0035] Referring ahead now to FIG. 3 there is shown an exploded
view of one embodiment of the present disclosure. Located in the
central region of the exploded view of FIG. 3 there is an action
30. In one form the action is a Ruger.RTM. 10-22 action which as
noted in the background is a popular platform provided by the
Sturm, Ruger & Co, Inc., and of course there are many
derivatives and third-party vendors providing components as well as
custom actions based on this platform. Of course in the broader
scope, other types of actions could be employed. Attached to the
action at a forward location 32 is the barrel 34. In general, the
barrel has a muzzle region 36. Further enclosed within the action
30 is a trigger assembly located at the region 38. In general, the
action has various attachment locations where as shown in FIG. 6A,
positioned at the regions 40 and 42 are first and second attachment
locations whereby the action 30 is operatively configured to be
attached to a stock. Oftentimes in practice a Ruger.RTM. 10-22
action may be purchased with a stock and the factory stock is
removed and discarded. The description of the first and second
attachment locations 40 and 42 will be further defined herein.
[0036] Referring back to FIG. 1, a complete rifle system 20 is
shown. Positioned near the pistol grip region 24 is the rifle
conversion platform assembly 44. As shown in FIG. 5, the rifle
conversion platform assembly 44 generally comprises a main stock
46, a hand guard mount 48, and an optic mount 50.
[0037] The rifle conversion platform assembly 44 could, for
example, be sold as a kit to individuals who own an existing action
and barrel, such as the Ruger.RTM. 10-22 action. In general, the
main stock 46 comprises a pistol grip mount region 50 and a butt
stock mount region 52. The pistol grip mount region 50 is
operatively configured to have the same profile as the rearward
surface 54 having a threaded attachment member therein so as to fit
a pistol grip 56 as shown in FIG. 4. In general, the location of
the pistol grip mount region 50 is positioned in an ergonomic
manner so as to have a similar dimension with respect to the
trigger 39 as shown in FIG. 4. As described above, having a
conversion platform so the user can use a cheaper rifle caliber and
an action provided to work with such cheaper ammunition is
desirable where the overall form and feel of the rifle assembly is
that of a high-power rifle, in particular an AR-15 derivative. In a
like manner, the main stock further has the butt stock mount region
52. As shown in FIG. 3, the butt stock 60 has an attachment
location 64 which is standard in the industry and modular in
nature. In a traditional AR-15, the butt stock 60 has a main spring
and a plunger housed therein. The main spring is configured to
absorb recoil from a bolt-and-carriage assembly within the upper
receiver. However, for purposes of the rifle conversion platform
kit, the main spring in one form is not employed. There are various
types of attachment mechanisms, but as shown in FIG. 7B it can be
seen how the butt stock mount region 52 comprises an upper threaded
portion 66 and a lower recess which is common in the industry to
fit an interface with the attachment locations 64 of the butt stock
60 (as shown in FIG. 3 where the butt stock is shown schematically
without a male threaded engagement portion or a notch extension).
Therefore, it can be appreciated that the pistol grip 56 and the
butt stock 60 are configured to be positioned in a similar
orientation with respect to the trigger 39 (see FIG. 4) to emulate
the higher caliber rifle.
[0038] As further shown in FIG. 5, there is an interior surface 70
which defines an action-receiving chamber 72 which is configured to
have the action housed therein as shown in FIG. 7A. Further, there
is a forward attachment location 68 having the threaded receiving
locations 75 configured to have a bolt attached thereto. Of course,
in other forms there could be other types of attachment mechanisms
such as female and male threaded members. In general, as described
below, the bolt is operatively configured to extend through the
openings defining attachment locations 78 of the hand guard mount
48 to fixedly mount the hand guard 48 to the main stock 46. Further
positioned in the longitudinal forward region of the main stock 46
near the forward attachment location 68 is a surface defining an
opening defining a first action attachment location which
corresponds in location to the first attachment location 40 of the
action 30 as shown in FIG. 6A (as further shown in the lower view
of FIG. 6B).
[0039] The action 30 as shown in FIG. 6A further comprises an upper
region 41 and a lower region 43. Further contained within the
action is a trigger assembly 45 which has an internal hammer, seer,
disconnector and other common trigger components. Further, an
ejection port 51 is provided with a bolt configured to be housed
therein. Further, the region indicated at 53 is a
magazine-receiving location where magazines with ammunitions
contained therein are configured to be mounted thereto.
[0040] Referring now back to FIG. 5, there is shown the hand guard
mount 48. In general, the hand guard mount 48 is operatively
configured to be fixedly attached to the forward attachment
location 68 of the main stock 46.
[0041] It can be appreciated that the hand guard mount having the
attachment locations 78 have a threaded member such as a hex bolt
(not shown) that is configured to pass through to rigidly mount the
hand guard mount to the main stock 46 in the manner described
further below. It should he further noted that the hand guard mount
has a hand guard interface region 84 which in one form is a
threaded member having a similar dimension in one form to an upper
receiver of an AR-15. By way of background, in general with an
AR-15 platform this threaded portion is utilized and a barrel mount
mounts the barrel rigidly to the upper receiver. The hand guard is
mounted to this nut. However, to allow an interface with custom
hand guards 61, the hand guard interface region is provided upon
the hand guard mount 48. Further, the interior surface 86 defines a
barrel passageway to allow the barrel 34 of the action 30 to extend
therethrough (see FIG. 11).
[0042] Now referring back to FIG. 5, the final component of the
rifle conversion platform assembly 44 is the optic mount 50. In
general, the optic mount 50 has an action attachment location 90
which is configured to fit upon the upper region 41 of the action
(see FIG. 3). As further shown in FIG. 5, there are a plurality of
openings 92A-92D which are provided and correspond in location
about their center axes to the upper openings 94A-94D. In general,
it is common that the upper portion of an action has a plurality of
threaded recess portions for mounting optics thereto, and other
paraphernalia. Therefore, the openings 92 have an interior flange
cylindrical portion to have force from a small bolt member,
specifically an hex bolt, mounted thereto. The optic mount 50
further has an upper region 96 which in one form comprises a
picatinny rail which is conventional and configured to have a
plurality of types of optics such as scopes or iron sights mounted
thereto. The picatinny rail 98 began as a prescribed distance from
the other components, namely, a pistol grip 56, hand guard 61 and
the butt stock 60 to have a similar dimension and platform as an
AR-15 in one form.
[0043] With the foregoing description in place, there will now be a
detailed description of one form and method of converting an action
33 to a different platform. Initial reference is made to FIG. 6A
which shows an action 30 having a barrel 34 attached thereto. What
is shown in FIG. 6A can be conventionally found and what is
schematically shown in FIG. 6A is the underlying platform of a
Ruger.RTM. 10-22 or of course other base platforms could be
employed in the broader scope. Referring now to FIG. 7A, it can be
seen how the main stock 46 is positioned around the action 30. More
specifically, the interior surface 70 which defines the action
receiving chamber 72 (see FIG. 3) is positioned around the action
30. At this juncture it should be noted that as shown in FIG. 8,
there is a view taken from a longitudinal forward vantage point
where it can be appreciated that the barrel 34 is attached to the
action 30 by way of a barrel attachment block 98. However
positioned below the block 98 is a forward extension 100 which is a
part of the main stock 46 and also forms therein the first action
attachment location 74 which is best shown in FIG. 5. In general, a
preferred form of mounting the main stock 46 is to first attach the
main stock 46 to the second attachment location 42 (see FIG. 6A and
more particularly FIG. 4) of the action 30. Normally, the ledge as
shown in FIG. 6B is mounted to a stock and more particularly
mounted to the interior extension 102 which operates as a second
action attachment location as shown in FIG. 6A of the main stock
46. As further shown in FIG. 6B the lower portion of the action
receiving chamber 72 is shown where in the forward portion a
magazine receiving area 71 is provided.
[0044] Thereafter, the main stock 46 is rotated so the action fits
within the action receiving chamber 72 (see FIG. 3) and thereafter
a threaded nuts specifically passes through the first action
attachment location 74 (see FIG. 5) and mounts the main stock 46
rigidly to the action 30 as shown in FIG. 7A. However, a preferred
method of mounting the main stock 46 to the action 30 will now be
described below.
[0045] In general, there are numerous models of Ruger.RTM. 10-22 s
in the marketplace. The dimensions of each model which extends back
through decades, and further includes many aftermarket dealers
making some of the components, provides a challenge to have a
retrofit-type device to this particular action. Therefore, in order
to position the action 30 with respect to the main stock 46, one
technique is to utilize the threaded receiving locations 34 (see
FIG. 7A) and place set screws therein so as to properly position
the action in the action receiving chamber 72. Further, as shown in
FIG. 7B there is a rear view of the main stock where it can be
appreciated that recessed in the lower chamber 106 is a threaded
portion adapted to receive a set screw to provide a rearward
longitudinal engagement with the action 30. Therefore, after the
action is properly configured and placed within the main stock, a
threaded member such as a hex screw can thereafter pass through the
first action attachment location 74 as shown in FIG. 6B. Referring
to FIG. 9, there is shown a partial cross-sectional view where it
can be seen that the action 30 is configured to be engaged through
the threaded receiving locations 75.
[0046] Now referring to FIG. 10, there is shown the optic mount 50
which is now positioned on top of the action positioned therebelow.
As described above, small threaded members such as hex screws can
pass through the openings 94A-94D to the openings 92A-92D to
rigidly mount the optic mount 50 to the action.
[0047] It therefore can be appreciated that with the proper spacing
of the main stock 46, the optic mount 50 would not directly touch
the main stock 46 or at least significantly touch the main stock so
as to have force applied to the optic mount. As described above, by
utilizing the set screws to position the action with the main stock
46, it can be appreciated that the main stock 46 is only connected
to the optic mount via the intermediate and interposed action. In
one form, after the optic mount 50 is mounted, the installer will
tighten and fasten the screw passing through the first action
attachment location 74 of the main stock 46 so as to securely
fasten the main stock to the action 30. As shown in FIG. 10, it can
be appreciated that the surfaces defining the partial openings 112
and 114 are provided so as to allow access to the ejection port 51
of the action 30. Further, a charge handle attached to the bolt can
extend therethrough. Now referring to FIG. 11, it can be seen that
the hand guard mount 48 is attached to the main stock 46 by way of
having screws pass through the attachment locations 78. In general,
within the recess portion 78 is an annular flange to engage the
head portion of the screw. It can be appreciated that the barrel
passage 86 allows the barrel 34 to pass therethrough, and in a
preferred form the forearm mount 48 simply passes down the end of
the barrel and is thereafter mounted to the main stock 46.
[0048] Now referring to FIG. 12, there is shown the base assembly
120 which in general comprises a rifle conversion platform assembly
44 (see the components as shown in FIG. 5) as well as the interior
action 30 which is substantially encompassed by the rifle
conversion platform assembly 44 and the barrel 34is protruding
longitudinally forward therefrom. As mentioned above, the hand
guard mount 48 comprises the hand guard interface region 84, which
emulates a barrel receiving location of for example an AR-15.
Therefore, a barrel nut 122 having an interior threaded portion at
the approximate location 124 can be threadedly engaged to the hand
guard interface region 84. The barrel nut 122 in one form can have
a hand guard interface 126 to have the hand guard 61 the rigidly
mounted thereto. As shown in FIG. 14, an emulated gas block 128 can
further be provided, which in one form may have an upper picatinny
rail portion 130 which can be utilized to mount a front sight
thereto. Still referring to FIG. 14, it can be appreciated that the
hand guard can have, for example, attachments so a picatinny rail
132 can be mounted thereto, or other types of attachments such as a
second optic or even a primary optic, sling mounds, bipod mounts,
light rail mounts for various types of attachments including
lasers, lights and other illuminating paraphernalia. In general,
the platform is set up to allow the shooter to have any type of
attachments which they would normally mount on their high caliber
rifle.
[0049] With regard to a best mode of carrying out a method of
converting an action and barrel assembly there will now be a
detailed discussion of one way of such a converting. The first step
is to retrieve the following components:
[0050] Main Stock Body
[0051] Scope Rail Shroud
[0052] Fore Arm Adapter
[0053] (1) 1/4-28.times.1'' SHCS--for hand grip
[0054] (1) #12-24.times.1'' CS
[0055] (2) #10-32.times.0.87'' SHCS
[0056] (4) #6-48.times.0.210 THCS
[0057] (2) #10-32 nylon set screw
[0058] (1) 1/4-28 nylon set screw
[0059] The assembly can be as follows. First removing the barreled
action from the factory stock and if there is a factory sporter
barrel, removing the rear sight from the barrel. Installing the
1/4-28 nylon set screw into the rear of the main stock body and the
(2) #10-32 nylon set screws into the front of the main stock body.
These screws are designed to take up any play between the barrel
action and AR22 main stock body.
[0060] Inserting the barreled action into the main stock body. In
one form the installer will have to click the safety to the `1/2
way position` to clear the sides of the stock body. In one form the
installer place the rear of the barreled action in to the rear of
the main stock body, then rotate the rest of the receiver down into
place. In one form the receiver can be bedded into the stock. The
#12-24.times.1'' CS will be used to secure the front end of the
barreled action, but it should not be tighten at this phase. The
installer then attachs the Scope Rail Shroud to the top of the
barrel action, using the (4) #6-48.times.0.210 THCS. A threaded
adhesive can be utilized. The installer can then mount and adjust
the 1/4-28 nylon set screw so that there is approx 0.010/0.020 gap
between the back of the scope rail and main stock body. Thereafter
the installer can tighten the (2) #10-32 set screws to keep the
barreled action from moving back and forth with respect to the Main
Body. The #12-24.times.1'' CS are then tightened and the receiver
should be locked in place. Finally the Fore Arm Adaptor is attached
to the front of the main stock body using the remaining (2)
#10-32.times.0.87 SHCS. Thereafter AR-15 accessories at this time
can be added at this time whereby typically following the
instructions included with those parts. With regard to free float
tubes, because the tube is notn holding a barrel in with the Tube's
nut, there is no need to torque the nut on tightly. Instead, apply
a thread locking compound such as a serviceable type and align the
nut properly and let set up.
[0061] While the present invention is illustrated by description of
several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are
described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to
restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to
such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the
scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed
in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not
limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and
methods, and illustrative examples shown and described.
Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without
departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' general
concept.
* * * * *