Whack a break?

[ronin]

So I'm gathering the parts for a Mini G with the Beretta gas system. My only muzzle break options are the "builders gas lock", basically just a solid tube, and the 7" tri-comp. I've read where a few guys have cut down the tri-comps and rewelded them into a shorter version similar to the old 5" break. The challenge is finding someone to do that. My welding skills are really not up to that challenge. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

[Eli]

I'm curious about this myself!

Eli

[ronin]

I talked to a buddy today, he says one of his neighbors is some kind of machinist or such and may be able to do this. Hope to hear something soon on this...

[ronin]

Just checked out the Standard Parts site again, they have some 6" breaks in, similar to the tri-comps and more expensive. They show an interesting pic of a "five ring barrel" and say this is the type of barrel that must be used with this break in order to maintain barrel alignment. Of course, if you cut one down that's probably not an issue.
The more I look at it, and the less success I have with finding someone to cut the thing down, the more I lean towards just getting a "builders' gas lock" and just using that. Unless you cut down the longer breaks you end up adding 6-7 inches of length to the G, defeating the whole purpose of cutting it down in the first place.
Hope to get an order off to the CMP next week for a donor M1, maybe a rack plus? Just want one without a lot of pitting on the receiver, tho that's probably a long shot. Time will tell I guess...

[ronin]

Hey Eli, I haven't heard from my buddy yet about his neighbor cutting down a BM muzzle break, but I'm plotting doing this myself if he doesn't come through. I have a wire welder, and I've been known to run a passable bead on a good day, would that break be made from some kind of tool steel? I know I'll have to bevel the edges of the cuts so I can get the weld right down to the inside, and I'll have to fabricate some kind of dowel to hold the two halves in alignment. I can see in my head how to do it, just not sure I can pull this off, especially refinishing the thing. Maybe media blasting after grinding down the welds? Lot's of head scratching this one....

[Eli]

Reese used to sell the tri-comp part by itself - without the base or whatever it's called that screws onto the barrel. I think it's 2 or more pieces that are pressed together, just not sure how.
Standard Parts is showing 7" in stock and available, not sure the origin of the 6" and they aren't available to order.

Eli

[ronin]

Standard has the 6" break, they're on the "new arrivals" page. Look just like the 7". I was under the impression those were one piece, and I contemplated cutting one down and rewelding it.
I asked Greg if he could / would make a "builders gas lock" three inches long to extend passed the muzzle, as they're only 1.5" long. He said he might have something, he'd have to "dig around". He told me to email him back to remind him to look, which I did this morning. We'll see what he comes up with. Going to the CMP Friday to see if I can find a good donor, my only M1 currently is a Service Grade HRA and I really don't want to mod it.
If I end up going with a 6 or 7" break and cutting it down, you have any tips on the welding? I have a wire welder, I'm just not that good at welding.

[Punch The Clown]

Greg is good at finding stuff. You may get lucky

[Eli]

I'd chop the more common 7" over whatever the shorter one is. You might get one X-rayed, I recall it's multiple pieces pressed together so you might be able to press & machine it apart and rebuild it shorter.
Click here and scroll down. Just don't look at the prices! https://web.archive.org/web/20061025...bm59parts.html

Eli

[ronin]

Indeed! Greg contacted me last night, says he knows a guy who knows a guy who's sister is dating a guy....anyway he found a three inch break! Says it came off of a "Shuff's BM 16 inch Mini G, so it's apparently got some pedigree. Didn't mention a name so I can only imagine someone traded it for something else? IDK. I went ahead and told him to get it for me. Got the rest of the gas system parts ordered as well. Now, I just need a 308 barrel and she's off to Shuff's. Well assuming I can find a decent donor tomorrow. I may still get one of those tri-comps and try cutting it down. Greg lowered the price on those considerably.

[ronin]

Got the parts from Greg today, AND my Criterion barrel showed up! Everything packed up, should be getting it off to Tim before the end of the week!! Can't wait....

[Punch The Clown]

Picture of the brake or is it already off to Shuff's?

[ronin]

Sorry Punch, yes it's on its way! We're off to see the Wizard!!!
It's the three inch break with all the holes drilled kinda offset on the top. I can't post pics right now, maybe when I get it back I can figure out one of those photo apps and get some pics up. It'll be after I give some attention to the CMP stock that came on the rifle, it's bone dry. Didn't want to delay shipping it off just to get some BLO on it, so I'll do that when it comes back. If I can pick up another stock, I'll send it off to The Stock Emporium for a little BM treatment, then rub a few coats of BLO into it. Can't wait to be part of the Mini G Clan!

[ronin]

Well you can tell it's been a while since I shipped a rifle. UPS called me, told me to come get my gun. Since I'm not an FFL holder with a contractual agreement with UPS, I cannot ship firearms. They acted like I tried to pull a fast one on them, until I pointed out I never hid the description of the contents. They dropped the ball not me. So I drive the nearly hour and a half to the main post office in Atlanta, since local offices turned me away, and refused the shipment without a copy of the FFL proving I was shipping to an authorized recipient. This is fun. Tried a local FFL and they were happy to help. 50 bucks plus shipping cost. 154 bucks to ship? No thanks. Tim sent me a copy of his FFL, we'll try again tomorrow....

[Eli]

Why aren't you shipping USPS?

Eli