Drilling FSB holes in Barrel?

[Wade Pruetz 103]

I am getting ready to press off the FSB and gas block on my 5.45, I picked up a Bulgarian FSB and Gas block which require pin holes/slots to be drilled on the edge of the barrel. Does anybody have any suggestions on a good way to do this? I plan on using a drill press but figured someone has tackled this before and may have found a good way to do it.

Thanks

[L5K 162]

I use a vise that fits on the drill press to make sure that I have the rifle level with the press. The barrel actually drills incredibly easy, it's nothing like the thinner sheet metal parts that are hardened like crazy.

[Wade Pruetz 103]

Great to hear, I have a drill press vise and was hoping that drilling that round barrel wasn't going to be real hard. You are right, that receiver steel is crazy hard!

Thanks!

[Klassy Kalashnikov 1,393]

What size bit will you be using? I am doing the same project and cannot find a metric bit anywhere. I think I am gonna use a 5/64 or 3/32 bit and then cut up the end of it and use that as the pins

[Donkismash 81]

What size bit will you be using? I am doing the same project and cannot find a metric bit anywhere. I think I am gonna use a 5/64 or 3/32 bit and then cut up the end of it and use that as the pins

this should help

[L5K 162]

I always use a 1/8th inch bit and I prefer to use roll pins, but regular ones work fine as well.

[Klassy Kalashnikov 1,393]

Thanks a lot guys.

[Wade Pruetz 103]

I use a vise that fits on the drill press to make sure that I have the rifle level with the press. The barrel actually drills incredibly easy, it's nothing like the thinner sheet metal parts that are hardened like crazy.

 

 

Forgot to ask, did you drill the holes with the gas block and FSB in place?

[Klassy Kalashnikov 1,393]

I use a vise that fits on the drill press to make sure that I have the rifle level with the press. The barrel actually drills incredibly easy, it's nothing like the thinner sheet metal parts that are hardened like crazy.

 

 

Forgot to ask, did you drill the holes with the gas block and FSB in place?

 

Yeah, you put the blocks on and index them, and once they are in the right place you drill the holes.

[L5K 162]

Yes yes, I've never done one with a "virgin" block, all of mine have always already had holes, and in some cases the barrel's had grooves too. That's why I like to use the larger drill bit and pins. But yes I always drill with the blocks in place. That way I can get the block lined up perfectly straight using a laser level and a boresighter and taking FOREVER to do that (I'm a perfectionist).... this way I know the holes are straight in line with the straight blocks, and the pins will go in without any trouble. I'm not certain, but I don't really see how it could be done with the blocks off, as you could end up with the holes not lining up properly, if you could even drill into the rounded barrel straight. I think the bit would bend as it came in contact with the rounded barrel because they aren't centered.

[Wade Pruetz 103]

Yes yes, I've never done one with a "virgin" block, all of mine have always already had holes, and in some cases the barrel's had grooves too. That's why I like to use the larger drill bit and pins. But yes I always drill with the blocks in place. That way I can get the block lined up perfectly straight using a laser level and a boresighter and taking FOREVER to do that (I'm a perfectionist).... this way I know the holes are straight in line with the straight blocks, and the pins will go in without any trouble. I'm not certain, but I don't really see how it could be done with the blocks off, as you could end up with the holes not lining up properly, if you could even drill into the rounded barrel straight. I think the bit would bend as it came in contact with the rounded barrel because they aren't centered.

 

 

Does it make sense to drill the pin holes in the barrel using the stock gas block and FSB prior to pressing them off? As best I can tell it looks as though the pin holes on the Bulgarian FSB and gas block should line up with the stock FSB and gas block. Also, I have read how hard it is to remove the FSB but not much about how difficult it is to install the new one. Any thoughts?

Thanks

[jdzz 0]

I thought the same thing about drill the FSB before remove. Right after I took it off. DOH! I also think press off is much easier than dremel along the barrel. As for put it on, I use a pipe, wrench, piece of wood, and a hammer. For the gasblock, since the pipe I have is a little bit bigger, I put a wrench on the gasblock then the pipe. I held the barrel with one hand and the hammer on the other to hit on the pipe. Be careful not to pass the pin hole that been drill from the factory. For the FSB, I put the block of wood on top then hit it with the hammer. All assumed that you level all gas block and fsb on the right spot.

[Klassy Kalashnikov 1,393]

Yeah man, I know the feeling. I wish I would have done the drilling before I removed the old block too. Oh well.

[Polak 10]

Yeah man, I know the feeling. I wish I would have done the drilling before I removed the old block too. Oh well.

 

PIX!!!

 

Was yours pinned on or was it the dimpled one? Did you cut it off, or press it off?

Edited May 3, 2010 by Polak

[Klassy Kalashnikov 1,393]

Yeah man, I know the feeling. I wish I would have done the drilling before I removed the old block too. Oh well.

 

PIX!!!

 

Was yours pinned on or was it the dimpled one? Did you cut it off, or press it off?

 

It's the dimpled one, I had to cut it off. I was gonna take pics but my shit camera decided to die the night I cut the block off.

[jdzz 0]

Here are the pictures of how I did mine.

[Polak 10]

Here are the pictures of how I did mine.

 

what's with the pipe on the barrel?

[Klassy Kalashnikov 1,393]

Here are the pictures of how I did mine.

 

what's with the pipe on the barrel?

 

It's to press a gas block on instead of using a press. With the FSB off, he puts the new gas block on, then a wrench on top, then the pipe, and beats on the pipe with a sledge hammer to push it down onto the right spot.

[Polak 10]

Here are the pictures of how I did mine.

 

what's with the pipe on the barrel?

 

It's to press a gas block on instead of using a press. With the FSB off, he puts the new gas block on, then a wrench on top, then the pipe, and beats on the pipe with a sledge hammer to push it down onto the right spot.

Oh. I thought this was a thread about the fsb.

[Wade Pruetz 103]

Well I drilled the holes for the FSB and Gas Block last night. I think it went pretty well but I won't know until I install the new FSB and Gas Block, we will see how everything lines up then. Thought I would pass along how I ended up drilling the holes, maybe someone will find it helpful. Since the Gas Block already has a pin in it I removed the pin and used that hole as a guide for the other three holes. I loosely put the barrel in a drill press vise, chucked up the 3mm bit in the drill press and adjusted the vise until the bit slid in and out of the pin hole already drilled in the barrel. Once it slid easily I tightened the drill press vise holding the barrel, this insured that all holes would be on the same vertical plane. Drilling the other three pin holes was just a matter of lining up the bit as it entered the dimples on the FSB and Gas Block. Another bit of advise on drilling steel, turn the bit slow. I put my drill press on the slowest speed and it cut through the blocks and barrel like butter. I also drilled the bullet guide with the drill press, and then chucked up the tap and spun the spindle by hand. It taped so easily and fast that I wasn't sure it had cut threads until the tap bottomed out. This was not my typical experience when tapping steel.

[into_the_knight 22]

So just to be clear again. You guys all install your FSB and GB without any support right? You can just leave the buttstock on the rifle and hold it up on the ground and use a hammer to tap the blocks on and this does no damage to the receiver like bending the rivets or the receiver right? That's been my biggest concern.

[Wade Pruetz 103]

I plan on pressing my FSB and GB off and on I am not a big fan of beating my barrel with a hammer.

[NM0 586]

I plan on pressing my FSB and GB off and on I am not a big fan of beating my barrel with a hammer.

 

It would be cool to see a snapshot of your press set up with the rifle in it.

[Wade Pruetz 103]

It would be cool, I was going to get a friend to help me since he has all the tools and has done it before, but health problems have prevented that from happening. Another buddy owns a motorcycle shop and they have a press so I may go that route but I am about ready to go down and spend the $130.00 on a 12 ton press. The issue I see is that I will need to make press tools to fit since I can't find any on the internet.

[into_the_knight 22]

It would be cool, I was going to get a friend to help me since he has all the tools and has done it before, but health problems have prevented that from happening. Another buddy owns a motorcycle shop and they have a press so I may go that route but I am about ready to go down and spend the $130.00 on a 12 ton press. The issue I see is that I will need to make press tools to fit since I can't find any on the internet.

 

ak builder has a lot of stuff on their website.

[vulcan16 971]

It would be cool, I was going to get a friend to help me since he has all the tools and has done it before, but health problems have prevented that from happening. Another buddy owns a motorcycle shop and they have a press so I may go that route but I am about ready to go down and spend the $130.00 on a 12 ton press. The issue I see is that I will need to make press tools to fit since I can't find any on the internet.

 

Give Keith a call @ Tac47Industries. He can do it cheaper then you if you have to buy tools. Tac47 is located near the Memorial Mall area(I10/beltway8)

[Wade Pruetz 103]

It would be cool, I was going to get a friend to help me since he has all the tools and has done it before, but health problems have prevented that from happening. Another buddy owns a motorcycle shop and they have a press so I may go that route but I am about ready to go down and spend the $130.00 on a 12 ton press. The issue I see is that I will need to make press tools to fit since I can't find any on the internet.

 

Give Keith a call @ Tac47Industries. He can do it cheaper then you if you have to buy tools. Tac47 is located near the Memorial Mall area(I10/beltway8)

 

 

Keith is a great guy and is working on one of my S12s right now, he actually sold me the 5.45. I am a do it yourself kinda guy so I bought the press yesterday and pressed off the Gas Block and FSB without to much trouble. Any excuse to buy tools and this won't be the last one of these I build.

[NM0 586]

Would still be cool to see a snap shot of your press set up....

[Wade Pruetz 103]

Would be glad to talk anyone through what they need to press off the parts but once I started taking pictures never crossed my mind to get the camera out. If anyone is in the Houston area and needs help pressing off their parts drop me a line and bring a few beers over, we will knock it out quick.

[Wade Pruetz 103]

 

Got it done and it turned out pretty well, I just hope the FSB is straight, couldn't bore sight it because I couldn't find a bore sight to fit and the rear trunnion won't allow looking straight down the barrel.