17 Mach 2 build help

[dtucker]

I recently finished a nice little 10/22 build to let my son use when we squirrel hunt. I have some parts and would like to build a Mach11 off the 10/22 action. Well, i have been pouring over the info on this here and their. I have heard good things and bad things about doing these on a semi auto receiver. Just not really know where to start but have a good idea on what needs to be done. I can buy the Volquarsen bolt and handle but really do not want to pay about 240.00 shipped. I have a bolt done buy CPC and talked with him and i can get a new reworked bolt with the small radius from him that he said was needed and get a heavier handle. Then have heard just get the heavier handle but i have been looking all over and can not find the handle and rod. The CPC bolt and handle sounds the best way to go and it has been reworked and head spaced correctly from what i have been told. Nice guy over their who i talked to and very helpful. I have what i need except a barrel and stock. The barrel will be a Volquartsen and not sure on the stock yet. I just want the thing to be right and reliable. They must be reliable as Volquartsen builds them and their are parts to be bought. I need some feed back from you guys that have them or know about them before i go any further.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[hogpatrol]

Almost hate to recommend them but RFC would probably get you more responses.

 

[Flybuster]

I bought the Volquartsen kit back when it was the only kit available. It was a expensive, but I've long forgotten about the price. I haven't had any real extraction problems, but lately the butts of the cases on ELEY ammo bulge out; probably a pressure sign on rimfire? The gun has been a blast, its a great varmint rifle.

 

[dtucker]

Is the bulging something that has always happened when you put it together or something that has started to happen. Is it all the time? As far as it feeding and extracting has it been a winner for you and has met your expectations.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Flybuster]

The bulging happens with one type of ammo, the ELEY, so that makes me believe its a pressure issue specific to that ammo; it's not an issue with Hornady ammo. The bulging didn't always happen with this ammo either, maybe just this lot. Extraction and feeding has always been good, so has the accuracy. We have the 17 HMR and the 17M2, and the Mach 2 is much more economical to shoot at half the price without losing too much performance, with increased firepower.

One thing I thought was weird, was how tight the Volquartsen barrel fit into the receiver; I'm not sure I could remove it, now. I've read they built them this way so they don't shift inside of the receiver miss aligning the scope.

 

[dtucker]

What you did sounds like the plan. I am assuming you got the bolt kit and barrel from Volquartsen. Is your barrel a light weight or the solid stainless. Also, what barrel length did you go with? While talking with the fellow over at CPC he said to go with a short barrel. How many rounds do you think you have through it so far?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[dtucker]

BTW, i am also thinking of going with the hogue stock and looking at getting the one that is camo that has the different patterns. How do you like the stock and is the Barrel truly floated in the stock?

 

[JoeMcNeill]

I bought an ER Shaw barrel and the heavy bolt kit for less than $150.00, including shipping. It is very very accurate, fun to shoot and bullets due not go wizzing off my property. It is more fun to shoot than when it had the 22lr barrel.
Regards,

JDM
SW Arkansas

 

[Flybuster]

What you did sounds like the plan. I am assuming you got the bolt kit and barrel from Volquartsen. Is your barrel a light weight or the solid stainless. Also, what barrel length did you go with? While talking with the fellow over at CPC he said to go with a short barrel. How many rounds do you think you have through it so far?

BTW, i am also thinking of going with the hogue stock and looking at getting the one that is camo that has the different patterns. How do you like the stock and is the Barrel truly floated in the stock?

Yep, I got the kit directly from and shortly after Volquartsen offered the M2 conversion and it was still the only kit available, that I was aware of, since the cartridge was still fairly new at the time. The barrel is a beefy 18" .925" straight cylinder and the Hogue stock fits that contour like a glove, I'm not sure that I would call it truly floated because there is some flex in the forend when I'm using a bi-pod, but I haven't noticed any detriment to the accuracy. Overall I think the stock is pretty good for the gun, and its super comfortable to shoot and handles well from any position. I haven't kept a round count on the gun, but I have had it for few years and if I had to guess I probably am getting close to a couple thousand rounds though it.

And Joe is right it is more fun than the .22LR!

 

[dtucker]

You guys got me drooling a little right now. ;D

 

[Flybuster]

 

[dtucker]

You have me convinced if i am going to do it right i will be buying the bolt kit from them as you did. I did see a barrel bolt combo on a site but it is not the barrel i want. I do not like the comps on the end of the barrels. I think it is just eye candy and a waste of extra money. I bought a stock over on rimfire and it is a real pretty old carbine stock in some nice walnut with the metal butt plate and such. The fellow refinished the stock and i am going to try and keep it as near as original as i can. I called Clark today and will send the stock in to be routed out for his medium weight barrel. Want a sporter but have to call back Monday as he is up at camp perry i was told. Going to see if he can turn it down so i can keep the barrel band. If not i am thinking i can relieve and take out a little underneath to give me a little more room up top and still look original. I am then going to have the receiver, band and butt plate cerecoted in black and give the internals and trigger the works. Bought a receiver here from a member and trigger group that had the receiver done in od green and it is perfect and super nice. It will be for the mach 2 build.

 

[Flybuster]

You have me convinced if i am going to do it right i will be buying the bolt kit from them as you did. I did see a barrel bolt combo on a site but it is not the barrel i want. I do not like the comps on the end of the barrels. I think it is just eye candy and a waste of extra money. I bought a stock over on rimfire and it is a real pretty old carbine stock in some nice walnut with the metal butt plate and such. The fellow refinished the stock and i am going to try and keep it as near as original as i can. I called Clark today and will send the stock in to be routed out for his medium weight barrel. Want a sporter but have to call back Monday as he is up at camp perry i was told. Going to see if he can turn it down so i can keep the barrel band. If not i am thinking i can relieve and take out a little underneath to give me a little more room up top and still look original. I am then going to have the receiver, band and butt plate cerecoted in black and give the internals and trigger the works. Bought a receiver here from a member and trigger group that had the receiver done in od green and it is perfect and super nice. It will be for the mach 2 build.

Should be a fun project and a good shooter. Good luck.

 

[ARW]

A possibility with the bulged cases is headspace. I have seen this on several drop-in barrels in the past and once the headspace is corrected there were no more bulged cases and the accuracy also improved.

Good luck with your build.

 

[dtucker]

Did you buy just the heavy bolt kit to make this work? Did you change or have to do anything to the bolt? With changing the barrel and installing the bolt kit how is the reliability in feeding and extracting. Where and what bolt kit did you get? I know, lots of questions ;D
I bought an ER Shaw barrel and the heavy bolt kit for less than $150.00, including shipping. It is very very accurate, fun to shoot and bullets due not go wizzing off my property. It is more fun to shoot than when it had the 22lr barrel.
Regards,

JDM
SW Arkansas

 

[JoeMcNeill]

Dan,
I bought the bolt kit from ER Shaw. I just did the change as described in the instructions, which changes the whole bolt assembly with the charging handle and spring assembly. I've not had any issues with the gun since I made the change. It shoots really well, same hole at 75 yards when I sighted it in with light winds. It has a light report and explodes the small vermin that I have shot with it. I am well pleased with the results. If you want a picture of the gun, send me an email at joemcneill@live.com. I have not posted any pictures here.
Regards,

JDM

 

[dtucker]

JDM, I called them today and they told me that they no longer offer what you bought anymore. It seems like unless you owne a bolt action rifle chambered in one you do not have many choices at building one from scratch and i do not want one bad enough to spend over a 1,000 dollars for a complete rifle from Volquartsen.

 

[JoeMcNeill]

Dan,
I still see them from time to time on GB. There was more than one company offering the kits. I think EABCO offrered a kit and they are a sponsor on this site. Good Luck.

JDM

 

[dtucker]

Thanks JDM and i will do some more homework.

 

[tcvpar]

bought 4 17-2 brls from gm. 3 were good 1 ///?? talked to a friend in the indestry. was told to put a mist coat of spray lub on the ammo . has worked well no more problems..
1 WEAR SHOOTING GLASSES AT ALL TIMES .////
2 keep the chanber clean.
as the post above. i bought the conversion goodies from brownells.too always have an extra plunger and extracter handy.

works well on prarie rats.