Titanium - Will custom action makers turn to it?

[65BR]

I see a good interest in 700 Ti for customs, will the CUSTOM action makers go Ti for weight loss?

How much would/should it drive up their costs for production do you suppose?

 

[aixenmemphis]

From what i understand just like anything done by the large companies the TI craze for light weight has a lot to do with marketing. Technically speaking,aluminum does the job at a lot less cost for the Bench game. I do not think an aluminum Rem 700 would go over well with the public and for marketing titanium sounds so much cooler. I along with some nerdy friends of mine have been looking into the use of ceramics for building an action. Where titanium is single faceted for weight, stiffness and strength, ceramics in there many forms,have multiple advantages. We are still trying to determine the best ceramic to use for this but we look at it as a very fun quest.

 

[65BR]

Interesting, it seems long ago the auto industry talked of ceramic engines/or blocks. I wonder what the strength of the 'higher grade/strength Al is? Would imagine locking lug recess would have 'steel inserts and bolt w/steel lugs?'

It seems like Al might catch on, but yes, Ti has been used often in handguns so the buying public is aware of it.

 

[NDNorm]

Is anybody currently making a Titanium action?
I've spent some time in the distant past machining parts from it, and from my experience it doesn't like shock like in a thread area and it work hardens as you machine it and a second cut is very difficult
Norm

 

[65BR]

Rem 700 Ti????

Have heard it's only 5 oz lighter? If true, not much to save when you look at stocks, mounts, scopes, etc.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

Rem 700 Ti????

Have heard it's only 5 oz lighter? If true, not much to save when you look at stocks, mounts, scopes, etc.

Wasn't the 700 Ti discontinued? I seem to remember them being sold for under distributor cost about a year or so after their introduction.

 

[aixenmemphis]

Only 5 oz lighter is not much when you look at the fact that you can shave a little over 2 oz from a regular old Rem 700 by skeletonizing the bolt handle and fluting the bolt. My friends and i have been looking at some ceramic options and the tolerances to which it can be machined without changing properties is amazing

 

[65BR]

Spotcheck Billy,

They could be disc., I don't know, just starting hearing much about them. I was just curious about it all.

What I would like to see is a smaller version falling block like the Browning Low Wall or Mini Ruger #1, or similar. Martini/Hagn have a small one, at 2.2k. This would be a hunting rifle not for competition obviously.

 

[mikecr]

I believe titanium would gall too easily for falling block. You'd have to alternate chrome moly,not stainless) between friction bearing surfaces.
I wouldn't want it.

 

[65BR]

Sorry for the confusion, I was not implying Ti for a falling block, just smaller sized actions for reducing bulk and weight but with CM or SS. Thanks, yes you would not want any galling going on in a FB action for sure.

 

[2knives]

I can tell you that the cost of machining titanium would be about 30% higher because of slower RPM's and feed rates. Most people think it is hard, wrong it is tough. It moves away from cutting tools and then comes back in behind the cutting edge and will fry the cutting edge without coolant. I use titanium in my folding blade knives and can tell you it is very hard on any cutting tool. It will work harden so fast if not properly machined it makes you say things your mother didn't know you knew. The uses of ceramic coating in actions has been done in Europe but they don't want to share the technical data about how it's done. I think the aero space people could do it if the right people could be contacted. The idea of a total ceramic action, wow would this be looking for a law suit. R.F. Dodd

 

[butchlambert]

Welcome to the forum Mr Bob Dodd.
Butch

 

[RickB]

I am not familiar with the European actions using ceramics, but it strikes me that the potential for catastrophic failure would make it a very risky proposition. Kyocera makes knives with ceramic blades which are very hard and retain their edge quite well, but are know to chip easily and break if used on bone or hard items.

It will be interesting to hear how the project progresses though, please keep us posted.

Rick

 

[2knives]

Thanks Butch, I'll be keeping an eye on you.

 

[2knives]

We only saw this ceramic coating on actions in the early 90's. Just a few were to come to the U.S., They were aluminum. I haven't seen them lately. Most everyone thought they were anodized but it was a ceramic coating. There are several knife companies that make or have made ceramic blades and you're right about them holding an edge and chipping. 99.9 % people could not resharpen them and had to send them back to the manufacture. It takes a diamond belt or wheel to do so, and should be run with coolant.