15 replies to this topic

[Hubb]

The most aggravating thing about a Recon to me is the fact that the sight rail has to be moved in order to charge the blaster. I'm probably alone in this, but I kind of like using the Nerf sights, especially the red dot one. With that said, I wanted a way to charge the blaster without the need to move the sight rail.

I considered making a pump for it, but all of the tutorials on this still require the sight rail to move. I considered bypassing the sight rail completely with a pump, but my design would have called for a complete revamp of at least half the blaster. THEN, I remembered my Maverick (that I wish I would not have lost half the pieces for). On it, I fixed the sight rail to keep it from moving, then placed a cocking knob on it. So that's what I would do to the Recon.

The whole process was pretty simple, so I'll just make some pics and can explain in further detail if there are any questions.


I removed the powertube from the charging bracket, then placed a nut and bolt through one of the holes. Before doing this, however, the head of the bolt was ground down, so as not to interfere with the magazine or the barrel entry.


This shows the powertube inserted into the blaster. I chose to put the charging handle on this side because I'm a lefty and this allows me to charge the blaster without the need to remove my hand from the grip. Notice that the receiver slot had to be widened to accommodate the nut.


The right side of the sight rail was trimmed out to allow the charging handle to fully retract. I marked it's position and glued it onto this half of the receiver to keep it from moving.

The left side of the sight rail was left in tact with the exception of grinding down the catch on the inside of it. I did not glue this side, due to two hidden screws on the right side of the receiver, and it is held in place with its own screws.

Now, the sight rail is stationary and allows me to use the fancy dot sight without it moving (and sliding onto the barrel when I charge it forward). I plan on placing some sort of handle onto the bolt threads in the future.

Edited by Hubb, 21 February 2010 - 10:09 PM.

[ChaosRaisin]

Interesting. I prefer bolts to slides and I can see how moving sights could be annoying.
Nice write-up by the way.

[Dangaard]

I Like having charging handles because when you put in the heavier springs its easier and more consistent to prime the blaster.

the mod is actually fairly clean, coming from me that does not mean much, but depending on the tools you have available I would be willing to bet you could do better.
so, in short: I like the idea, koodos.

[HOTH]

Cool, but I do not really see the point.

[Fredo]

Cool, but I do not really see the point.

The point for this is that it is rather hard to grip the slide and prime the gun when you have accesories on it. This is just a different priming method.

[Hubb]

Cool, but I do not really see the point.

The point for this is that it is rather hard to grip the slide and prime the gun when you have accesories on it. This is just a different priming method.

That and the idea of placing a pump onto the Recon has been played out.

@Dangaard - This whole process took me about ten minutes to complete, so, yes, I agree with you that it could be a lot neater. I just sorta threw this together to see if it would work. When I get the time to finalize my Recon, it will be much neater.

[Dangaard]

Yeah I understand I still mod like that.

[Broderick]

When I first skimmed through the pics here, I thought you were going to add a foregrip to prevent having to move the charging handle, but this is cool too. After 20 shots or so does the bolt irritate your hands at all? It does'nt look very wide, and I would want to be pulling back and forth on it for a while. I'd maybe take some polycarbonate, or even some scrap CPVC or something, drill a hole in it the size of the bolt, and feed it through to make a foregrip; also add a handle of course.
That, or you could just put the sight on the extra barrel, since you have that on there...

[thaygor]

I love the idea of a chargeing handel for the recon. But the bolt needs something a little bigger for the grip
good work!

[Hubb]

OP says that I plan on putting a handle on it. And yes, the threads on the bolt do irritate after a while, especially with stronger springs. The main purpose of this particular setup was to determine if the charging bracket could take the weight of the spring in this manner without breaking and it does so.

[Fredo]

OP says that I plan on putting a handle on it. And yes, the threads on the bolt do irritate after a while, especially with stronger springs. The main purpose of this particular setup was to determine if the charging bracket could take the weight of the spring in this manner without breaking and it does so.

I've never used this idea before, but it seems like it would help you out a lot. Twist a bit of CPVC as long as the bolt over, then buy a set of BMX bike grips and slide it over the CPVC. Not all grips will fit, so you might want to test them out before you buy them. They're aound $8 a set, but they are very comfy and last a while.

[canuck]

I understand and agree with what your are saying, but isn't the screw sticking out a little hard on the hands?
You could cover it with tape.

[billyblue888]

I'd maybe take some polycarbonate, or even some scrap CPVC or something, drill a hole in it the size of the bolt.

Or you could take some FBR and twist it around the handle until it pokes through and covers it.

[pinz321]

This can make the bolt-sled snap easier due to concentrating the stress on one side of it, instead of distributing it throughout. I think you should have put the charging handle in/on the bolt-nub, where there's the pin that holds the bolt-sled and the bolt (barrel thing) together. Also, you could cut the tactical rail off the original slide, throw the slide away, and glue the rail on the top of the gun.

[death by cheez]

Or take a rail from the vulcan's front, remove the slide and slap that puppy on there.

[Hubb]

This can make the bolt-sled snap easier due to concentrating the stress on one side of it, instead of distributing it throughout. I think you should have put the charging handle in/on the bolt-nub, where there's the pin that holds the bolt-sled and the bolt (barrel thing) together. Also, you could cut the tactical rail off the original slide, throw the slide away, and glue the rail on the top of the gun.

I considered that and may do so in the future. I also considered going with a top cocking handle. So far, though, it works fine, even with the extra spring in the back.