JC does a Sterling

[JeeperCreeper]

This is the starting point. I have to figure out if I'm missing parts first. I'm going to re do the barrel with Freak inserts and a detent. More coming eventually, personal projects are always last on my list.

[Painthappy]

Love it... What a great idea

[XEMON]

This looks great 🤩

[Frmrspec]

Hell yeah!!

[JeeperCreeper]

So this is definitely a first for me with Sterlings. I think I have enough parts to make this work, except one: the velocity adjuster piece? This is the first time I've seen a sterling this close, and I didn't get to take it apart.

[Frmrspec]

Older Sterlings didn’t have the hole drilled in the pump/drive rod to allow for velocity adjustment so I wouldn’t sweat having it or not.. most people prefer an adjustable bolt over the factory method

[JeeperCreeper]

Maybe I'll just make one. I'd rather not deal with all that shipping

[JeeperCreeper]

I have the hollow pump rod though

[JeeperCreeper]

Yeah that hole, is the transfer port. Whoever created this didn't use a transfer tube. This is another reason why I'm making a new barrel.

[Loophole]

Badass! If you have enough parts for a second one let me know.. I would love to commission a build

[JeeperCreeper]

Honestly, if you found one with all the internals, I can make it happen.

[cheapguitarscheapthrills]

I have an old Bronze that I would sell you if you want a donor gun. Got her up and running but definitely player grade. Stole the pistol grip and bottom line for another but the grip from my new Sterling should work fine on it

[JeeperCreeper]

I have the body soldered up. Now I just need to decide if I want center feed, or left.

I also don't like the stock trigger frame, I might do something a little weird. I'm hoping to have this ready to test by Saturday, so we will see what happens.

[Frmrspec]

You can mod a cocker frame to take a Sterling sear release… the dimensions are extremely similar.

[JeeperCreeper]

Yeah I noticed the Sheridan kind of lines up, and wouldn't take much to make it work besides modding the sear.

[JeeperCreeper]

So I did cobble it together enough to test fire. It seems to be working, but if I pump it too hard, the valve pops. I think it might be the hammer spring is too long, as it's just a cut down Spyder spring I got with the pile of parts. It's likely binding up and just pushing on the valve stem. I'll experiment with some other springs I have, to see if I can get rid of the pop. It shot 240's with an extreme overbore, as a .690 was the closest insert on hand when I did this. I think I'm going to make some sort of velocity adjuster for it.

Also the stock trigger pull is dreadful. I don't like it one bit and it is definitely getting replaced.

[JeeperCreeper]

I went with the left feed. I put a red spring in the valve, and a 12 gram, and it was hovering around 280fps. Now it just needs the finish work.

[JeeperCreeper]

This is good enough for now. Just need some rubber PMI grips

[JeeperCreeper]

There was quite a bit of fiddling and I had to re-shape the sear, but the Sheridan trigger frame seems to be working reliably now. Maybe I'll pick up a hinge frame for this build. I'm field testing it tomorrow.