Quick project just for me...

[DocsMachine]

I have my client list for the year almost complete, only really waiting on anno at the moment to finish up the last of 'em.

That does not, of course, mean I have nothing to do. My to-do lists are roughly three times longer than I can be expected to live.

BUT... one thing I haven't done in a while, is something entirely for myself. (That isn't a machine repair, a potential product prototype or just a straight-up repair.) I have a ton of project markers I've been wanting to get to, everything from making myself a complete Vee-Twin, to a plan for what ought to be a really sweet PGP.

Well, I don't want to dive into a heavy project yet, but I did, very much, want to do something easy and fun for myself. I had swapped blades in the bandsaw earlier this week, to a very thin one to cut out some complex blanks with tight curves. Before I swapped that back to the regular blade, I figured I'd lop out a blank and go to town.

I have a couple of SI Bushmasters, which are my favorite Nelson-based pumps. I have big hands, and I prefer the .45 grip, but I don't like the comparatively teeny trigger guard. Add a decent glove and it doesn't really fit my hand.

So, rather than chop it off and replace it, I'm making an all-new frame from scratch.

I made no drawings, I took very few measurements, this is all seat-of-the-pants. Of course, 90% of it is just copying the original, but occasionally it's nice to not have to invent the thing before you start to make it.

Without further adieu- or narration- the pix.



















Not done yet, I obviously still need to fab and fit the trigger and safety, and I'll admit not being 100% happy with the shape of the trigger guard. It's a lot roomier, sure, but it looks a little blah. Maybe I should have made a drawing first- or even a sketch.

No worries, I'll finish this one up, and once it's all smoothed and annoed, if I still don't like it, I'll make another one.

Doc.

[Trygve]

This is a beautiful thing. And great pictures. Nothing gets me giddy like custom paintball pieces. I think the trigger guard looks mean. I hope it grows on you and im glad you found time to work on something for yourself!

[Cunha]

I like that a lot, a single trigger profile that really looks good is the akalmp Viking / Excal one, which is quite square but lots of bevel.

This looks great. I dream of a phantom .45 block that’s more integrated to the trigger assembly, more similar to the ICD ones like this.

sweet!

[CrowsFeast]

I'm only confused because I see the rounded corners and a spinning facing tool.
Looks good. Maybe a little more rounding or some chamfers on the trigger guard, and, you know, an actual trigger in there!

[Cunha]

Doc what do ya say you make a .45 frame for the phantom that aligns the web of the hand with the trigger like a handgun rather than an m16?

I don’t care if it’s a slide or pivot trigger I’m not a super jazzy slide trigger guy. I just want it to feel better when it’s gripped.

the icd frame here looks awesome

[Chappy]

Since you can make a frame, maybe you should consider a full aluminum modern Nelson? On second thought…

[k_obeastly]

that trigger guard is a great place for a vasa.

[Brokeass_baller]

Dude for sure. That's a great idea.

[Grendel]

Nice work so far and I really like the nice undercut trigger guard. I've been eyeing my 45 frames for paintball for years wanting to do a similar undercut but resist the urge because I don't want to re-anodize them.

[Cunha]

Ans and shock tech and maybe dye cocker frames are all decent undercut style.

doesn’t serve much purpose on a gun where it has no recoil no matter how high ya grip it but I find em more comfortable than the flat cut benchmarks

[DocsMachine]

Doc what do ya say you make a .45 frame for the phantom that aligns the web of the hand with the trigger like a handgun rather than an m16?

-There's a few markers I'd like to rework. I have largish hands, and never really liked the typical "M-16" style grip, either the Lone Star or Ram-Line versions. One thing I'd like to see is a way to use a Magpul MOE grip, the older kind with the interchangeable backstrap. (Which I'm not sure is even made anymore.)

Since you can make a frame, maybe you should consider a full aluminum modern Nelson? On second thought…

-Actually, I have a customer that wants a Bushmaster stock-class body, which is easy enough. I may make a short run of those. And with a grip, barrels I already make, and a body, I'm not that far away from making a complete marker.

If I made one for a customer, though, it'd be pretty expensive.

that trigger guard is a great place for a vasa.

-Not really.

This particular gun already has an original SI lever changer. No reason to switch to a vertical bucket- can't find anyone around here that even wants to play pump, let alone strict-rules stock.

Doc.

[Cunha]

The m16 grips with a web of hand wrap fit on most paintball guns with some grinding.

the ergos of those frames are still wacky

[BigMAK3K]

Very cool, wish I had the tools to do this at home!