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m102404 · November 14th, 2009, 10:36

I've always wanted a shotty...but I was never really impressed by the "action" of the airsoft versions. Either you have a shell "magazine" that holds a gabilzzilion rounds...or you funnel a bunch of BBs into a tube and fake it. To me...that just sort of sucked the fun out of it.

A buddy recently got a G&P 870 which has a little bolt-action like magazine. It was solid and at least with a detachable box mag there's some sense of reloading....but still not quite what I was looking for.

So when the opportunity came up to grab a Tanaka M870 I got all excited. There were a couple of problems with it...it'd been around the block more than once. The knocker transfer block was broken (from what I researched...a common problem), the hammer face was mangled (again...a common thing I believe since it's striking a steel firing pin) and misc screws/pins were missing....most notably the front two that hold the barrel/mag to the receiver.

** differing from other systems...with this model you fill each shelll with propane and then load BBs into the tips of each shell. The gun is the gun...the shells are self contained with propellant and shot. Just the way it was meant to be.

So I took it on as a nice project...then got obsessed about it...then got the mill/lathe, some aluminum plate stock and the micrometers out...then stayed up all night.

I filled the hammer face with JBWeld and let it sit...ground and refaced it. That sorted that out for now (enough to test)...but there's supposed to be a steel plug that goes into it so it's steel hammer on steel knocker...I'll get to that in a bit.

I mocked up the knocker transfer bar and roughed it to size. The rest of the milling took a couple of hours and 2-3 test fits. For the life of me I can't figure out why the original design didn't leave more material in it...I made my replacement piece as "beefy" as possible. Still have some finishing work to do to it...but I couldn't wait.

I machined two little steel plugs for the missing front pins...they're an ok fit and I'll clean it up more later. For now...it's solid and holding well.

I got 10 regular 3 rnd shells and 5 Airsoft Surgeon 1 shot shells in the trade...a shell catcher and a stock mounted shell holder. Nice setup...lots of shells for close encounters...'cause you never know.

It is soooo nice to feed 4 shells in, rack one up, feed another...then...

bang, cachunk/cachunk
...bang, cachunk/cachunk
...bang, cachunk/cachunk
...bang, cachunk/cachunk
...bang, cachunk/cachunk

Shells are kicked out nicely...the propane charge in each of them are good for at least 2 loads of BBs.

You can even do the "Terminator" one-hand pump...heeheehee

Still some work to do and fine touches...but here's a couple of pics (wish I was a better photographer...)

Just a minute ago I drilled out the hammer face for the metal plug insert...I set the steel plug with JBweld and will grind it to face after it sets up overnight. I'll copy out the specs for the hammer and if I get some time I'll machine replacement parts out of steel.

Too. Much. Fun.

Tys

Note: The only downside now is that I've got to find another project...

November 14th, 2009, 10:36	#1
m102404 Tys Trader rating Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto	Gotta love the shotty... I've always wanted a shotty...but I was never really impressed by the "action" of the airsoft versions. Either you have a shell "magazine" that holds a gabilzzilion rounds...or you funnel a bunch of BBs into a tube and fake it. To me...that just sort of sucked the fun out of it. A buddy recently got a G&P 870 which has a little bolt-action like magazine. It was solid and at least with a detachable box mag there's some sense of reloading....but still not quite what I was looking for. So when the opportunity came up to grab a Tanaka M870 I got all excited. There were a couple of problems with it...it'd been around the block more than once. The knocker transfer block was broken (from what I researched...a common problem), the hammer face was mangled (again...a common thing I believe since it's striking a steel firing pin) and misc screws/pins were missing....most notably the front two that hold the barrel/mag to the receiver. ** differing from other systems...with this model you fill each shelll with propane and then load BBs into the tips of each shell. The gun is the gun...the shells are self contained with propellant and shot. Just the way it was meant to be. So I took it on as a nice project...then got obsessed about it...then got the mill/lathe, some aluminum plate stock and the micrometers out...then stayed up all night. I filled the hammer face with JBWeld and let it sit...ground and refaced it. That sorted that out for now (enough to test)...but there's supposed to be a steel plug that goes into it so it's steel hammer on steel knocker...I'll get to that in a bit. I mocked up the knocker transfer bar and roughed it to size. The rest of the milling took a couple of hours and 2-3 test fits. For the life of me I can't figure out why the original design didn't leave more material in it...I made my replacement piece as "beefy" as possible. Still have some finishing work to do to it...but I couldn't wait. I machined two little steel plugs for the missing front pins...they're an ok fit and I'll clean it up more later. For now...it's solid and holding well. I got 10 regular 3 rnd shells and 5 Airsoft Surgeon 1 shot shells in the trade...a shell catcher and a stock mounted shell holder. Nice setup...lots of shells for close encounters...'cause you never know. It is soooo nice to feed 4 shells in, rack one up, feed another...then... bang, cachunk/cachunk ...bang, cachunk/cachunk ...bang, cachunk/cachunk ...bang, cachunk/cachunk ...bang, cachunk/cachunk Shells are kicked out nicely...the propane charge in each of them are good for at least 2 loads of BBs. You can even do the "Terminator" one-hand pump...heeheehee Still some work to do and fine touches...but here's a couple of pics (wish I was a better photographer...) Just a minute ago I drilled out the hammer face for the metal plug insert...I set the steel plug with JBweld and will grind it to face after it sets up overnight. I'll copy out the specs for the hammer and if I get some time I'll machine replacement parts out of steel. Too. Much. Fun. Tys Note: The only downside now is that I've got to find another project... Last edited by m102404; November 14th, 2009 at 10:43..