Triumphrat

koifarm · 02-01-2008

Just poking around the shop and looking for an interesting choke knob.....
Ended up using a .45 cal hollow point bullet for one (see pic)
Fairly easy mount, drill the hollow point out using a 3/16 drill (same size as shaft on existing knob) but you need to go VERY slow so as not to impart any heat to the bullet.
Once you have drilled through, empty the powder out of the bullet by inverting and shaking till no more comes out.
The primer is the only hitch....since there is no safe way to remove it, and removing it would cause an unsightly hole, I just left it in...it should be (cross your fingers) okay since there is really not enough heat getting to it to cook it off.
Once empty, take the factory knob off, sand or grind the end of the shaft off to get the plastic off and insert into the hole you drilled. It will seat just fine leaving about a 1/8 gap between the end of the bullet to the mounting nut.
DO NOT attempt to pound the shaft further into the bullet.
DO add a dab of epoxy to the end of the shaft which will set it quite nicely...
I wouldn't do this unless you are completely familiar with firearms and reloading. You can get hurt if you set the round off.....
Let me know what you think!
bill

FrankBlack · 02-01-2008

You are quite mad Bill

. Love the idea!

Hedge · 02-01-2008

I have another good idea! Take a pipe, close off one end, fill it with gun powder, close off the other end so it is good and sealed and then drill the hole in the center for the fuse to go in! No problems with that idea either - right?

TB-T100 · 02-01-2008

Guess your Bonnie is as fast as a Bullet now.

FrankBlack · 02-01-2008

Just thinking, how about a bullet drilled on one side so that it faces towards the front of the bike. It would handle better and I imagine look great. But for goodness sake, be careful!

koifarm · 02-01-2008

Yea, Frank, i had thought about that....only problem is getting it fixed on the shaft of the attachment pin. maybe if you drilled the hole, drained the powder, and filled it entirely up with epoxy, then inserted the shaft and waited for that to set......it's been my experience though, that epoxy ain't gonna hold much on a slick metal surface so it would likely begin to rotate after a bit of use...
I think it would look better that way but attachment becomes an issue in that case...alternately with that the really safe process would be: remove the lead bullet with a bullet puller, carefully remove the primer using a hand loading tool with the correct primer punch (they are designed NOT to set off the primer) then perhaps silver solder the pin/mounting screw into the case then replace the lead with another die on the loading machine.....(don't have one or i would have done it that way.)
It's easy to use in the present configuration.
Hedge, I feel your pain, if you know anything about ammunition, you know, as well as I, it's a calculated risk and one I'm not particularly worried about. it would take one helluva pop to get the primer off....and likely you would bend the choke lever since it's kinda thin metal.
In the event the primer did go off, the bullet would stay in place, the casing would pop off and at worst hit the inside of your left leg. In my case my kevlar pants cover that area anyway but I figure there is only a 10% chance of the primer going off....
Thanks for y'alls input...
Bill

barneys · 02-01-2008

Live dangerously don't you!!!

Loxpump · 02-01-2008

You know what they say at the beginning of the show Mythbusters. Folks don't try this at home, we're trained professionals.

mjsmilford · 02-01-2008

after you drill out the lead, why don't you just put the bullet in your pistol and shoot off the primer? it won't change the look that much and you'll know for certain your safe

mikeinva · 02-01-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjsmilford

after you drill out the lead, why don't you just put the bullet in your pistol and shoot off the primer? it won't change the look that much and you'll know for certain your safe

yea be carful with useing live primers they go off easyer then the powder .I hope you didnt really drill a live round lol