Stiffening up a synthetic stock

[sally-bee]

Hi guys,

I see synthetic stocks are largely described as flimsy. Haven't seen every rifle so there are probably exceptions but I know what they're talking about with what I have. A timber one feels much more solid.

As far as shooting and accuracy goes, would fully bedding a synthetic stock stiffen it up to the same level as a timber one, fixing the 'flimsy factor'?

[Gwion]

In short, Sally. Yes.

I made my hogue stock more rigid (Howa) before replacing it with Boydes. Worked just fine.

I took the rifle apart, ground out the cross sectional 'stabilisers" (what ever the technical term is) and epoxied some carbon fiber in the stock forearm. Carbon fiber is cheap in a ribbon my the meter off ebay and a small tin of epoxy from the local hardware. Depending on what stock it is there will be various ways to improve overall rigidity.

[Tiiger]

With the action bedded though it would only do good things for shooting.

The fore-end would extend beyond where the bedding would end, so it would still have a little twist against a firm grip if tested, but would effect the bedding job.

[Khan]

As long as you fully bed the action, I'd be less convinced about how much bedding just the recoil lugs would help for what you've asked.

[Gwion]

So, some synthetic stock flex so much that when you are resting the fore-end on something they make contact with the barrel. This, as you know, is bad.

It can be fixed as above and i have done it. I wouldn't bother doing it again, i would replace it with a laminate stock or better quality sythetic (depending on the cash available).

If i was to do it again, i would prep the stock for full action bedding (remove material for bedding depth, key surface for good bond) as well as "stiffening" the foreend, as explained above. I would then stiffen the forend as above, laying some material up past the recoil lug area so it will over lap the action bedding. Once the material has semi cured (still got some tack to it), i would install the knox form dam and proceed with the full length action bedding. Not allowing the first job to fully cure should allow for some good chemical bonding between the two jobs and not rely entirely on mechanical bonding, making a sold, stiff unit of the stock.

When i first did mine (Howa Hogue stock, the flexiest of the flexy stocks), i tried to do the whole lot in one go and it was rather panic inducing trying to deal with all the goo everywhere at once. I ended up bedding the rifle all the way to the end of the forearm, but as it took most (not all) of the flex out i ended up re floating the barrel from the knox form on.

I have since replaced the stock for cosmetic and practical reasons and also bedding the action in that stock. Both stocks have produced regular accuracy of 0.6moa and the occasional 0.4moa or even 0.3moa when all the stars align (once).

Here's a link to the info i used to learn to bed my rifle:

bedding the rifle: http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowled ... pound.html
stabilising synthetic stock: http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowled ... lizer.html

I have nothing to do with the product or web site, just found it extremely handy info.

Have fun

[trekin]

Firstly, you need to ask yourself what is it you like about the stock (fit, shape, lightness etc) before deciding whether it is worth stiffening the fore end.

Secondly, a flexible fore end is not the only accuracy destroying problem that can plague a synthetic stock (especially a Hogue Stock), I have had several synthetic stocks sent to me to be copied that have been bowed and/or twisted/corkscrewed.

Corkscrewed synthetic stock,



Same stock showing bow in stock.



If you decide to stiffen the fore end with resin, apply in thin layers as the heat generated by the curing can warp the stocks fore end if done in too thick a layer.

[whert]

I have had several synthetic stocks sent to me to be copied that have been bowed and/or twisted/corkscrewed.

Is that what the contraption it's sitting in is? To copy a stock?

[Korkt]

It can be fixed as above and i have done it. I wouldn't bother doing it again, i would replace it with a laminate stock or better quality sythetic (depending on the cash available).

Pain in the ass too as there often isn't a lot for bedding compound to grip and you need to grind around the inletting of the stock creating something for it to bite.

[trekin]

I have had several synthetic stocks sent to me to be copied that have been bowed and/or twisted/corkscrewed.

Is that what the contraption it's sitting in is? To copy a stock?

Yes

[agentzero]

Corkscrewed synthetic stock,

The picture makes it look dramatic in relation to the butt, but does it really matter?

I mean if the action is firmly bedded in the centre, the butt could be on sidewards as far as the action is concerned and still be a stable platform for shooting,

Could be a comfort issue for the shooting maybe but just in terms of the rifle shooting accurately?

[sally-bee]

Thanks guys.

Thanks Gwion for the links Trekin for the photos. All very helpful in learning.

[trekin]

The picture makes it look dramatic in relation to the butt, but does it really matter?

I mean if the action is firmly bedded in the centre, the butt could be on sidewards as far as the action is concerned and still be a stable platform for shooting,

Could be a comfort issue for the shooting maybe but just in terms of the rifle shooting accurately?

Having the center line of the action and the center line of the butt vertically off centered, in this case at least 4 degrees, causes cant when the rifle is shouldered to the natural, comfortable, firing position (butt vertical). If shouldered to hold the action vertical, butt at an angle, the butt would dig into soft tissue under recoil, causing the shooter to start to develop a flinch, (the rifle was chambered in 375 H&H and the shooter was a 20 year veteran pro buff hunter).

Also, in this case, the bow in the stock was causing the fore end to be in constant contact with the side of the barrel with considerable pressure when used with a bipod.

[Baronvonrort]

Hi guys,

As far as shooting and accuracy goes, would fully bedding a synthetic stock stiffen it up to the same level as a timber one, fixing the 'flimsy factor'?

I doubt it, the timber stocks are the 2nd best for stiffness,all the wood fibres run in the direction that is good for compression.

Whatever you do to a synthetic stock with epoxy will also stiffen a timber stock, you could even add some S Glass with the epoxy to make the timber stock even stiffer.

I prefer Alloy stocks, no bedding required which cuts some costs if going that route and it's the stiffest option.

[trekin]

Having the center line of the action and the center line of the butt vertically off centered, in this case at least 4 degrees, causes cant when the rifle is shouldered to the natural, comfortable, firing position (butt vertical). If shouldered to hold the action vertical, butt at an angle, the butt would dig into soft tissue under recoil, causing the shooter to start to develop a flinch, (the rifle was chambered in 375 H&H and the shooter was a 20 year veteran pro buff hunter). Also, in this case, the bow in the stock was causing the fore end to be in constant contact with the side of the barrel with considerable pressure when used with a bipod.

And to top this off, the shooter in question didn't realize, even with his vast experience, that he was canting his rifle, and thought he was developing a flinch because he was getting too old for the large caliber. Took another shooter observing him to spot the problem.

So sally-bee, two lessons for the price of one here (second lesson, when having accuracy problems getting someone to watch your shooting style may help to identify problems).

[Westy]

I found soaking it over night in warm water with a couple of Viagra's in it, seems to stiffens it right up the next morning !!!!Give it a go and see for yourself???

[agentzero]

Also, in this case, the bow in the stock was causing the fore end to be in constant contact with the side of the barrel with considerable pressure when used with a bipod.

Ok, that's obviously a problem :/

Had thought it but obviously a little twist does a lot over a bit of distance, like the fore end.

[schink]

I found soaking it over night in warm water with a couple of Viagra's in it, seems to stiffens it right up the next morning !!!!Give it a go and see for yourself???

I think you're using those wrong