Drilling a laminate stock for less weight

Improving and repairing firearms. Rifle bedding, barrel work, stock replacement and other ways to improve your firearms.

Drilling a laminate stock for less weight

Post by huccl » 11 Nov 2013, 8:50 am

I've got a laminate stock on a rifle which is reasonably heavy as far as stocks go, compared to a synthetic one for example.

Would drilling sections of it out to reduce weight compromised anything in it?

Nothing around the action obviously, but I figure if you drill a dozen holes along the fore grip where the barrel is floated, and a few through the butt stock, you can probably save a bit of weight without compromising anything?

Thoughts?
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Re: Drilling a laminate stock for less weight

Post by Lorgar » 11 Nov 2013, 10:21 am

Obviously you'd want to be careful about weakening the sock and having it splinter from recoil down the road.

You could glue in some hollow pillars to maintain the support throughout the stock I suppose?
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Re: Drilling a laminate stock for less weight

Post by Blackened » 11 Nov 2013, 12:38 pm

Drilling out a little here and there shouldn't be a problem.

I think it will be more effort that it's worth to tell you the truth. I few holes here and there will only be a drop in the bucket of the total weight in your rifle.
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Re: Drilling a laminate stock for less weight

Post by jackles » 11 Nov 2013, 5:35 pm

For real weight reduction I reckon you're going to have to replace it with a lighter weight material.

Never going to match a featherweight synthetic with a block of laminate IMO.
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Re: Drilling a laminate stock for less weight

Post by greyghost » 11 Nov 2013, 6:41 pm

Get yourself a nice Boyds featherweight stuck for $100.

Problem solved.
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Re: Drilling a laminate stock for less weight

Post by teedo » 11 Nov 2013, 8:31 pm

greyghost wrote:Get yourself a nice Boyds featherweight stuck for $100.


Yeah, bugger drilling and pillaring a heavy stock to save a few grams.

Spend the hundred bucks on a boyds and save yourself the hassle.
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Re: Drilling a laminate stock for less weight

Post by Noisydad » 12 Nov 2013, 6:38 am

You want to lighten a gun?? Lower your voice, man up and get a 12.5 kg Sharps!
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Re: Drilling a laminate stock for less weight

Post by Fujix » 12 Nov 2013, 8:08 am

He's trying to make life easier, Noisy. Not harder :P
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