Forums.NitroExpress.com

No matter how well the action recoil lug and barrel recoil lug are bedded the energy of a big bore has to get to the butt of the stock. Almost all the force is transferred to the stock in front of the magazine area, wood behind the tang is normally relieved and carries little load. Take a good look inside the magazine area of a stock and you will see that most of the wood has been machined away leaving two thin side plates with only a small island of cross grain wood, behind that is the cutout for the trigger assembly. Under load, the sides have little option but to bow out away from the mag box, stressing weak cross grain. Properly placed cross bolts make the most sense to contain the force, keeping the stock from splitting while transferring the energy back to the butt where it can work its magic on your shoulder.

Ovny, My CZ 458 only came from the factory with one cross bolt behind the trigger. I bought it used and the stock was already split. After repairing the split with epoxy, I installed a second cross bolt through the little bit of wood just in front of the trigger assembly, and added a third cross bolt just behind the action recoil lug. Also epoxy bedded the action into the stock. The cross bolts are 5/16 inch bronze threaded rod epoxied in place. There are shallow counter bores filled with black epoxy to give a finished appearance, similar to an ebony plug. Not professional gunsmith work, but the stock was already cracked and dinged when I bought it. It is holding up fine after 150+ rounds of Lott level ammunition. I believe the CZ Lott needs three cross bolts.

Post Extras