Forums.NitroExpress.com

Once the metal work is done it is time to lay out the stock blank. The reason the metal work must be done first is that alterations you make to the action may well effect the inletting of the blank. For example in this case the P-14 has been fitted with a drop magizine and this is very different then the origional mag.
Once the metal work is done you have to lay out the blank. The first step is to draw a center line all around the blank. All your measurements will work off this center line. Next you will have to find the length of pull in relation to the guard screw hole location. Length of pull is the distance from the butt plate or recoil pad to the center of the trigger. Next I mark out for the cast off for the right hand shooter or cast on for the left hand people out there. Cast is an angle incorporated into the butt of a rifle. The reason for cast is that your eye and the point where the butt of the rifle contacts your shoulder do not line up. If the butt is angled about 1/2" to one side or the other the rifle will point better and tend to point where you are looking. The 1/2" is ball park and the broader a persons shoulders are the more this measurement will increase assuming their face is not accordingly fuller. Drop, which is how much the comb is below the center line of the bore is a bad word for me! I try to lay out a stock with as little drop as possable. The more the drop the more you have muzzel jump, you want the line of recoil as straight into the shoulder as can be had. If the rifle is to be used with open sights the same holds true but the cheek piece will have to be cut a bit deeper to allow your eye to get down on the sight plane.
Once all this is done and the lines are drawen ti is time to start making chips, but small chips, you start inletting. Go slow, nothing detracts from a custom rifle more then poor inletting filled with glass bedding. Poor lines come in either tied or second place. I have built many custom rifles yet I still start the inletting the same way. I inlet the complete barreled action first and then the bottom metal. I do it this way as I find it easier to ensure that the barreled action is sunk half way and parrell to the trued top line of the blank. One trick here if you are looking for the African dangerous game rifle look for a light caliber rifle is to very slightly angle the barrel channel down wards, so the barrel is just below half wa inletted at the end of the forearm. This will give you the look of a heavy barrel big game rifle with out the weight of the massive barrel.

In this picture the center line has been layed out and the holes for the guard screws drilled, the inletting is about to begin. The next picture shows the balleled action sunk half way into the blank, after this the magizine or bottom metal is inletted and the real fun begins!!!

--------------------
It is the small calibers that are the biggest bores.

Edited by Judson (08/05/06 11:54 AM)

Post Extras