Adding a 3" wide plate to a varmint gun fore end

[powderbrake]

I have been shooting off the bench and prairie dog shooting off a rotating bench for many years. I have been using a McMillan A3 stock with an adjustable cheekpiece, and have had difficulties keeping the scope hairs level when shooting prairie dogs. I decided I needed a 3" wide fore end like my benchrest gun.

I purchased a SEB Mini rest and added the FClass products Mini Mod Top. Then I had an aluminum plate machined to fit the stock, 3" wide with 1/2 square corners to ride the bag. This worked pretty well but I think I lost a little accuracy.

I saw the underside was rubbing an the bag, the 1/2 ends were too heavily loaded by the rifle weight to keep the middle off the bag. Tried the very full bag, but got some vertical with the really hard bag.

So I needed a full width part. Having given myself a 3D plastic printer for Christmas.


I struggled learning the 3D cad program, but finally managed to print a 3" bag rider. It took 5 1/2 hours to print it.


I had previously added 3 #8-32 threaded inserts to the fore end.

 

[powderbrake]

So it looked like this.


Held on with 3 flat head cap screws.



close up of plate



So , now I wait for warmer weather to test how it works.

What I really need is a stock with a 3" forend, an adjustable cheekpiece, and a decent angle on the bottom rear of the stock to allow me to slide the rear bag for small elevation changes. My aluminum piece worked pretty well last prairie dog season, and I hope this one works a little better this coming summer.

Besides it gave me a reason to persist in learning 3D CAD drawing, and an excuse to play with my 3D printer

 

[hogpatrol]

Nice job! Just curious, are the fasteners going to stay tight in the plastic or would it be better with top hats?

 

[Jeffrey Chosid]

I’d guess, with such equipment, you rarely miss a prairie dog.

 

[Fast14riot]

Nice work!

 

[Mark W]

That will work good. It’s the same concept as the one that @urbanrifleman sells. I like that his attaches to a picatinny rail with no stock modifications although it does ride a little higher.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Should work decent. If I can offer some advice, you should mount the bag rider plate farther forward. You probably lost accuracy because now your rifle is riding higher and the position of the plate will make your rifle more front heavy. Think about how a benchrest stock is set up. The 3" wide fore end doesn't stop 2" from the tip. You want the bag rider contacting the front rest end stop, not the stock fore end.
You will be much more stable with the fulcrum more towards the muzzle and recoil/recovery will be more consistent.

I also highly recommend mounting a picatinny or Arca rail to your fore end. This gives better adjustability to change balance points and find the sweet spot.

I have the parts on order to make some aluminum quick detach arca rail bag riders. You can PM me if interested in one.

And it's fine for the middle of the aluminum plate to touch the bag a bit. You just dont want a smooth machined finish as that will create extra drag. I usually turn my facing end mill at a slight angle and drag it across all bottom contact surfaces to give a rougher finish that glides on the bag easier.

 

[urbanrifleman]

If you want to drill holes Elisio makes a fine plate.

 

[powderbrake]

Nice job! Just curious, are the fasteners going to stay tight in the plastic or would it be better with top hats?

The brass inserts are screwed into the stock, and I added epoxy before I screwed them in,

 

[powderbrake]

Should work decent. If I can offer some advice, you should mount the bag rider plate farther forward. You want the bag rider contacting the front rest end stop, not the stock fore end.

And it's fine for the middle of the aluminum plate to touch the bag a bit.

Thanks for the suggestion. I never thought about the bag rider touching the front stop. I made it so it fit the bags when the rifle was against the front stop. I could probably make one about 2" longer and it would be a little longer than the stock.

I was concerned about the aluminum plate touching in the middle and on the ends, because it was not consistent at all times. I'll see how this works with a full width front plate.

 

[jonbearman]

I think it looks as good as any for sale so you did a great job and I cant wait to hear the results.

 

[Bindi2]

My suggestion from a user of the mini and ali plates is put 3/8 x 3/8 runners on the under side so the middle of the plate does not touch the bag(less drag and side ways rocking) and increase the length of the plate to the front of the stock also increase the side wall height to where in touches the side bag to 1". Then when you have nothing to do print a piece to fit the butt (pistol grip to heel) so the rifle slides flat on your rear bag (scope stays on target better).. Like your Xmas present idea.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Sinclair sells this style ? If your not that handy or have a 3D printer ?

Nice job on your Bag Rider ….

Yes I have one for my F/TR stocks now F/Open ?