Anticipating gunsmith school... Custom stock project

[rap36case]

I am a candidate at a gunsmith school. I hope to start in fall 2017. It is life-long ambition and now that I am semi-retired, it may happen. I have several projects in mind and want to learn as much as I can prior to starting.

I have been looking at a McMillian A5 stock for a CZ550 re-barreled in 6.5 Creedmoor. I would like a graphite version of the A5, and that is quite expensive with CNC channeling etc. I am wondering just how difficult it would be to make a carbon fiber stock from scratch with all the features I want? I would have plenty of time to complete my own stock. I am guessing that a mold is involved in making a synthetic stock. I further guess to make a mold one would need a model carved from some other material to precise dimensions.

Any opinions or advice on this project would be welcome.

 

[butchlambert]

Just laminate balsa and cover it with Kevlar or carbon fiber cloth.

 

[Ggmac]

Go to murdercube.com , no joke . A complete how to on stock carving AND FIBERGLAS STOCK MOLDS

 

[shortgrass]

And here, by the title of the thread, I figured he was looking for a blank and needed some plans and tools...

 

[Ggmac]

Go figure , I saved it in favorite places and forgot what the h it was . It's a pretty basic but informed article .
Happy New Year !

 

[rap36case]

Thank you for the ideas. It will be a while before I can start the project, as I am waiting to be accepted into the program. I have just discovered aluminum chassis and RPA RangeMaster. So much out there to learn about accuracy.

 

[BLCKWLF]

You can buy the stock from McMillan as just a "Flat Top", you do all the finishing and inletting yourself.

 

[rap36case]

Anyone have experience with the McMillian Alias system or RPA Ultra chassis? It is intriguing that these are reported to be top of the line with 8K price tags. Just how hard is it to mill a full length aluminum chassis?

 

[Ggmac]

Don't mean this the wrong way , but it's not for the beginner . Try making that design out of wood first , just so you can understand all of the complex cuts needed .
learn how to walk first !
Learn how to mill a perfect square , rectangle and flat to the teachers specifications, then in 6-8 months you could start drilling and tapping holes .
It is rewarding but MOST work will be tedious, boring and not very profitable . I've read that you want to build custom target rifles , I wish you all the best and hope you still feel that way after a few months of dirty sore hands and BANDA- AIDS .