Drilling Larger Pillar Holes

[Dimner]

So I have done 4 bedded rifles now. All but the first have turned out pretty well. I'm pretty comfortable with most of my process, except in one area. And that is drilling the action screw holes larger to accept the pillars.

Where I have problems is making a perfectly centered hole in relation to the existing hole. I'm using a drill press that I have setup accurately for squareness. I'm using a make shift stock holder/clamp thing. I can show pic of that if needed.

To be honest, given that we over drill the area where the pillars are to go, it really doesnt end up being a problem. The rifle action/barrel, taped at the balance point gets the pillars to where they need to be to achieve a zero stress setup. But it still bothers me that those pillars are off center in the holes I have drilled, because the hole I drilled was not exactly centered in the stock screw hole.

Does anyone have a tip on how to get things centered when using a drill press?

 

[rkb21]

There are tools that you can use this is just one.

 

[AlNyhus]

Even a decent drill press will have considerable quill wander (.015-.025). If you feel the need for the holes to be perfectly centered, a mill is what you need. A piloted counterbore works fine on a drill press as long as the pilot fits the action screw holes in the stock very well...any slop there and the cutter will wander around like a Saturday night drunk.

For what it's worth. -Al

 

[jghoghunter]

I use this style boring tool. I have a 5/16 pilot. I drill the original hole to 5/16 and then use the tool and it works great.

 

[DaveTooley]

5/8" counterbore tool with a removeable pilot. Pilots are easy to make out of aluminum

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/08790404

Amazon.com

 

[BillC79]

You don’t indicate which actions you are pillar bedding.

After doing a less than stellar job pillar bedding a Remington 700 action in a wood stock to build a M-40 replica for CMP vintage sniper matches, I broke down and bought a stock drilling jig from Score-High Gunsmithing. My next attempt at pillar bedding a stock was near perfect. They also sell piloted counterbores if you don’t want the jig. See HERE.

 

[McStocks]

I agree with the above; just bore centered on the holes duplicated. Most counterbores are ground for metal; I sharpened these a little better for wood.
~Steve

 

[LVLAaron]

Get some gauge pins (or carefully use the right sized rill bit) that fit the existing hole. Chuck the pin, center that ping in the existing hole. Then drill bigger holes.

 

[Dimner]

Get some gauge pins (or carefully use the right sized rill bit) that fit the existing hole. Chuck the pin, center that ping in the existing hole. Then drill bigger holes.

This is the way I have been doing it currently. Except using a proper fitting drill bit to center my setup in the existing holes. It works.... OK... but still they are off center some. I'm now thinking maybe I should not have been using a twist drill bit and maybe less wandering could occur with a forstner bit?

I think I'm going to invest in one of those pilot counter bores. They seem like the right way to go. I don't have a way to turn my own pilots, but it looks like they are cheap enough for me to get the right one.

You don’t indicate which actions you are pillar bedding.

After doing a less than stellar job pillar bedding a Remington 700 action in a wood stock to build a M-40 replica for CMP vintage sniper matches, I broke down and bought a stock drilling jig from Score-High Gunsmithing. My next attempt at pillar bedding a stock was near perfect. They also sell piloted counterbores if you don’t want the jig. See HERE.

I'm going to be bedding a tikka this week, but eventually I'll have a SA 700 to do .


Thanks for the input everyone, I'll see how those pilot bits do.

 

[DaveTooley]

I start on the bottom of the stock. Get the CB down into the inlet for the trigger guard then start. Fewer splinters flying that way.

 

[centershot]

There are tools that you can use this is just one.

This is what I use. I do not do this for a profession, if I did I would have a mill. This tool works great in a drill press.

 

[AlNyhus]

In the pre-mill days, the piloted counterbores in the drill press is what I used. Carefully enlarged the screw holes to 5/16" and then used a 5/16" pilot.

 

[McStocks]

I think I'm going to invest in one of those pilot counter bores. They seem like the right way to go. I don't have a way to turn my own pilots, but it looks like they are cheap enough for me to get the right one.

Send me your counterbore, and I'll turn you a (long) pilot. Don't waste your time putting it in a drill press or mill; do it with a portable drill!
~Steve
steve@mcgeestocks.com

 

[Fast14riot]

I use a piloted counterbore as well, I dont go all the way through in one pass. I flip it over and finish it from the other side to reduce tear out in wood stocks.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I use a piloted counterbore as well, I dont go all the way through in one pass. I flip it over and finish it from the other side to reduce tear out in wood stocks.

Yes, and I typically don't go full diameter all the way either, leaving a smaller hole that shows and the pillar terminating up inside enough for the screw head to be just a bit below flush with the bottom of the stock. I just prefer the look over a big escutcheon or pillar left showing.

 

[LVLAaron]

I started making my own all in ones.