Looking for input for a new stock project.

[joshb]

I’ll be back in my shop making some stocks. I want to try something new. I was going to try a lightened benchrest stock.
I was also going to try an F class.
What features do you guys like to have in a good design?
One of “something” will be donated to the site.
Input please.

 

[butchlambert]

I like a longer forearm. Lightweight?? Materials that you will use and a target weight.

 

[butchlambert]

If I were able to build another lightweight woodstock, it would be out of Paulowina. Arnold Jewell used it many years ago with Kevlar or carbon fiber cloth laminates. Much lighter than cedar or redwood and very stiff.

 

[Sundown]

How much weight must be added to butt to balance a 7# barrel?

 

[butchlambert]

No weight is necessary to balance it if you lengthen your fore arm. I did inlet a removable weight just in front of the trigger guard at one time. You can get a piece of lead and melt it to fit and bolt it in or a piece of tungsten. Much the best place for balance.

 

[butchlambert]

Has anybody thought of densified wood? It is stronger than steel and aluminum. I don't know of its weight though. Search it, pretty neat material.

 

[hoz53]

I’ll be back in my shop making some stocks. I want to try something new. I was going to try a lightened benchrest stock.
I was also going to try an F class.
What features do you guys like to have in a good design?
One of “something” will be donated to the site.
Input please.

Is this going to be a stock school?

 

[anschuter2013]

Speaking from the viewpoint of a recent and still ongoing nightmare of a LV build, I can tell you first hand how difficult it is to get a sub 26oz. benchrest stock made in a timely manner (meaning 7 months). This goes for composite and wood stocks.

If you were to take on and make a LV stock, they would sell faster than you could make them.

Desirable features would include fairly tall (at least 1") vertical forend flats to resist torque on firing. The Kelbly KLP exibits this feature. Another good feature would be the absence of a pistol grip as it serves no function in a LV stock whether it be for group or score. A 3/4" diameter x 7" deep butt weight bore would be cool too, even if it wasn't used by the end user. A low riding inlet would be super. After sll that, maybe just make a KLP in less that 8-9 months...yeah, that's the ticket!

 

[joshb]

Is this going to be a stock school?

Only if the methods change drastically. If some new “step” crops up, I’ll post it as an addendum. I just don’t have the time or energy to do a whole thread again.

 

[hoz53]

Only if the methods change drastically. If some new “step” crops up, I’ll post it as an addendum. I just don’t have the time or energy to do a whole thread again.

Ok that makes sense- just wanted to clarify—thanks

 

[hoz53]

Speaking from the viewpoint of a recent and still ongoing nightmare of a LV build, I can tell you first hand how difficult it is to get a sub 26oz. benchrest stock made in a timely manner (meaning 7 months). This goes for composite and wood stocks.

If you were to take on and make a LV stock, they would sell faster than you could make them.

Desirable features would include fairly tall (at least 1") vertical forend flats to resist torque on firing. The Kelbly KLP exibits this feature. Another good feature would be the absence of a pistol grip as it serves no function in a LV stock whether it be for group or score. A 3/4" diameter x 7" deep butt weight bore would be cool too, even if it wasn't used by the end user. A low riding inlet would be super. After sll that, maybe just make a KLP in less that 8-9 months...yeah, that's the ticket!

That’s some great info thanks

 

[msinc]

If I were able to build another lightweight woodstock, it would be out of Paulowina. Arnold Jewell used it many years ago with Kevlar or carbon fiber cloth laminates. Much lighter than cedar or redwood and very stiff.

As the owner of a sawmill I was going to suggest the same thing. I just milled 4 nice logs last week. It has been my intention to dig up a tree and get the root to see just what that looks like. Some of the wood I have presently that is dry has some nice figure. I made some canoe paddles out of it and they are a dream to use. It's a wonder you don't hear more about this wood being used for gunstocks. I think the big Japanese buy up is all but over and it is starting to get a little easier to obtain. There was a time around my area when paulownia trees were being stolen right out of peoples yards for the wood.

 

[anschuter2013]

Roy Hunter uses Paulownia for his LV stocks...

 

[butchlambert]

Some of us like a small pistol grip.
My redwood-carbon fiber stock.



My walnut-carbon fiber HV-Sure wish that I hadn't sold it.

 

[anschuter2013]

Nice stocks Butch! I reckon the definition of pistol grip can vary from person to person. I would consider the Redwood stock you posted to have no pistol grip in the traditional sense. A factory McMillan edge would have what I consider to be a pronounced pistol grip.

 

[butchlambert]

Nice stocks Butch! I reckon the definition of pistol grip can vary from person to person. I would consider the Redwood stock you posted to have no pistol grip in the traditional sense. A factory McMillan edge would have what I consider to be a pronounced pistol grip.

I had a couple Edge stocks and one was the first that they produced. Kelly McMillan gave 4 of us stocks to be shot at the Crawfish many years ago as the Edge Team. We did not do a good job for him but appreciated the gift of the stocks. I still like to put my thumb over the top of the stock and am real uncomfortable with the high wide ones. I liked the design of the Edge fore end, but made mine longer. I like the slimmer grip and I have a short butt stock as I have been known to get my shoulder into it. The advantage of doing one yourself is to be able to incorporate your own ideas in design and materials.

 

[joshb]

As the owner of a sawmill I was going to suggest the same thing. I just milled 4 nice logs last week. It has been my intention to dig up a tree and get the root to see just what that looks like. Some of the wood I have presently that is dry has some nice figure. I made some canoe paddles out of it and they are a dream to use. It's a wonder you don't hear more about this wood being used for gunstocks. I think the big Japanese buy up is all but over and it is starting to get a little easier to obtain. There was a time around my area when paulownia trees were being stolen right out of peoples yards for the wood.

msinc: They did that “tree stealing” around here, too. I think it was worth it’s weight in gold at one point. I’ll be looking for some. If you have some dried, I’d be interested in buying some. 3/4” x 6” x 36-40” are the minimum board dimensions I’d need. 3 such boards per stock would do it.

Butch: Please educate me about the carbon fiber use. Is it a layer of cloth between the layers of wood? Spacing? Vertical or horizontal? Thanks.

 

[msinc]

msinc: They did that “tree stealing” around here, too. I think it was worth it’s weight in gold at one point. I’ll be looking for some. If you have some dried, I’d be interested in buying some. 3/4” x 6” x 36-40” are the minimum board dimensions I’d need. 3 such boards per stock would do it.

Butch: Please educate me about the carbon fiber use. Is it a layer of cloth between the layers of wood? Spacing? Vertical or horizontal? Thanks.

36-40 is your minimum...how long do you want it??? 3/4" X 6" X ??" FSFS
PM me your shipping address and how many boards you want, I'll send you some to try. Might want to try one initially to see if it is even something you want to mess with. I have plenty.
The carbon fiber stuff I have seen used with wood stocks is in sheet form. It is solid, not cloth and it is pretty thin, like 1/16". You can probably get it any thickness you want. You just glue it vertically in between the wood. It is a little pricey, unless it has come down since the last time I used any.

 

[butchlambert]

Nice stocks Butch! I reckon the definition of pistol grip can vary from person to person. I would consider the Redwood stock you posted to have no pistol grip in the traditional sense. A factory McMillan edge would have what I consider to be a pronounced pistol grip.

I had a couple Edge stocks and one was the first that they produced. Kelly McMillan gave 4 of us stocks to be shot at the Crawfish many years ago as the Edge Team. We did not do a good job for him but appreciated the gift of the stocks. I still like to put my thumb over the top of the stock and am real uncomfortable with the high wide ones. I liked the design of the Edge fore end, but made mine longer. I like the slimmer grip and I have a short butt stock as I have been known to get my shoulder into it. The advantage of doing one yourself is to be able to incorporate your own ideas in design and materials.

msinc: They did that “tree stealing” around here, too. I think it was worth it’s weight in gold at one point. I’ll be looking for some. If you have some dried, I’d be interested in buying some. 3/4” x 6” x 36-40” are the minimum board dimensions I’d need. 3 such boards per stock would do it.

Butch: Please educate me about the carbon fiber use. Is it a layer of cloth between the layers of wood? Spacing? Vertical or horizontal? Thanks.

You buy carbon fiber cloth or Kevlar and we Used both vertical and horizontal lamination. We were able to vacuum bag it instead of clamping it as it is the much superior way. Pictured below is the butt of the stock showing the lamination.


On the mill.

On the redwood we put finish on the OD and didn't have any chipout. We bought carbide tipped router bits. We found a cheap source for them.

 

[butchlambert]

We used cloth, not the sheet. Link below.
http://www.uscomposites.com/carbonpage.html
We did not use this company, but it will give you an idea.