machining a mcmillan stock

[jdajr]

I just got my McMillan stock for my new bench rifle. The action inlet is not long enough. It needs to be about 1/4" longer. The bolt cutout and trigger guard also need to be done. My question is what tools are best to do the cutting on these stocks? Have access to drill press and milling machine along with numerous other tools. I would guess that the milling machine is probably the best tool for the job. What cutters have been found to work the best one this material? Have done a few wood ones but this is the first non-wood.

John

 

[juniorARshooter]

Sir
if you got it direct from McMillan and told them the right action - I recommend you send it back and they will make it right. they are great to deal with

 

[jdajr]

I got the stock from Bruno's shooters supply. It was just a basic inlet for a BAT action. It does not have the bolt cut out, bolt stop cut out or the trigger guard inlet. I need to do all that work also. I am looking for input from people out there that have done this type of work. Rather than experiment on a $400 stock I was looking for some advise from someone out there that has experience with these stocks.

John

 

[therifler]

call me 570 668 4532 www.therifler.com i should beable to help .

 

[lelongcarabine]

I like to use a carbide endmill, 4 flute-center cut. Wear a dust mask/safety glasses and have a vacuum handy with a short length of flexible tube taped into the hose that you can stick into those tight recesses. Sometimes, I have found that a short length of plastic hose/tube is handy to use as a blow tube to remove compacted dust from crevises. I also wear a long sleve shirt to keep any of the dust off my skin. Just to keep from itching. Make sure you pad the vise jaws and clamp over a solid portion of the stock. I use a versi-vise, mounted on a fixture that is clamped onto the mill table. I also support the opposite end with a vibration dampener. Do your cuts close to the clamping point. Move and reset-up if you have to cut away from any unsupported part of the stock. This probably is not the best way for production but in my case, it works. I have considered using an MTM gun cradle for a fixture or building one out of wood? My experience is with 4 stocks that I have modified in one form or another for various non standard bedding procedures. Hope this is helpful. Greg

 

[skeetlee]

I call TM Stockworks!! LOL!!! Good luck with your project. I hope it turns out great!! Lee

 

[dennisinaz]

John,
I have had to re-machine my last two McMillan stocks; one wouldn't fit the Williams bottom metal and the other... well just don't order a Sako inlet from them..

I just used a couple of pieces of leather to pad the Kurt vice and used a TiN coated 2-flute end mill. I held a shop vac hose next to the work and it was no problem. If you do it on a drill press you will end up with a mess. Carbide is usually routed with solid carbide mills that look knurled rather than fluted. If you take light cuts a regular geometry mill will work fine.