Pillars: carbon fiber, aluminum or steel?

[tonyben]

I've traditionally done pillars with steel in rear-lugged M14's. For your bolt guns, is there a reason to use aluminum or carbon fiber? I've done steel for a Remington 700 before, but my McMillan came with very small aluminum pillars.

Tony.

 

[Walt Krafft]

The pillars are to prevent the stock crushing from the screw torque and deterioration from oil and chemicals. If you crush aluminum pillars you are cranking things way too tight.

 

[swd]

I use aluminum or steel. Usually steel because I have lots of old barrels around looking to be reincarnated.

 

[tonyben]

I use aluminum or steel. Usually steel because I have lots of old barrels around locking to be reincarnated.

I save all my barrels and have absolutely repurposed AR-15 barrels as pillars in the past.

 

[TC260]

I don't always keep up with all the cutting edge stuff, are people commonly using carbon fiber pillars these days?

 

[LVLAaron]

Speedy uses G10 sometimes. You can buy the right sized stuff on mcmaster. I prefer stainless but that's just me.

 

[MClark]

I sometimes use brass if it is going to show.

 

[tobnpr]

Off the shelf aluminum tubing.
Parting tool to cut grooves for gripping the epoxy, then part off at desired length.
Easy-peasy in under a minute.

 

[tonyben]

Thanks for the comments. I'll just keep doing what I've been doing. I have posted about bedding before and I seem to remember some posters commenting on carbon fiber. I was just checking to see if I was missing something or not.

Tony.

 

[ELR LVR]

I've traditionally done pillars with steel in rear-lugged M14's. For your bolt guns, is there a reason to use aluminum or carbon fiber? I've done steel for a Remington 700 before, but my McMillan came with very small aluminum pillars.

Tony.

Yeah, as someone mentioned its merely to prevent stock crush, (such as fiberglass which could crack)
Alum is fine since you aint putting much more then 5 ft/lbs of torque on the actions screws
(I hope)
Alum is so much easier to machine and drill than steel, plus it's cheap
But if guys have barrel stubs laying around why not use them right?
I dont know why use carbon fiber except for weight when alum dont weigh much to begin with
unless someone is building an ultralight 4 lb hunting/carry rifle with Ti recoil lug etc.
I mean there is all sorts of cool factor with Carbon Fiber but.....in a spot where no one is gonna see?
No point
Brass is cool though

 

[simo hayha]

Aluminum for me.

 

[GenePoole]

304 stainless for me.