A rifle stock is defined as the part of a gun to which is attached the gun barrel and firing mechanism of the gun. The stock found in a rifle is seen to be a very important component of the gun because it serves as a structural support for the gun. A rifle stock can also be referred to as a gunstock, a butt, a buttstock or even a shoulder stock. If the stock of a rifle is not as steady or firmly tightened as it is supposed to be, this will increase the shakiness of the gun’s components and will eventually affect the efficiency of the gun especially when it is fired.
It is not advisable for a person to use a gun that has an unsteady or loose rifle stock because there is a tendency for an accident to occur, leaving the gun user or shooter with some injuries which could be serious or in severe cases, damaging to the person’s health.
When a rifle stock is properly fitted on a gun, it makes it easier for the person shooting the gun to have a good aim, with little or no injury to the shooter.
In order for you to identify the rifle stock of a gun, there are a few things you will need to know:
- Rifle stock is made out of wood, synthetic, or metal materials.
- Rifle stock is made out of wood, synthetic, or metal materials.
- Rifle stock is made out of wood, synthetic, or metal materials.
Types of Rifle Stocks
Just like every other thing, rifle stocks differ from each other and their differences are due to the certain features they possess.
The different rifle stocks are exactly that; different, but they do have a general feature which is to promote the stability of the gun when it is being used or shot.
The different rifle stock styles that are currently seen today are:
- The one-piece rifle stock: This type of rifle stock is made in a long and continuous form without any separation, and it extends from the fore grip to the buttstock as a single unit. The one-piece rifle stock can be found in bolt action rifles.
- The two-piece rifle stock: Unlike the one-piece rifle stock, this rifle stock is seen to be in separate parts as one part consists of the fore grip, while the other part consists of the buttstock. The two-piece rifle stock can at times have more than two separate components or pieces; in addition to the categorized fore grip and buttstock, there can be a pistol grip but this is not so common to see. This type of rifle stock can be found in shotguns, break open shotguns and lever action rifles.
Both types of rifle stocks have certain advantages over each other, For example:
- The one-piece rifle stock adds a lot of firm support and rigor to the gun, so it is seen to have a lot more accuracy than the two-piece rifle stock. Regardless of this fact, it is perceived to be much heavier and quite more expensive than the two-piece rifle stock.
- As an advantage over the one-piece rifle stock, the two-piece rifle stock is found to be easier to make. The reason is because; it is less difficult to find two separate wood blank materials to make a two-piece rifle stock than to find an extremely long wood blank material to make a one-piece rifle stock.
Ways To Bed a Rifle Stock
To bed a rifle stock means to coat the stock with epoxy resin in order to further stabilize the barrel of the gun while protecting the rifle stock from the recoil action which can have a negative impact on the rifle stock, and for example; cause a deformation of the rifle stock.
Bedding the rifle stock of a gun is a very sensitive and vital process so carrying out this process in the right or wrong way will greatly have an impact on the usage of the gun, and your safety when using it.
Bedding your rifle stock involves a procedure where the stock of your rifle is being filled with epoxy resin (which is seen to be a metal insert that is as strong as steel) which eventually dries to become a part of the rifle stock.
The process of bedding your rifle can seem complicated but there are some steps that you can use to make the procedure less stressful.
The following steps are bound to help you bed your rifle stock in an easier manner:
- Dry fit your rifle stock and other components: Before you begin to apply your chemical (epoxy resin), it is advisable that you take out all the components that you would like to use to bed your rifle stock and dry fit them on the gun. To dry fit means to check that the measurements of the rifle parts you would like to use are the perfect size for your gun. Doing this will help you make sure that all the parts fit together. When dry fitting, make sure that you do not force any of the pieces if they do not fit (if any of your rifle parts is not a good fit, contact your manufacturer so you can get a replacement). Some of the parts you will need to dry fit include the stock, the trigger, the bolt, the bolt release, the action, the magazine box. To check if the action feeds properly, you can place dummy shells in the gun magazine.
- Take a picture of the gun to use as a guide: This tip is very handy especially if you are a beginner who is not yet really familiar with guns or rifles. Before you start to disassemble the gun, it is best for you to have a picture guide so that in a case where you get stuck at a point, the picture of the gun will help you to note exactly which rifle part goes into a particular spot.
- Begin to disassemble the gun: After having a reference picture of the gun, you can start to disassemble it. Disassembling the gun is done so that you can assess the previous bedding that was done on the gun (if any). When disassembling, make sure that you remove all the parts that cover up the spot where the bedding should be. Some of the parts you should remove include the action, the magazine, the trigger, and other small parts found in that area. If there was previous bedding in the gun, carefully observe the spot that the epoxy resin was placed and also how the stock was bedded, this can help to serve as a guide when you start to bed the gun. If the previous bedding is still firm, then you can use the same and exact method, but if the previous bedding is found to be soft or cracked, then it is best if you use another method that will hold more firmly and stay in good condition.
- Get your work area prepared: Preparing your work area consists of you placing covers all over the surface of the work area that you will be using. You can use newspapers as covers for your work area, vise grips can also be used to help secure the stock and prevent it from moving out of place. After you have done this, you can put on your rubber gloves as a safety measure.
- Begin to prepare the rifle: To prepare the rifle for the bedding process, you will need to decrease the action. Degreasing the action will help to make sure that the surface of the action is good and clear enough for the materials to properly stick to the gun. For you to carry out this process, you will need to put on latex or rubber gloves. After doing that, put some alcohol or degreaser on a cotton swab and use the already soaked cotton swab to wipe the action and the recoil lug. When you are done with wiping, take the recoil lug and place some tape (masking tape or electrical tape) all around it. Doing this creates a small gap which makes sure that there is an easy release of the action from the rifle stock. The places on the action to wrap with the tape are the front, back, top, bottom, and sides, these spots should be wrapped up with two layers of the tape.
- Start to apply some release agent: You will need to apply a release agent on the metal parts of the gun, but before you do this, ensure that your latex or rubber gloves are on. The metal parts that you will need to coat with the release agent are the parts that will be reinserted back into the stock, for example; the action, action screws, the barrel, and the footplate. There are different kinds of release agents such as cooking spray, aerosol spray, and wax (you can choose the release agent to use based on your preference). If you are using a cooking spray or aerosol spray, make sure that you use a generous amount that covers every part of the action and the barrel. If you are using wax as the release agent, with your gloves still on, use your fingers to apply the wax all over the metal parts. After doing this, allow the release agent to dry and eventually set. One of the reasons why you apply a generous amount of the release agent on the metal parts is because using an insufficient amount of the release agent can make the bedding stick and glue to the metal parts, this can cause the metals to get damaged.
- Fill the gaps with clay and reapply the release agent: The kind of clay used here is modeling clay which is inserted in the various gaps, crevices, and holes of the action. Filling these exposed areas with clay will prevent the epoxy resin from entering into places where it should not be. You can use your fingers to plug the clay into the exposures and if there is an excess amount of clay, you can remove it using a razor blade. After plugging the holes full of clay, you will need to reapply another coat of the release agent to the metal parts of the rifle. When you are done reapplying the second coat of the release agent, degrease the inside of the stock by using a cotton swab already soaked in alcohol.
- Begin to bed the rifle stock: You can start this process by preparing the epoxy resin in a plastic cup that is not waxed. It is best for you to follow the instructions on the packet, but ensure that you do not whip the chemical mixture to prevent the formation of air bubbles. If you would like the color of the mixture to match the color of your stock, you can add some dye. Try to follow the areas where the recoil lug and rear screw are found and apply a thin even layer of the epoxy resin mixture on these areas (if you have a previous bedding then you can use it as a guide). Put the action back into the stock, tighten the screws using a screwdriver (tighten the rear screw first if there are two screws) and place a vise around the barrel of the gun (this reduces the stress placed on the stock). After this, let the epoxy mixture cure and then remove the excess epoxy mixture using some cotton swab, sandpaper or a razor blade.
- Let the bedding cure and then clean: Depending on the instructions of the particular stock you are using, you can let the bedding cure for about 24 to 48 hours. When this is done, disassemble the gun and unscrew the action (you can gently tap the action with a tool to get it out), there should be a replica of the action on the stock. To remove the bedding from the pillar holes of the stock, you can drill into the holes. To remove the modeling clay, you can use a razor blade. To remove the release agent, you can use a rag soaked in hot water to run over the metal parts.
- Reassemble the rifle: After the previous steps, you can use the pictures of the gun to reassemble it. Make sure that all the screws are tightened, and leave for a week for the bedding to properly cure before you use the rifle.
Rifle stocks are a kind of safety measure found in a gun because they encourage good aim (when the gun is being shot), and proper stability of the gun when it is pressed up against the shooter’s shoulders.
When a gun is shot, a good rifle stock helps to prevent muzzle rise by transferring the recoil (gotten from the firing of the gun) right into the body of the shooter, this serves as an added safety feature.
If you are looking to upgrade your gun or rifle, it is the best choice for you to bed it, this helps to reduce cost and in turn, it gives your rifle a new look with an increased accuracy.