Gunsmithing Accurizing hogue overmold stock

[KE5MUJ]

Just recently got a new 700 AAC-SD. Comes with Hogue overmold stock, which I know is the first thing that needs changing out. This stock does come with pillars installed already and I do love the feel of it externally so I thought I might do some research and take on a new project in accurizing this stock to the best of my abilities.

First thing I noticed is barrel contact at very front of stock due to the flimsyness of the plastic stock. I removed the barreled action and bottom metal and inspected barrel channel. Of course it was all plastic so I looked around the garage and came up with an idea. I found some stainless steel rods and cut them to full length of barrel channel. I dremeled out a channel running parrallel with barrel channel then sanded down all plastic inside channel to rough surface up. Then I set the rod in channel (butting up right in front of recoil lug area).

Next I mixed up some 2 part epoxy (similar to JB Weld) and skimmed the whole barrel channel in attempot to cover stainless rod and bond it to inside of stock. I let epoxy cure 24 hrs per instructions. This afternoon I fitted barreled action into stock and torqued to spec. The result was a free floated barrel and no barrel contact upon loading bipod or compressing barreled action to stock.

So far I am pleased with results and look forward to attempting a glasbed job on it using Brownells glassbed kit. I have not shot this setup yet so I wont be able to get a before and after results. I figured I would be wasting my time with the stock setup that came new. Will I keep this stock permanantly? Probably not, just figured I would tinker on what I got while I save up for a stock with full length block installed.

I forgot to take pics in process of modding, but here is a shot of finished job:

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Just for the hell of it I recently bedded one for a customer. (no charge by the way)

The barrel was hitting on the right side of the channel. I made it free float and bedded the whole action area, plus the first inch or so of the channel. Roughed up the plastic big time with a dremel bit I use for roughing up fiberglass stocks before bedding.


It worked. Barrel now free floats and the lug makes great contact.
With those stocks the bolt handle often hits the stock on the rear too.


I have a Hogue overmolded stock on my 10/22 and I love it. I considered buying a Mcmillan, but liked the Hogue so much I went with it. For the 10/22 I bedded the whole barrel solid to the barrel channel. I used release agent obviously but the barrel does not float. Feels awesome and shoots good enough with subsonics.

 

[KE5MUJ]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Thanks for the input Keith. So I assume you didn't drill any holes in plastic areas to help bonding of bedding to plastic?

 

[CleanMoostang]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Man I wish you would have snapped some of process! Ive never accurized any stocks nor bedded any rifles but with these stocks I dont think people give them enough time or chance for full potential. I recently posted a thread about painting mine and its done great so far.

Standing by for more input from ya!

 

[KE5MUJ]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Sorry bro. Got into it too deep and then realized at the end I shoulda snapped pics.

 

[CleanMoostang]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Its all good, but I got a few questions if you dont mind...

How was you able to tell inside of the stock where it was touching the barrel so you knew where to cut down?

Ive dremeled the end of my stock before so it wouldnt touch like they normally do but never cut down the inside to assure there was no touching...

 

[KE5MUJ]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CleanMoostang</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Its all good, but I got a few questions if you dont mind...

How was you able to tell inside of the stock where it was touching the barrel so you knew where to cut down?

Ive dremeled the end of my stock before so it wouldnt touch like they normally do but never cut down the inside to assure there was no touching... </div></div>

Take a dollar bill and run it down the barrel between barrel and stock.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

I wrapped tape around the barrel at the end of the stock, centering the barrel in the channel.
Used guide screws on the action to be sure it'd go back together and to keep it as straight/plum as possible.
Put bottom metal in so the guide screws would run through it, again ensuring alignment.

Test fitted it several times with tape on the barrel and guide screws/bottom metal in. Looked good sitting there... barrel was floated quite a bit... barreled action was extremely close to half depth(acceptable)... and overall it just plain looked OK.


So I roughed up(REALLY roughed up) the area under the action line, being careful to go all the way to the outline of the action but not past.
I then did my prep procedure, mixed/applied the epoxy, sprayed on the release agent, and dropped it in.

I hold it in with one single clamp, applied gently in a certain way to hold the action in stress free.



It did the job.

I still wouldn't use one of those stocks for any serious shooting. Except on my 10/22

 

[KE5MUJ]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Ok. I got the Brownells box in today which included the Glasbed kit. Went by Home Depot and got a couple 1/4x28 bolts. Ground the bolt heads off:

I then taped the barrel for free float and layed it in:

Prepped the bolts with tape to seal off any bedding compound getting squeezed down the pillars:

Since I have kids, I used playdo for modeling clay and drilled small holes for compound to grab:

Applied releasing agent to action liberally and let dry and layed in bedding compound:

Didnt have any clamps handy, so I compressed action into stock ever so lightly and came in with electrical tape and made a couple passes:

This is my first time and by no means posting this as a lesson. Any critques will be appreciated. I am anxiously/nervously awaiting morning time where I will pull barreled action to see how I did.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Unscrew and remove those guide screws before pulling it from the bedding.
When you pull it out, try laying it down barreled action towards you, muzzle to the left. With your left hand at the end of the stock, and your right hand at the tang, use both hands to pull it straight towards you and out.
Wiggle as little as possible.

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Seriously get those guide screws out first.</span>

When you drill the screws holes out bigger, run the drill bit in reverse from the top down. Running in reverse helps avoid chipping.

 

[KE5MUJ]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Thanks Keith.

I woke up this morning and pulled action off stock. I pulled guide screws out and did just as Keith Johns stated in above post. I was worried at first since it was quite tight but it came off eventually. Looks ok being my first, still need to do some more cleaning up but overall it should do fine.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Which release agent did you use?
Hard to see but the bedding looks textured. Like the release agent was on too thick or the bottom of the action just wasn't clean enough.
But maybe it just looks that way in the pic.

See how she shoots

 

[KE5MUJ]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Keith Johns</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Which release agent did you use?
Hard to see but the bedding looks textured. Like the release agent was on too thick or the bottom of the action just wasn't clean enough.
But maybe it just looks that way in the pic.

See how she shoots

</div></div>

I used the brownells blue release agent that came with the kit. I think I used too much (was paranoid). It does appear to have some slight ring appearance but its not textured. Looks like relase agent has a film on top of bedding compound.

 

[gbernardski]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Enjoyed the right up, i've got a 22-250 with a Hogue on it I'll have to try this!

 

[krummarine]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

tag

 

[GentleBen]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

After reading all about what you had to do, I ordered a B&C M40 stock for $235 from redhawk rifles.

Fully understand your end, but I like to shoot, not gunsmith.

Good luck with your projects. BTW, I am selling cheap two matching Hogue greenish white stocks I took off my two Rem 700 AAC-SDs.

 

[jeffersonv]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

I don't think the OP <span style="text-decoration: underline">had</span> to do that but I do think he got some good experience doing it.

Nice post 7.62Texan. I bet your new skills will come in handy and save you a few bucks someday.

Let us know how it shoots.

 

[redirt78]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

Tagging this for a stock I have that I might try some of this on

 

[M.rolen]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

best way to do it is fill it full of acraglass, let it sit until it dries and then throw it the hell away and get a different stock.

 

[dave338]

Re: Accurizing hogue overmold stock

dont they do stocks with full ali chassis not just pillars ?
i personally like the houge on a hunting gun .