Gunsmithing clearance around barrel on hs stock

[sixpack340]

hey all, im a little new here and wanted to ask the experts a question. i have a hs precision stock i bought used off a hide member on here and the stock is great. love the feel of it and everything. the only problem is that i want to put my rem 700 vtr in it and the channel in the stock is crazy wide for the vtr barrel. it looks kinda silly with 1/4'' clearance all the way around it. what is the best way to sort of fill that in so it doesnt look so goofy? the previous owner had the channel opened up for one of his guns and it looks weird for my barrel. im a diy kinda guy and i thought of using fiberglass resin and then sanding it out until theres about a dollar bill thickness of clearance. but i figured id ask first, as my thoughts may be wrong. thanks for any help!!

 

[Thud]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

Leave it alone and just shoot it. It ain't a beauty contest.....

 

[sixpack340]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

yea i understand im not putting it in a magazine ad, but it still bothers me.

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

i will step forward and offer some relief to your obvious distress and discomfort at now owning such a pitiful and disgraceful and unsightly firearm....GOOD GOD MAN !!!! have you no shame, no decency ???


send it to me Boltripper and i shall award you for your obvious Faux paux ....One hundred dollars US....please ship it ASAP to avoid any further consternation...its the least i can do for a bro-in-need.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

If you feel that you MUST fill it in, put 3 layers of masking tape on it. Coat the barrel & action (tape included) with some kind of release agent. Use kid's modeling clay to fill in between the stock and the barrel. KEEP THE CLAY BELOW THE TOP OF THE STOCK. The only two I have ever done were for someone else. If you leave 3/8" gap between the top of the stock and the top of the clay it works pretty well. I used "Bondo" body filler on one and "Devcon" aluminum epoxy on the other. I have to tell you, either, will add pounds for as big a gap as you described. I suggest you only fill one side at a time and break it loose as you go. If you do both sides before trying to break it loose you're in for a JOB. Let the epoxy cure overnight before breaking it loose. Before you do the other side recoat everything with the release agent.

There are several release agents that will work fine. I have used Johnson's paste wax, KIWI neutral paste wax, and an industrial mold release. I prefer to use 2 coats of the KIWI buffing if after the first coat. Let the second coat dry to a powdery looking haze and leave it there.

I wish you good luck. What you are choosing to do is something I wouldn't want to do again.

 

[chris112]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

Had a simialar problem and just glass bedded the barrel channel. Used 2 layers of masking tape on the barrel and plenty of Johnson's Paste wax. Left a small (about 1") area of contact with the barrel on the chamber end and the rest free floated. Worked just fine. Stiffened the forestock as well as sealling the wood.

 

[sixpack340]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

well, sounds like a little more work than i wanted to jump into at this time. guess i'll just live with it. its gonna be tough but i think i'll make it. haha. boltripper, im a little confused on your response. whad'ya mean?

 

[serpnt]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

Six pack,
If I may suggest, it may be in your best interest to leave it be. The older HS stocks didnt have full length aluminium blocks in the forarm, which can lead to lots of flexing. If it is a newer stock no worries. As a gunsmith I have never seen a stock that didnt flex some, 1/16" to 1/8" is about the norm.

Score High Gunsmithing
Albuquerque, NM

 

[gszeto99]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sixpack340</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well, sounds like a little more work than i wanted to jump into at this time. guess i'll just live with it. its gonna be tough but i think i'll make it. haha. boltripper, im a little confused on your response. whad'ya mean? </div></div>

He means he will buy your stock from you for $100 so you no longer will have to deal with the gap between the barrel and stock problem.

I will give you a better offer $101 dollars for the stock.

--Joking--LOL

If I were you I would just leave it alone with that much freefloat you are guaranteed no contact between the barrel and stock--a good thing.

 

[monteboy84]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

Victor n TN nailed it, masking tape and bedding compound is how I would do it....

-matt

 

[sixpack340]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

i took the majoritys opinions on the matter and have decided to leave it alone. if i had a heavy barrel instead of the vtr's triangle barrel it would look much better i think. oh well. im actually in the process of painting up the whole gun, the stock is hanging in the garage drying right now. should look pretty sweet. kinda went off another members gun i saw on here. i'll post some pics when its all done.

 

[45.308]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

Demon or Dart, with a handle like that you are running a MOPAR. I almost a Demon, quick but not fast. I ran a 65 with a wide block in highschool, street raced you betcha until. Bud of mine like an idiot, 68 Chevelle 400 horse 396 4 gear just finally beat a quicker car, on return lap got on it, lost brakes and went into the gang of racers and head on with another car at 90 mph or so.

Anyway, when I asked HS, they told me their Tactical stocks would not fit my SPS Vermit, when I asked why, she said stock is for .950 and SPS is .880, I said what you mean, she said there will be a wide gap. How does that mean it will not fit. It will fit if you want the wide gap. What does it hurt? Nothing but there will be a wide gap.

At first I did not like it but as time grew, I liked the look and when asked, its for extra cooling room for rapid sequence shooting and hot loads, I get the nod of OK sounds reasonable, so I ran with it.

 

[sixpack340]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

actually, i have a cuda. haha, funny someone on here knows what my name means. i use this name on all forums i a part of. haha. but yea, the look is something i guess ill grow into.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: clearance around barrel on hs stock

The look is a personal matter. You either like it or you don't.

Practically/functionally, the only issue I'd be concerned about would be foreign matter falling into the gap and bridging it. Just check it before you shoot.

A simpler filling method would be to get some peel and stick neoprene foam (8 1/2" x 11" 2mm thick sheets in many colors are available under the brand name 'Foamies' at Walmart Hobby department for around $1 a sheet), and use it to line the barrel channel, filling it partway.

I also use it to build up a cheekweld.

If you don't like it, you can peel it off.

Greg