Gunsmithing Hollow a Stock Forend

[Edds]

Does anyone have a machine and programming to hollow out the forend, from recoil lug slot forward, of an OE Model 700 laminated stock making it just a shell that is about 3/16" thick?

 

[BuildItYourSelf]

Why not do it by hand?
It would be easy with a router and jig.
The jig would limit cutting to much and if the stock is a rounded sportser style a ball end bit would get you real close.

However I'm will to bet it will crack at 3/16 thick. Unless you plan on laying in some glass or carbon.

 

[Edds]

I was hoping for something more pleasurable.

 

[BuildItYourSelf]

Understandable.

 

[Lynn Jr]

A die grinder with a carbide burr works just like a router but with more control.
You have to go slow because at 30,000 rpm the wood will catch on fire.
I add lead to most of my stocks

 

[LRI]

I can do it. We inlet all of the full builds from scratch so this wouldn't be that big of a deal to do. If your trying to remove weight, the gains are going to be pretty small. It's been my experience that gutting a wood/composite stock just amounts to a great deal of work that in the end makes a big pile of chips that don't weigh much of anything.

C.

 

[Edds]

I can do it. We inlet all of the full builds from scratch so this wouldn't be that big of a deal to do. If your trying to remove weight, the gains are going to be pretty small. It's been my experience that gutting a wood/composite stock just amounts to a great deal of work that in the end makes a big pile of chips that don't weigh much of anything.

C.

Do you know what the cost would be? Removing weight is the intent. Since it is a piece of plywood, I'm expecting it to remove about 5 ounces. From your experience, does that sound like a reasonable expectation.

 

[LRI]

Do you know what the cost would be? Removing weight is the intent. Since it is a piece of plywood, I'm expecting it to remove about 5 ounces. From your experience, does that sound like a reasonable expectation.

Honestly, I don't know. I kinda approach this stuff with the philosophy of: Hope for the best, but in the end you get what you get. Just know that laminates, particularly Rutland Ply can be a little fussy when you turn it into a canoe. A lot of strength comes from the sheer mass of it. Thin pieces get weird due to how the grain structure flows. I'd just hate for you to spend all this effort and money and have it grenade after a woops.

C.

 

[GH41]

Chad is telling you in a nice way that you are pissing up a rope and have little chance of walking away dry.