Make your own thumbhole gunstock

[lordfaramir13]

If you click on my profile message at the bottom, you will see the rifle Ive got waiting on me when I get home. My question is this; Is it feasible to drill a thumbhole into it and round it out with a rasp or is this asking for trouble and not just accuracy? Ill be texturing it with some rhino liner somewhere down the road.


Another note, anyone heard of putting small adjustable gas shocks into the rear of the stock for not only LOP but recoil as well. They would have to have tension on the already so the air didnt have much room to compress.

 

[lordfaramir13]

Re: Make your own thumbhole gunstock

Im thinking something along threaded bolts floating inside the stock with linkage to a bolt anchoring them from coming out with small engine valve springs for the cushion. Valve springs have very little give and love to be compressed millions of times. They would have to have tension on them prior to the shot of course. Its like a coil over for your rifle.

I know all of this sounds silly; But not only would this be good for the rifle, but maybe I can tune it so my wife can shoot it one day too. Ill probably experiment on my 1903 before I touch the precious.

 

[krink85]

Re: Make your own thumbhole gunstock

If you are looking to soften the recoil I would put a brake on it. I have read that with breaks on there the recoil of 300wm feels like a 243. Also I wouldnt go hacking at your stock. Look for a stock that you like and buy it. You can sell your old stock to off set the cost of the new one. If you go cutting on it you more than likely you wont be able to sell it.

Edit: Also if you learn how to properly load a bipod it will help with the recoil.

 

[GasLight]

Re: Make your own thumbhole gunstock

They make hydraulic recoil systems for shotguns. I am not sure I would put one on a precision rifle. I don't think there is enough meat to make a thumbhole out of your stock. You also need to think that the shell is the only structural part of the stock, the filler inside doesn't have much strength, so when you drill a thumb sized hole through it my well compromise the integrity of that area of the stock, which already looks to be pretty thin...

Dave

 

[Kells81]

Re: Make your own thumbhole gunstock

Put a break on it, get a AICS if you wish for the thumbhole option. I have the 308 version in an AICS and its a nice setup.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Make your own thumbhole gunstock

Ease up, there's a good recoil solution and it's not complicated at all. Limbsaver buttpads, both permanent and slip-on, are very adequate to the task, the slip-on versions are easy to add and remove, and can be transferred among rifles which have similar buttplate dimensions.

I have several and love 'em. The newer designs even incorporate some sort of technology to reduce muzzle flip.

I get mine for around $20-30, but have even snagged a few on clearance for as little as $4.

I won't comment on the thumbhole idea, except to wish you luck, and to suggest you make certain there's nothing unexpected inside that stock before you start drillng.

Greg

 

[lordfaramir13]

Re: Make your own thumbhole gunstock

I do appreciate your suggestions. I suppose a longer LOP from the added buttpad will help out alot. The scope I'm pioking up is from Ellis Optics, and has 6.5 inch eye relief. That seems like alot; but Ive been viewing 300WMs on youtube to get an idea of recoil for when I get home. Maybe the extra eye relief is the way to go before I have meat hanging from the hair on my eyebrow. I had no idea synthetic stocks were hollow. That would have indeed been a surprise for me to cut into.

 

[GasLight]

Re: Make your own thumbhole gunstock

They aren't hollow, but they have a shell of fiberglass that is filled with a dense foam like material. The insides are not structural enough to make a stock out of, but add weight and ridgidity to the shell. As a unit they work together to give the stock strength. If you ever get the chance to inlet a barrel channel in a fiberglass stock you will see the difference in the fill material. Some companies can change the density of the fill to add weight. At any rate, I am not saying it can't be done, just saying that is something you need to think about when you think about how you will make a hole big enough for your thumb to grip comfortably. If you look at other thumbhole stocks out there, you will notice that the area relieved for the thumb is quite generous compared to how much material you have at the wrist of your stock. More and more innovative things are being done though, so you may figure a way to turn it into a thumbhole and maintain enough structural integrity for your stock to handle the recoil of the .300 WM. Just trying to alert you to something you may not have considered before.

Dave

 

[lordfaramir13]

Re: Make your own thumbhole gunstock

Originally, my idea was based on the thought of there being a rigid fill or even uniform stock material. This changes that completely. If that stock breaks with my thumb there, it could act like a dull cigar cutter. Not only that, but the Idea for the threaded adjustable inserts for the rear buttpad. I like the idea of a hydraulic damper. I Ill have to do some research on that one.