Gunsmithing Where can I get good stock inletting instructions

[isptroop38]

I have a coworker that is a great machinist and has lots of equipment, fancy endmill, etc. I, however, don't know jack about inletting. If I bought some bottom metal for my Rem 700, where can I find some good instructions to show him what I need done? Is there any certain depth to cut the inlet, or does it depend on the bottom metal manufacturer? I'm assuming you cut and fit, cut and fit, little by little until it fits perfectly? I've looked through here and on google, but I can't find crap on what the actual process involves. Is there a place I can find detailed instructions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[LRI]

Re: Where can I get good stock inletting instructions

If he's a good machinist you should be able to hand it to him and say "make it so."

What your asking will generate as many different opinions as any other topic on this forum does. That being said I'll try to help and offer the things that I've tried to pay attention to.

It needs to go in the stock and it needs to work. Make sure the mag box has some wiggle room and try not to measure with a knotted string and cut with an axe. If it rocks in the stock then you have issues. It should sit just as dead as the action does. If it doesn't it'll induce stress in the stock when you snug up the screws and this can/will distort any bedding you may have for the receiver.

There isn't a whole lot of stock material supporting the action or floor plate in this area so it should be taken seriously. It's not "just a silly floor metal."

Leave the shim washers at the hardware store. That is half ass 101.

If he's competent, it'll even look decent once you two are done.


Here's one of mine. 1:1 machined fit. No bedding required.

Good luck.

C

 

[isptroop38]

Re: Where can I get good stock inletting instructions

Thank you sir, that makes sense. I was curious why some bottom metal assemblies end up being sunk past flush in the stock at the front screw area, but I suppose it's because they are flush everywhere else along the edges of the magazine box and still parallel to the action.

If the rifle is similar to a BDL, such as a 700P, would very much material have to be removed from the sides if using CDI or Hooper bottom metal? I was thinking they mostly needed material taken out of the stock towards the front and not so much along the sides....usually.

 

[LRI]

Re: Where can I get good stock inletting instructions

Honestly I can't answer that.

I don't profess to know every floor plate that exists. If the customer wants it, I get one and map it out in CAD, then drive a tool path to machine it.

It's been my experience that they get sunk because someone doesn't pay attention to detail. Sometimes in the grip area its a nessessary evil, but rarely in the front. Even the H/S detachables can be flush mounted in almost all situations. It can become tricky when using a centerfeed magazine. You just need to ensure your feed lips provide enough case rim to be purchased by the bolt face. If it's a short n fat cartridge you want all you can get to mitigate the transition angle when it comes out of the lips and transitions up the feed ramp(s) into the breech. The less the better generally. Just be sure to not go overboard and have the bolt rub on the bottom of the feedlips.

Especially if its fluted because it's likely you stick the action and have to pull it out of the stock to get it to work again.

measure twice, cut once. . .

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: Where can I get good stock inletting instructions

they're sunk in because they use the pilars to time the mag to the bolt, so that they feed properly

 

[isptroop38]

Re: Where can I get good stock inletting instructions

Ok, I'm getting the idea. It would be for a .308 and I'm hoping to use AICS magazines. When you say timing it to the bolt using the pillars, what does that entail? My 700P has been glass bedded, but I don't think it's been pillar bedded.

The more I learn about this, the more I'm thinking of just sending it off to have it inletted. I'd rather save the money and buy another AICS mag. It sounds simple to do, but tricky at the same time.

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: Where can I get good stock inletting instructions

CDI bottom metal comes with pilars that "time" or set the distance of the bottom metal fron the action... and amount od overlap that the bolt has with the magazine.... therefore allowing the bolt to strip a round out of the mag when you cycle the bolt and not hang up on the mag body.

short of it is that the DBM has to be a certain distance from the action in order to function.