| Paul Harm |
08-18-2016 02:38 PM |
I've bent a number of stocks. After cracking one I pay close attention to the flow of the grain threw the wrist area. I'm usually bending mine down and sometimes the grain goes out the top of the wrist so I would be outing a lot of stress on it. Those I don't bend any more. I made up a jig, think Mike posted it on a different web site years ago. I think a safer way is as my friend does. He puts the gun on a work table with a couple bags of shot holding it there with the stock hanging over the end. Heat lamps are close to the wrist and one bag of shot is put on the end of the stock. A measurement is taken and he sits there reloading watching the stock. When it moves enough he takes the lamps away. I had a 1894 Remington that would move like a rubber hose when hot - but the damn thing would go right back. Tried it three times, even left it under tension till the next day - still went back. Did a Browning O/U for a friend. He wanted a 1/4" of cast. It cracked. I couldn't believe it. Had to epoxy and pin it back together. Lucky you couldn't see it when it was done. That one isn't gonna be bent anymore. Over at the Michigan state trap shoot guys will bend them while you wait - with no guarantees they won't crack. I don't do it anymore for other people, just myself. Like most things, it's a learning process.
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