Get the lead out.

[MarketHunter]

I've got an LC Smith 16 gauge hammer gun that's got lead poured into the stock. The gun was stunningly heavy the first time I picked it up, once I got the buttplate off I knew why.

It's one of those project guns I'll probably never get around to doing anything with. But it's nice knowing it's in the collection none the less.

Destry

[OH Osthaus]

another thought-

I drilled out the plug in my heavy PH 10's stock today-

about 3.5 ounces of lead in there, not sure I could save enough of it for a decoy anchor after the little pieces came flying out

I figured a way to clamp the stock up so that I can glue it -

but- possibly part of the cause- the hole was not completely centered - just a little off - and it split on the slightly thinner side

also - the lead did not fill the hole all the way to the butt plate - there was a wooden plug on top of it - about a half inch deep at the back end - i saw no evidence of glue- but even with the crack - the wood plug was so tight it had to be drilled out- i wonder if that expanded as much or more than the oxided lead

the lead plug had no play - in there very tight

next thing is to figure out how to re-add the weight

a PS added

I glued this up just now- as bad as the crack looked (about 3") on the outside - the only place it was clean through to the hole was about an 1/8th of an inch at the butt- the rest was superficial along the grain - so I am leaning even more to blaming the wooden plug not the lead

[Ed Blake]

It appears that in the picture above holes were drilled and molten lead was poured into the stock. Nuts. I have a GH which had about 2oz. of #4 shot put into a hole drilled into the stock. I've just left it alone.

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Ed Blake

It appears that in the picture above holes were drilled and molten lead was poured into the stock. Nuts. I have a GH which had about 2oz. of #4 shot put into a hole drilled into the stock. I've just left it alone.

Ed- not picking- just curious - if you left it in- how do you know how much is there?

i weighed my stock before and after removing the lead

now i just need to find a bar of Mallory or Tungsten to fit the hole, without having to order a truck load of the stuff- since i cannot machine it

[Dean Romig]

Why not turn a piece of brass to the correct diameter?
You may need to drill the hole in the stock deeper (wouldn't work in the case of the original hole being off center) to try to make up the difference in weight.... just a thought.





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[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Why not turn a piece of brass to the correct diameter?
You may need to drill the hole in the stock deeper (wouldn't work in the case of the original hole being off center) to try to make up the difference in weight.... just a thought.

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possible - or even a steel rod - but i would rather not drill deeper after repairing the crack

i may have found one source that sells the tungsten alloy in one inch rods-
the hole is two inches deep (5/8th in diameter) - two 1/2 inch diameter one inch long rods will be a little over four ounces - the lead was 3.5

not sure i am touch sensitive enough to notice an extra half ounce in a ten and a half pound gun

[Autumn Daze]

Rick, use carbide

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

Rick, use carbide

?????

carbide rod? is it heavier than lead??

and where do I find it

[Autumn Daze]

Yes Rick, carbide is heavier than lead will not rust. I think carbide blanks can be bought thru MSC and a few other industrial supply sites. I had a Winchester Model 42 that was too barrel light a couple end k
Mill blanks up the magazine tube and all was great. V how many oz. do you need? I'll take a look around

[Dean Romig]

Dave, can carbide be turned on a lathe using conventional bits?

I'm guessing not, so how is it to be cut down to size? And how expensive?





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