Stock breakage

[Keavin Nelson]

Dan,
the analogy I make is splitting wood. What works better, a 2# axe or a 8# splitting maul. F=MxA. The heavier the load the greater the rearward force. In my experience it isn't unusual to find a stock that has split internally before it even shows on the outside. I have repaired a number of them found that way. Wood stocks shrink/swell, and absorb oil around the screws and actions, sometimes for many decades or over a century.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by keavin nelson

Dan,
the analogy I make is splitting wood. What works better, a 2# axe or a 8# splitting maul. F=MxA. The heavier the load the greater the rearward force. In my experience it isn't unusual to find a stock that has split internally before it even shows on the outside. I have repaired a number of them found that way. Wood stocks shrink/swell, and absorb oil around the screws and actions, sometimes for many decades or over a century.

We have seen a few Parker 10 and 12 gauge guns that were obviously ordered for heavy waterfowl shooting where they were originally ordered with reinforced or pinned stock heads… most likely for this very reason.





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[Mike of the Mountain]

I have had two guns have the cheeks break off. A Browning BSS 12g that wound up having a cracked and repaired cheek before I bought it. The whole cheek on the left side came off. I wound up having the stock replaced and it's my go to waterfowl and crow double. Not that I hunt waterfowl and crows often, but I can shoot anything out of that gun. The second gun was a 16g Fox Sterly. Same deal. The 16g shells were a bit snotty and the 5th shot with those shells had the stock around the auto-safety rod break off. Had that repaired and reinforced then sold it.