Quick Question

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Hello Everyone,

I am doing the finishing touches on my Dad's Chamber's Smoothrifle Kit. The breech area is seated nicely with no gaps, but there is a gap behind the tang lug.  My first build the hole the the tang lug was touching the screw and cause problems.  So in try to avoid that I have a gap.  My thoughts were to glue in a piece of wood to close the gap.  My question is, do I even need to do that?

Regards,

Coryjoe

[Longknife]

I usually like to have a small gap behind the tang to keep the wood from chipping out because of recoil. If the breech is inletted tightly I wouldn't worry about it. Most of these small gap dissappear when finish is applied also......Ed

[Roger Fisher]

I usually like to have a small gap behind the tang to keep the wood from chipping out because of recoil. If the breech is inletted tightly I wouldn't worry about it. Most of these small gap dissappear when finish is applied also......Ed

Young Cory means behind the tang Lug seems like!  Maybe a little thought will invent a different idea; but I would inlet a section of hard wood in the rear of the lug inlet and recut.  What say you?

[Longknife]

I usually like to have a small gap behind the tang to keep the wood from chipping out because of recoil. If the breech is inletted tightly I wouldn't worry about it. Most of these small gap dissappear when finish is applied also......Ed

Young Cory means behind the tang Lug seems like!  Maybe a little thought will invent a different idea; but I would inlet a section of hard wood in the rear of the lug inlet and recut.  What say you?

OH!!!!!!!!! I understand now,,, the LUG DOES need to fit tightly as does the breech area to prevent recoil from chipping wood at the TANG..........I say!!!!!!!!

[Meteorman]

In my opinion, a void behind the tang bolster is not a problem as long as you have solid contact at the barrel breech, which of course is a given.  I've had a void behind the tang bolster on several guns. 
/mike

[smylee grouch]

Do like Roger said and use glass bedding to glue it in place with release agent in the appropriate places. What screw touches the lug?  If its the lock bolt just notch the back of the lug after you have fixed the first problem and the glass bedding is cured.    Smylee

[Jim Kibler]

The back of the lug doesn't necessarily need to have contact with wood.  As long as the breech is making good contact, things will be fine.  Notch the lug if necessary so the lock bolt doesn't make contact.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

The lock bolt is fine on this one.  It was my last one that was a problem.  So as I do this build I am trying not to repeat past mistakes, so I can focus on making new ones. 

Thanks for the help everyone.

Coryjoe

[PPatch]

"So as I do this build I am trying not to repeat past mistakes, so I can focus on making new ones."

That's the spirit! 

dave

[David Rase]

I like to have all the seating surface I can when I inlet the breech area.  I seat the breech end of the barrel as well as the tang lug against the stock.  I do leave a looser fit where I inlet the end of the tang to the wrist.
Dave

[KLMoors]

Yup, me too Dave. I would either glass bed it, or glue in a shim and trim to fit.

Belt and suspenders? Probably. But, it is easy to do and will insure against problems.

[Mike Brooks]

Quick answer, no.

[Pete G.]

I like to put just a tad of bedding compound in that spot. Gives a good fit and seals the end grain at a critical place on the stock.

[Blackpowder Barbie]

The back of the lug doesn't necessarily need to have contact with wood.  As long as the breech is making good contact, things will be fine.  Notch the lug if necessary so the lock bolt doesn't make contact.

I agree.

Quick answer, no.

Love a quick straight answer.   

[satwel]

I'm with Pete G on this one. I use a thin layer of bedding compound behind the the lug to seal the end grain and maximize contact area between stock and barrel -- to spread the recoil around.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

"So as I do this build I am trying not to repeat past mistakes, so I can focus on making new ones."

That's the spirit! 

dave

Cheers!

[tyro]

coreyjoe, I have a couple rifles that have been relieved behind the tang to prevent chipping, the screw holes are snug or glassed.I would worry about recoil lugs and screwholes more than a slight gap behind tang.(I have a krag in what looks like a Sedgely stock that was evidently fired with the screws lose...it knocked out a chunk behind the bolt handle and cracked the wrist...now I'll probably sneak a chunk out of the bbl chanel or somewhere to see if I can fix it...)TY