Fore end length and under lug placement

[whitebear]

I am building my first half stock, (1) am wondering how long should the fore stock be,  (2)with one under lug should it be located half the length of the forearm or if not where.  The barrel is 36'' and will have a separate poured forend cap and entry thimble

[Lucky R A]

    Halfstocks like full stocks had regional styles that may dictate these details.  However, generally the forend should be from 11-12" long from the breech to the entry thimble.  Forward of the entry thimble there were many treatments.  The forend cap could be snugged right up to the cap, or the wood could be carried foreward a few inches then the cap installed.  I think the latter gives a slimmer more elegant look.  Keeping your forend to about 11" also makes the gun look longer with the above treatment.   

Ron

[Swampwalker]

Whitebear, are you building a particular style?  With a 36" barrel, I would be inclined to use 2 loops, but the style of gun you're building would influence the choice.  With one loop on a 12 inch forearm, placed in the visual center (centered between the mass of the lock & panel, and the forend cap), that leaves a lot of unsupported forend.  If placed forward of visual center, it would look odd.  Using two solves this problem.

[Dave Faletti]

Barrel weight and where the balance point ends up makes a difference too.  I want a decent amount of stock ahead of my hand when I am carrying it.  That also influences where I put the lug and rear sight.  I prefer not to have my hand wrapped around either.

[curly]

As a general rule of thumb, the length of the forestock, to the end of the entry pipe, should be the same distance as the trigger pull dimension. 13 3/4", trigger to inside arc of the butt, 13 3/4 from the trigger to the end of the entry pipe.

Curly

[Ernie]

         Whitebear,
  Not trying to steal your post,I have the same question!I have a 32" barrel,so should i be able to go with one underlug.It has a hooked breech.
                                                                                           Ernie

[greybeard]

I like curley6s rule of thumb.   Bob