Author Topic: Sling swivel underlug  (Read 4113 times)

Offline cmac

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Sling swivel underlug
« on: April 16, 2014, 06:21:48 AM »
I have never slotted out sling swivel underlugs. Mainly so they wouldn't wobble around and create an oblong hole in the stock. I do slot any other lugs to allow barrel "movement". Has anyone ever had a swivel screw with no slot interfere with accuracy? If so what was the fix?Stock wood is mighty thin in this area to not have the screw pass through an under lug.

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Sling swivel underlug
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2014, 06:45:15 PM »
Make the underlug that you'll dovetail to the barrel, the full width of the bottom flat.  It does not need to be 'slotted out' - a simple round hole to fit the screw is fine.  this will keep the swivel from moving around and wallooning out the stock, which has very little strength in that part of the forearm.  I have cut pin hole slots to make them longitudinally larger, to allow for stock movement, but in our climate, there is none, so now I don't bother.  In over a hundred guns, I've never had one of mine split from stock movement.  But our humidity here is fairly consistent and low - winter and summer.
D. Taylor Sapergia
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Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline B.Habermehl

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Re: Sling swivel underlug
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2014, 11:49:58 PM »
When I do a sling swivel underlug/block. I make the lug from key stock as wide as the bottom barrel flat. Locate and drill the hole to a snug chearence size, then carefully open the hole in the stock a good 1/32 in dia. So far in Pa with our big humidity swings no problems. This way the forend takes no load from the sling swivel.BJH
BJH

Offline cmac

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Re: Sling swivel underlug
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2014, 02:17:39 AM »
Okay-pretty much how I've been making them....Reason I asked is I had a fowler I built years ago come back. The owner has no accuracy past 30 yards(good at 30 but farther out its all over the place). Not the shooter. Glass bedded the stock, and have tried different loads. Colerain barrel-I talked to Colerain and they thought the glass bed would have done the trick. Owner polished up the bore to ensure no burrs where the cause.

pbigham

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Re: Sling swivel underlug
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2014, 04:37:56 AM »
 I  live in southern Illinois.  I have seen  a # of  Barrel under lugs for swivels that have affected accuracy. They were not slotted and  have seen improved accuracy after slotting or by removing the screw. I hate do disagree with Taylor as I respect his opinion ,climate may have more to do with this.  But have seen this on a # of Rifles and smoothbores. I hope Getz  will give his Opion on this.     Humbly Paul Bigham

Offline Dale Campbell

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Re: Sling swivel underlug
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2014, 05:02:36 PM »
Slot the wood not the swivel lug. Slot should be hidden by the swivel itself.

Disclaimer: I haven't done this myself, just seems to make sense.
Best regards,
Dale

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Sling swivel underlug
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2014, 07:10:01 PM »
Paul, I have no issues with slotting the lug to allow for the seasonal movement of the wood, in your climate.  You'd be negligent if you did not.  I just isn't an issue here.  I am told that a forearm can actually shatter from this phenomenon.
D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline Acer Saccharum

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    • Thomas  A Curran
Re: Sling swivel underlug
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2014, 10:52:46 PM »
I make a fat lug, both wide and long, and yes, here in New York where the humidity can range from 30% to 95% humidity, I do indeed slot for the screw to move fore and aft.
Tom Curran's web site : http://monstermachineshop.net
Ramrod scrapers are all sold out.

Offline cmac

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Re: Sling swivel underlug
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2014, 06:51:59 AM »
The owner has the fowler now so it is out of my hands for the time being. I told him to try shooting it with the screw out completely to eliminate the question at hand. Time will tell