Stock flexing, pin it or leave it?

[pjmcdonald]

Gentlemen,

Your advice, please. The rear barrel pin, middle pin, and front pin are all snug. However, I’m getting about 1/32” flex in the stock about at the entry pipe. In the picture below, roughly where the orange jaw clamps are. I don’t know if the wood decided to warp or shrink or if the barrel channel was inlet too deep here. I suspect the wood decided to move.

In any case, do I add another barrel lug and pin or do I just live with it? I’m not a fan of bedding compounds but could go that route. Suggestions.




Thanks,
Paul

[Gordy]

I would take the pins out and remove the barrel, then I would elongate the holes in the barrel lugs. So the pins can move freely, this is necessary to allow the wood to move, make the slots paralellwith the barrel. This a good practice to get into when building a rifle, this should eliminate this problem happening down the road. The lugs only need to be slotted enough the pins can move bout a 1/16th in either direction.
Good day, Gordy

[Dave Marsh]

If she shoots ok I'd leave it be.  Just my uneducated opinion.

Dave

[Stophel]

Personally, I think long barrels absolutely require at least four barrel tenons.  That's way too much space you have between them there.  Bedding won't help, as that won't stop the stock from pulling away from the barrel.

First, make sure that your barrel really is set ALL the way down in the channel, and your pins aren't lifting it up.  Clamp it down tight at each tenon with the pins out and make sure that your holes are aligned, and your pins draw the barrel tight in the channel.  If they don't, then redo the tenons.

Then I would say definitely put another tenon between the two existing ones... and maybe another in front of there too.

[Mauser06]

That's about the location of my 2nd pin on my 44" build.   


Add a barrel out there and you aughta be good to go?   

[EC121]

  It almost looks like your first pin is too far back.  Like Stophel said if the barrel is seated properly,  another pin there is the easy fix.  Because the forearm has a lot more wood  for rigidity plus the tang screw holding the back end, I usually put my first pin near the entry pipe.  That puts most of the pins near where the wood is thinnest.

[LynnC]

It looks like you could use another lug between the two you show. If the forward end pin spacing looks similar you may need another there as well. Pins are tiny and wont be very noticeable. Just place and plan around your ram rod pipe placements. It will work out.

[pjmcdonald]

Quick follow up and thanks for the help. Turned out rear most pin was holding stock slightly away from barrel as well as some warp. My solution was to replace the rear tenon, clamp firmly and re-drill. I also installed another tenon just forward of the entry pipe. With everything pinned and firmly clamped, drilled it. Now stock is nice and snug against the barrel.

Thanks again,
Paul

[LynnC]

Glad it worked out for you. 

[hanshi]

There's more than one way to skin (please don't do that) a cat.  I do what Gordy suggested.  Sloting the pin lug holes is no big deal.