Should I be concerned?

[alex e.]

 Does the grain in this wrist bother anyone  as much as it does me? I'm  thinking  of  reinforcing it somehow  before it's done. Or talk me out of it.
Best regards, and thanks in advance
[url PM=https://ibb.co/1XPVTKX][/url]

[snapper]

What is the cal of the rifle?

Fleener

[Craig Wilcox]

Alex, while not ideal, that grain looks a lot better then some I have seen.  It runs straight through the wrist and into the forend, so should be OK unless you are clunking woodchucks over the head with it.

If you DID reinforce it, a 1/4" rod running from the bottom of the tang mortice back through the wrist would do it nicely - install it with a bit of epoxy.  Don't drill until the bit pops through the butt!  6 or 7" will do well.

[alex e.]

I'm having  a mind to plow out under the trigger guard and insert a piece of straight grained wood. Although a rod would probably be easier
The wrist is going to be a bit thinner,maybe 1.5 inches ,max. The bottom  from the loc panel tail is not defined as of yet..

[foxm2015]

Yes it does.   If it were mine I would reinforce it now.   Easier to hold / position for drilling.  Given the future possibilities during construction, field use, loading, cleaning would bring peace of mind.   Also if going to sell and buyer is concerned can state grain concern was already addressed.
Mr. Wilcox's method will work well.  If going thru, and hardware allows, go under tang to under trigger guard.  Hardwood dowel, if traditional material usage, or fiberglass rod if not.   Might want to consider cutting spiral relief in dowel piece used ( like furniture dowel ) to help with adhesive coating / retention.
You do excellent work...you've got this !!

[smallpatch]

Alex,

All thread rod and epoxy work great.  Better to do it now, than after it's finished.

[davec2]

Alex,

This is a repeat from an old post of mine.  If you feel the need to beef up the wrist, I think this is easier and just as effective as the steel rods:

A rifle I was building had a grain direction through the wrist that looked like a potential problem.  Every time I looked at the unfinished rifle as I passed by the bench, the grain run out started to bother me.  So rather than wait until the wrist broke one day and then try to fix it, I thought I would be pro-active and fix it before it broke.

I routed out a deep groove 3/8 inch wide and 1.25 inches tall through the entire wrist area excavating the existing inletting for the trigger, trigger plate, and rear of the trigger guard.



I then cut a straight grain splint out of a scrap of the same stock blank and cut some narrow grooves in it to allow me to squeeze the epoxy out around the splint and get it fully seated in its groove.



One last full check fit before the epoxy was mixed.



Splint epoxied in place....



After a day of curing, the trigger, trigger plate and rear of the trigger guard were re-inletted back where they came from.



If the stock breaks at the wrist after this, I'll make a new stock.

[alex e.]

Dave ,I remember that post. I keep feeling the same way when I see it. And its probably easier to do now before its shaped

[alex e.]

I think  I've been convinced to reinforce it.
Many  thanks ,guys!

[rich pierce]

Look at the end grain under the buttplate. If it’s vertical (slab sawn) the no need for reinforcement. If the growth rings are horizontal ( quarter sawn) then yes I would reinforce it.

[alex e.]

Rich, that is just too simple.....

[Scota4570]

That would be a snap if one had access to a milling machine.

[WadePatton]

I really like your "repair" Dave. 

The slot can be cut with a chisel, as the furniture makers would do before power tools, and how I do yet.

Hope I don't have to, but now that's catalogued in my gray madness.    

Thank you.

[Lucky R A]

          Hey Alex, if you weren't building a Buccaneer, you wouldn't have that problem---darn French guns....Going a little earlier this time I see. 

Ron