Cutting off a stock

[Muleskinner]

I have a Southern mountain rifle that needs the stock cut off to shorten length of pull,it needs to be a 1/2" shorter,whats the best way to do this using hand tools,I have cut other stocks before but they were pretty much a straight cut unlike this one which has the curved type buttplate and the cut out on the top of the stock,thanks in advance

[Birddog6]

I rough cut mine on a band saw. If doing so, be sure to shim the stock up so the existing cut is 90 deg. to the table, checking with a square. If not & you cut top line, it will be shorter on the other side & you end up with too short a LOP.  I lay mine on a table & cut a long shim & duct tape it to the stock & then go to the band saw with it, This way as you go around the table, the cut stays 90 degrees to the blade..

As for by hand, have used a coping say but again gotta keep straight with it.

Then fit plate with inletting black & carving tools, & a rasp  is how I do mine.

Good luck.

[northmn]

Since you ahve a finished stock you have to be careful of chipping.  When I fit recoil pads I always tape the stock and cut through the tape to avoid any of this.  Even with a hand tool I would consider taping the cut area, even with masking tape.  May consider this even when doing the filing to fit.

DP

[Ken G]

Is the gun finished or still in the white? 

Ken

[Rich]

I don't have a bandsaw and do just about everything by hand. For cutting the butt stock, I usually use a large gouge to chisel it close to the line, then finish with a rasp. I would tape the stock to avoid chipping and work from both sides into the center. That way you can keep the buttplate square to the comb if there is castoff.

[FALout]

If the stock is unfinished, bandsaw is best if you can hold the stock so your cutting square.  I've even used a chopsaw with the stock shimmed so cutting square where butt plates are straight, but you could finish out the cut by hand to refit the butt-plate.  If by handtools only, a coping saw will do the trick, but is hard to keep from wandering.  If your dealing with a prefinished stock (which I didn't see in original post) things get tougher, there will likely be some refinishing required.

[Muleskinner]

Thanks everyone.....the stock is finished.....I was thinking coping saw also....any other suggestions?

[FALout]

If you had access to an edgesander, such as you would find in a cabinet/wood shop, you could use that.  I would not use a beltsander, because control can be an issue.  I've done it, but things can get dangerous real fast, the stock can start vibrating and then break (at the wrist)(don't ask how I know).  If done either of these ways, it's just to get it down to size, rest would need to be done by hand.  As in previous post, refinishing will likely need to be done.

[Herb]

I use a hacksaw with an 18 tpi blade.  I recut the cut to make it wider so the blade can turn to follow the curve.  Go in as far as the frame allows and then cut from the other side.

[Dphariss]

Thanks everyone.....the stock is finished.....I was thinking coping saw also....any other suggestions?

You could just leave it alone.

Dan

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

1/2" ..........either leave it alone or get busy with your rasps...........

[northmn]

Sometimes it is better to resell the thing than to risk messing things up with add on's.  I had a nice O/U shotgun that I thought was great but did not fit.  I sold it and got one that did.

DP

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Something else to consider..when you take 1/2" off the butt to shorten the LOP, you also diminish the depth of the stock from heel to toe, so you'll have to cut the toe end of the butt plate off too. That will really make the architecture of the butt stock change - for the worse.

I'd leave it as is, and move it out on my arm a little more to shoot, thus taking care of that 1/2" in stride.

[northmn]

One option if you really have to cut off the butt stock, since it is a Southern Mountain rifle is to leave the buttplate off and fit a piece of antler in the tang area.  Lots of them did not have buttplates.

DP