I wasn't sure if I should post this in the gunsmithing forum as well. Years back, I had a plastic stock set for a No.4 Lee Enfield for one of my hunting builds. I hated that hollow sounding chintzy feeling stock, so I decided to bulk it out. I put a piece of dowel wrapped in wax paper down to the stock bolt so it would be accessible, and then I put the high density spray foam into the stock. It over filled by a bit so I just used a razor knife to trim off the excess and it worked just fine. The stock felt better and didn't have that awful hollow sound anymore. Now I'm considering the purchase of a Savage Axis II in .308 and if I do, I'll do the same thing. My question to my fellow gunnies...have any of you done the same, or considered doing it? If you did, how did you find the results? Any conceivable drawbacks?
De-resonating hollow plastic stocks
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
I've used fibreglass resin to fill a couple stocks, one a Savage 10TR. It adds a bit of weight, but with the 10TR I found it actually helped the balance of the gun because the heavier barrel makes them muzzle heavy.
If it is a bolt action, with no need to access a stock bolt, then just spray in a low expansion foam... start the spray tube at the front (deepest) and just slowly withdraw it as the foam is expanding, let dry, trim excess and reattach the recoil pad. I have also suspended lead shot in the foam by sprinkling it in as the foam is being applied, to add weight to the buttstock.
I've done a few with silicone caulking, applied in lays to allow it to dry, adds more weight than foam but I wanted to help with heavy kickers. The thought was that it would work like a sims limbsaver and absorb some of the shock, I did it on a 210 slug gun and it worked great.
When I did my No.4, I also used lead shot in the barrel channel for the added weight. I have some old lead pellets for a long gone .22 pellet rifle so I'll use those in the butt. Thanks all for the responses and ideas. I knew that I wasn't the only smart cookie here!
Years ago I bought a high density foam mattress pad for my bed and it was a touch too large so I used scissors to trim 2 sides of it. I saved the trimmings with the foresight that I might need them for something at sometime in the future. Well when I was looking for something to add weight and density to the resin stock on my new Winchester xpr .308 rifle the high density foam worked perfectly. The dense foam added just the right weight and after stuffing it in there it expands to fill the cavity without worry of overexpansion.
Buy a more expensive rifle...
Replace with wood.
Best option!
Somewhat condescending of an option, but an option none the less...
I am frankly mystified as to why you felt the need or desire to contribute an absolutely useless comment. It neither addresses the original posting nor suits the intent. That said, what is it that you want out of a rifle? Beauty? The "wow" factor? Impress your friends?
Personally, I want (primary) accuracy and (secondary) a good fit and feel. I have a No.4 Lee Enfield sporter that shoots sub MOA and has put more than a few deer on the table. It cost me $150. plus the work I did to tweak it to suit my needs. Is it "pretty"? Nope! Does it shoot and handle well? Yup! I work up handloads that will give good accuracy and knock-down value in a comfortable package. That's all I want. I've handled firearms costing anywhere from $50. to $16,000. Big whoop! Will more money improve on what I do now?
Some of us lack the funds to buy higher end firearms and look for the most bang for the buck. The most I ever paid for a hunting rifle was $750. and it was a stellar performer but no better than my aforementioned Lee Enfield. I had a line on a Savage Axis II with scope for $400. The deal never happened but consider if I spent that plus a few bucks on a can of spray foam and got a good hunting rifle out of it, what would more money have got me? Seriously!!
colonel3006
Regular
- Location
- Ayton,ontario
I did my Axis with quickcrete. Hollow sound,feel and flexibility drove me nuts as well but I also wanted to add a little weight. I filled the cavities in forend in but for buttstock I filled the grip and then put 2 pieces of thin aluminum pipe with ends sealed in (so not totally full) and surrounded it with a little more quickcrete. It added about 2 lbs of weight. I like it alot a better and it shoots much better groups with bipod attached now that there's no flex in the forend.
I don't know that I'd want the extra weight though I see the sense to it. It should also help absorb some of the recoil, does it not? Good idea and thank you. I'll keep that one in my pocket after I get my rifle and determine how I wish to proceed.
nomad 68
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I too, seal the ends of the arrow shafts to save weight. I have used jb weld, acraglas and Myles Gilbert bedrock kit with very favorable results. When I prep the barrel channel and make "mechanical lock" points, I wire the arrows in with snare wire prior to adding epoxy. Added weight is kept to a minimum this way.
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
Go to the savage shooters forum to the axis section the scroll Down to gun smithing. The Have the best fix for the axis stock simple easy and CHEAP!!!
I used quickkrete as someone suggested above, it works also ! Makes it feel like a real gun. Shoots better too!
I used quickkrete as someone suggested above, it works also ! Makes it feel like a real gun. Shoots better too!
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
http://www.savageshooters.com/content.php?174-Axis-Stock-Reinforcement-Made-Easy
Here's the link.... you can thank me by posting your groups after the fix
Cheers
Here's the link.... you can thank me by posting your groups after the fix
Cheers
colonel3006
Regular
- Location
- Ayton,ontario
No problem at all. It's only a 243 so very little recoil anyway but yes you can barely feel it all now. I just found it a little too light. I find it alot better balanced now as well. And same as mentioned above mine shoots better too.
