cross bolts

[shatthatkilledelvis]

I'm rebuilding a p-h mauser in 300 mag and i've noticed that most parker-hale magnums and all calibre later models came with a factory cross bolt. Mine did not -so i thought about installing one.

My other p-h's have one similar to this...

but I have seen many available through the supply websites like this...

In the first example the action rests on the bolt and the recoil lug bears against the adjacent face. A purpose built item that is installed in a specific location.

the second example, from what i gather, is installed "somewhere" behind the lug and bedded around. It looks like something i have seen holding a thick pamphlet together.

Anyways, my question is what is the true purpose of the cross bolt? Is it suppose to be the bearing surface on which recoil is transfered or does it simply strengthen and hold the stock together by squeezing it from the sides?
Would properly bedding the action eliminate the need for one? What are the thoughts on this?

 

[liberty]

I went through the same thing with my 375 H and H and ended up just glass bedding (I used steel bed) the action to prevent stock splitting.

I also steel bedded in an internal crossbolt behind the lug, in the receiver flat area.

What I was told was that a rifle , properly bedded and smaller than a 375 didn't need crossbolts.

Also make sure there is relief behind the rear tang it should be OK.

BTW, I have fired hundreds of full power 375 loads and no problems.

 

[shatthatkilledelvis]

I also steel bedded in an internal crossbolt behind the lug, in the receiver flat area.

I have heard of this done before, but i don't see the benefit if it's not mechanically attached to the stock. Seems to me like its just a piece of steel stuck in some resin. Steel epoxy (devcon) would seem better as it has a high compressive strength compared to a bar in acraglass.

 

[rgg_7]

Is your stock cut for the PH cross bolt? If so you should be looking for one. They are mechanically fastened with the pan screws. They would only be bedded if you were bedding the action in the stock. Devcon is a great material as is AccuGlas.

 

[liberty]

I bedded my rifle from information obtained from an article by Jack Lott, "The Bolt Action Stopper Stock".

He was very familiar with heavy recoiling guns and bedded them this way and also repaired split stocks on 458's, 460's etc. using internal bolts bedded into the wood.

He believed they reduced or eliminated the flexing of the stock and especially the stress on the thin walls of the m98 wood around the magazine cutout.

On 98's, m70's, Fn mauser type actions he installed bolts behind the recoil lug, between the trigger and magazine and behind the trigger.

He also liked that it didn't alter the original look of the stock.

 

[shatthatkilledelvis]

Is your stock cut for the PH cross bolt? If so you should be looking for one. They are mechanically fastened with the pan screws.

it was never cut for a cross bolt. I got this gun 2nd hand and it has a douglas barrel on it. It's a 1200C, but i don't know if it started life as a magnum. I have seen other 1200 mags without a crossbolt and others with them. And i have an 1100 with a crossbolt and its a 30.06 and seen lighter cals in 1100's with them too - so it just got me thinking about the whole crossbolt thing.

 

[burnt_servo]

several years ago i built a 45-120 sharps on a ruger #3 single shot action .

with full power loads the recoil was so heavy it would pound out where i bedded the shoulder portion of the stock into the rear of the reciever .

i've gone through several different products so far and the one that seems to be standing up very well is 3m's panel bonding adhesive , made for gluing body panels to vehicles .

 

[Moose Masher]

I got some great advice here when looking to fix some HVA stocks.
The internal crossbolts are mechanicaly locked to the stock with the epoxy. The mortise is shaped to create a lock.
It does basically the same thing as the Talley crossbolt in your pic, but doesn't affect the outward appearance of the stock.

 

[dead meat]

I believe the cross bolts serve both duties, recoil and strength. I don`t know if a 300 mag really needs one if bedded properly. But the boys will say it looks cool