Filling barrel channel

[SuperCub]

Whats the best way to fill in a bbl channel on a fiberglass stock to accommodate a smaller contour?









sc

 

[gunasauras]

Bed it with Acragel......

 

[SuperCub]

Bed it with Acragel......

Wouldn't that make it pretty heavy?

Stock in question is a McMillan. Thinking about going from a magnum contour to mountain rifle contour in a 700/LA.



sc

 

[bearhunter]

Mix the acraglas gel very liberally with styrofoam 1/8 in diameter balls and wrap your barrel with a lubricated spacer and bed as per normal. A very fine skim coat of acraglas or whichever bedding compound can be applied with a brush later if you require a shiney surface. bearhunter

 

[gunasauras]

Wouldn't that make it pretty heavy?

Stock in question is a McMillan. Thinking about going from a magnum contour to mountain rifle contour in a 700/LA.



sc

I wouldn't think it would make it any heavier than if you used any other type of epoyy.......you could always leave it as is too if weight is a big issue...

 

[rgv]

good old bondo is fine for those types of jobs on fg stocks

 

[tiriaq]

There are hollow glass beads called micro balloons that are used as lightweight filler in resins.

 

[Mudpuppy]

Or fill the entire barrel channel with expandable foam insulation, then re-cut it the way you want, plus a little extra for a layer of resin and 3oz cloth.
Then top off your new channel with the well soaked cloth and resin tinted to the same color as the stock.

The expandable foam is easy to "work" with 60 grit sandpaper and will add very little weight to the stock. The topcoat of fiberglass cloth and resin can be blended right into the existing stock making it look factory.

 

[SuperCub]

There are hollow glass beads called micro balloons that are used as lightweight filler in resins.

I've heard of this stuff, but where to get it?






sc

 

[tiriaq]

Just tried a google search for "microballoons", they are sold by airplane modelling, aircraft supply houses. No doubt industrial plastic and resin supply houses as well. They are used for making streamined fillets, etc.

 

[Mystic Precision]

SC, I can only guess that you don't like the big gap that will develop alone the sides of the barrel channel.

Why not just take a thin strip of wood/plastic/alum and fill in closer to the barrel? Glue it flush to the top of the stock foreend (1/4" wide should be plenty). Leave the forend hollowed out to keep the rifle balance (you might need to hollow it out more to get the right balance). Once sealed and painted, who can tell?

Then if you want to return to a larger barrel, you don't need to hog out the forend again.

Jerry