Ideas for straightening rifle stock?

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millwright

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Howdy all. I bought a Mauser 43 stock to redo my FR-8 with a recoil pad.I didn't want to alter the original.So I bought the 43 stock from Numrich cut it down to fit and then start on the finishing when low and behold the last couple of inches of the stock is bent to the left.Very tight to put together.
Any one have any ideas? I read in Roy Dunlaps book about drilling a bunch of small holes in the stock to relieve the tension. My google search was pretty vague.Some one suggested soaking it in a bucket of water for a couple of days and then clamping it straight.Any other ideas? Thanks
 
Of course, will it stay straight? Maybe straighten as gunrunner100 has suggested, then cut a slot and epoxy in a rod. Assuming that you are referring to the end of the forend.
 
You will have to steam the bent part of the for end in a steam box (with heat) for several hours. You also have to have a jig or means to hold the stock straight after steaming it. It may also take several weeks or months of drying before the stock can be fitted and finished.
Remember to seal the barrel channel as well so it doesn't happen again.
 
You can try but if this is highly figured wood and it's got this sort of a kink then it'll likely come back over time. Assuming that properly dried wood was used in the first place then the kink in the wood is likely due to a large variation in your present and recent past humidity compared to when and where it was made. No finish is perfect at eliminating moisture exchange in wood. At least none that will leave us with a useable firearm. Even the best finish only slows down but does not eliminate the moisture exchange. If it's very wet in your area just now, given the climate, then it's highly likely that if you leave it until the drier portion of the season that it'll straighten up all on its own.... and then kink again come the next wet season.

The only good way to eliminate the issue is to use very straight grained wood with the growth ring pattern arranged such that it is as flat as practical and with no curls or other beautifying grain variations that will inevitably cause kinks such as you've found.

I'd presume that this sort of issue with wood stocks is why free floating barrels are so often used. Or why very plain but straight grained wood is chosen for the old military rifles that used full or near full length stocks.
 
Well I took the easy way out and ordered another stock from Numrich.Fingers crossed again,if it doesn't work out it will be time to try major surgery.Thanks for taking time to answer my plea.
 
careful with the steaming......you can only get so much fluid absorbtion into the wood fibres....no more than two hours and the steam needs to reach above 250 degrees ferenheit if my memory from last school year is right. another way is after steaming it if you have a really freaking long drill bit (auger bits seem to work) you drill up the length under the but pad or plate and then use a metal rod to help straighten it. and another thing to keep in mind is that you cant properly steam a piece of wood with a finish on.
 
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