Are internal crossbolts as strong as external crossbolts?I installed 3 on my 9.3x57,basically by drilling a ''dog bone''shaped recess in the stock,and bedding in round head bolts with a nut and washers on them,in an epoxy and fine sawdust mixture,then covering it with sealing tape and putting the action back in to settle it in.My question is-is this as effective and strong as an external crossbolt?
internal vs external crossbolts
- Thread starter ratherbefishin
- Start date
They come close but in MHO they are not as they do not keep the wood under compression. For most applications they work fine but for the heaviest cartridges chose the ones with heads. The compression factor is just, if not more important at the support through the thin web between the magazine mortise and trigger mortise than it is behind the recoil lug. This area of the stock actually bows outward under extreme recoil and good crossbolts reduce or eliminate that and consequently also protect the area behind the rear guard screw.
I haven't seen any difference in performance if the cross bolts are done properly... a poorly done, poorly fitted external cross bolt will soon do stock damage.... and a poorly bedded internal cross bolt won't hold up either...
I don't think compressing the wood with a cross bolt is as important as bedding that fits correctly at the front of the action and at the rear...
... adding sawdust to your epoxy probably weakened it ... floc (fibreglass strands) should have been used. I would glass bed on top of that internal lug... the recoil area needs full contact. I would also glass bed the "lungs" of your 98 action... they are supposed to distribute recoil too.
Just my thoughts on it...
I don't think compressing the wood with a cross bolt is as important as bedding that fits correctly at the front of the action and at the rear...
... adding sawdust to your epoxy probably weakened it ... floc (fibreglass strands) should have been used. I would glass bed on top of that internal lug... the recoil area needs full contact. I would also glass bed the "lungs" of your 98 action... they are supposed to distribute recoil too.
Just my thoughts on it...
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I just added ennough fine sawdust to thicken the epoxy-pretty much what I did when making corner fillets for my stitch and glue boat.The bolts were bedded in and completely submerged in the epoxy mixture,and the clear sealing tape on top with the action pressed into it ensured a good fit.However-I agree using fiberglas strands would certainly be stronger.I don't plan on running the loads to the limit anyway-this is an small ring swede 96 action
I just did a similar job on my Model 46 in 9.3x57 late this afternoon. I hogged out a section of the area behind the recoil shoulder with the Dremel and used J-B Weld, although I may wish I had used J-B Stick (putty) or similar as even the toothpaste-like consistency of J-B Weld was awkward to apply. I'll find out around 11 tonight if I have a nice epoxy steel shoulder or... 
I plan to bed mine out to the end of the barrel sleeve and leave the remaining 5" or so free-floated.
Stuart
I plan to bed mine out to the end of the barrel sleeve and leave the remaining 5" or so free-floated. Stuart
