Rifle Shooting

What are the benefits of a laminate gun stock?

What does ‘wood-to-metal fit’ mean? How, for instance, can I judge if a gun is good or bad in this respect? Most of those I see have the wood standing proud of the metal – is this correct or should it finish flush? Is there a reason why so many stand proud?

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Time Well Spent
Time Well Spent September 12, 2019

Wood to metal fit on a gun – what does it mean?

Q: What is ‘wood-to-metal’ fit on a gun?

A: It means that the wood is in contact with the metal in every place it should be, with no gaps.

This is particularly important at the head of the stock, which is where the recoil forces are transmitted from the metal of the action into the wood. A sloppy fit in this region can over-stress the parts of the wood where the metal touches, and cracks can result.

Usually, a visual inspection is all that is required to discover whether the wood-to-metal fit is good or bad.

It is desirable to have the wood standing slightly proud of the metal. Then, if the wood gets slightly damaged, marks or very small chips can be sanded out without causing unsightly low spots.

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