My 'smith is in the process of steel bedding my Ruger RSM (.416 Rigby) and adding another crossbolt between the trigger and the mag. box.
I bought another crossbolt for the RSM from Ruger (so the two would match) and turns out it's about 1/8" too short for the area I want it in. The heads would have to be recessed into the stock about 1/16" on each side for it to work. My 'smith said he thinks it would look bad with the recessed heads.
We decided to remove the pre-installed crossbolt, drill the hole for the second one and use heavy all-thread glassed in the holes and plugs the ends with ebony.
No other internal crossbolts will be used.
Is this a sound plan or are we fixin' to mess up?

Please, chime in.

The last one of these we did we used Talley crossbolts. Recessed is not as nice as finished smooth to the stock but it is an accepted practice for finished stocks where the client does not want to refinish.

For your "hidden" crossbolts to be most effective I would put a nut on each end when you bed them in, to get full strenth. The ebony caps is a nice touch.

Fred,
Were the Talley's long enough for them to be flush on an RSM stock at the point between the trigger and the mag. box?

Make ebony plug covers for both and the look is excellent.

jeffe

How necessary is the second crossbolt?

I own hunt and shoot an RSM in 416 Rigby and have sort of kept up with the rifle's history. Personally, I've put close to one thousand rounds through mine. I have not heard of any issues with stocks splitting with the Rugers. I had the steel plate that absorbs recoil bedded, but I think adding a crossbolt is like yousay "fixin to mess up." jorge

The thin "sliver" of wood between the trigger and the mag. box had already split on mine. That's why I decided to bed it.

Big Bores: I'd send it to Ruger and tell them to give you a new stock, then would bed the steel plate. I don't think the X bolts are nessesary. jorge

jorge,
Won't let this piece of wood go unless absolutely necessary.

Wow! I'd repair it even if it had been sawed in half!!! How many of them look like this? I am ordering one Monday but do not expect this!!

Here's one with two crossbolts:

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/r3761.htm