Last July I sent a CZ action and a semi-inletted bastogne stock to a custom rifle maker to be built into a 40 caliber custom rifle. I had the stock for about 6 months before I sent it. The owner of the shop called me at one point and advised me there was a "small crack" that appeared to start in the bolt cut. I asked if it could be repaired or not and was told that some epoxy had been injected into it and that it should be ok. I took delivery of the rifle 2 weeks ago and was unable to detect any sign of the crack. Between shots 7-9 the crack appeared. It runs down and forward out of the bolt cut and continues in the same direction (across the grain) on the forward side of the rear crossbolt. I have not fired it any more.

The rifle maker is presently in Zimbabwe hunting and is due back at the end of the week and I have not spoken with him regarding this problem yet. I have never had this problem before and would like some input from y'all regarding what sort of solution I should expect. I really don't want to pay for another stock and the labor to restock it since I already have about $3500 in the rifle, but I also have no use for a rifle I can't shoot. What's fair? Any advice is appreciated! I haven't named the stock supplier or the rifle maker since I haven't contacted them yet--wouldn't be fair to do that. BTW, neither of them post here. Thanks for your input!

Good Hunting,

ACRecurve,
Not a whote lot you can do with the present stock.
Was the gun fired at all before you had the work done to it?
The only thing I can think of is if your "smith" will vouch for the crack being there before said rifle ever being fired, maybe the maker of the stock may come to terms with you.
Trigger

Triggerhap2,

The rifle was unfired (unless test fired by the builder) when I got it. I sent the builder the action and the stock. He trued the action and put a Krieger tube on it, then fit the stock and shaped/finished/checkered it and sent it to me. Thanks for your reply.

ACRecurve,

IMHO that is your gunsmith's fault. Even if the stock was cracked when you sent it to him, he should have properly repaired the crack and resolved the problem that caused the crack. It appears recoil related and as some of the gunsmiths and stock makers here will tell you, you need to address the cause of this crack before repairing the crack.

I would not accept another repair, but only a replacement of the stock.

Good Luck

Sierra_Dave,

Thanks for your reply. I'm hoping some of the rifle builders on this board will tell me what they would do in this situation.

Good Hunting,

Andy,
There has not been enough information to determine how the crack propogated or whether it was a stress related situation existing in the blank. Most often it is just that. It can also be anywhere from difficult to near impossible at times to cure or stop cracks of this nature. It can be done but sometimes it just keeps going. Unless the gunsmith was at fault in causing the crack you will not and should not get a new stock out of him and if he was not at fault you should be paying him extra for the repair. Just some information for you to keep in mind when you talk to him.

I have seen people supply their own blanks with bark pockets that are not uncovered until the blank is inletted and almost completely shaped. You have invested a great deal of time in it at that point. If it is their blank, it is their nickel, if it is one that the stockmaker supplied it is on him. Some people think that if they supply the blank, the end product should be perfect even if the material they supplied was faulty. Okay putting away the soap box.

Chic,

Thanks! That's the kind of info I'm looking for. I've never run into this situation before and I would like for all parties to be treated fairly.

Good Hunting,