How difficult is it to install a swivel stud on the forearm of a heavy wood-stocked rifle (a M70 with a barrel band)? How hard is it to do the same on a kevlar stock?

Thank you.

That's kind of a subjective question. If you are trying to hold it in your lap and using a hand drill, you will be lucky to get it straight. If you use a drill press and/or a "jig", it's a very easy task. IMO, a wood stock is easier. You don't know what you might find in a syntheic stock when you drill a hole in it. In some stocks, the "shell" of the stock is the only part with any strength. Countersinking the nut in the barrel channel can be problematic if there is nothing but foam under the nut. The better brands of stocks come with studs installed.

It’s fairly simple to epoxy the nut into a countersunk hole in a synthetic or wooden stock.

I epoxied the nuts (ouch, that sounds painful!) I used to replace the rivets on the front swivel base on my wooden stocked M1A. Just make sure you get them deep enough so they don’t make contact with the barrel.

The simplest way to do it is to buy the BSquare jig. It makes it child's play.

Be sure to use a stepped drill bit or 2 properly sized bits. I got a rifle cheap once because the local smith took the one bit shortcut and split the wood on the buttstock.......DJ