I just picked up a 338 Win mag Winchester with a after market laminated stock .
The rifle feel butt heavy ( at least to me ) and over all a little heavy .
Since the Lame Brain that owned it before me painted the stock OD green , with lots of paint runs .
I plan on refinishing it .
I was thinking of talking to the gunsmith about removing material from the barrel channel and from under the pad .
Maybe milling a hole(s) from under the pad in several inch's

Just wondering how much weight could safely be removed ?
How thin could the side walls of the butt be and be 100% sure not to cause any problems ?

Not looking for a ultra lite , just a better feel and balance

Johnch

I've done this to a couple a walnut stocks and it did help the balance and reduced the weight. I've gone as deep as 4" in the butt (3/8"-1/2" sidewalls) and 1/2" in the barrel channel. Both rifles are light recoilers (6.5 Swede and 308). Never done it on a magnum or laminate. I would think that the laminate stock would be a bit stronger than most walnuts

Check out the Boyd's web site and where they show pics of light weight options for their stocks...

It should give you some good ideas on where to hollow out some weight on the stock you bought from Bubba there....

http://www.boydboys.com/custom.htm

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:


http://www.boydboys.com/custom.htm

I did mine pretty much the same as Boyd's version.

I went a little nuts on this old german military laminates stock, but those dang things are very strong.


Weagle

Thanks for the help
It gives me a good place to stop at least

Johnch