I've got a factory stock that I've been using as a practice stock for stock refinishing. I've rebuilt some of my screw ups with epoxy and painted it and intend to use it as a beater stock. My one concern is the wrist. The wrist has been slimmed down to about 4 5/8" in circumference (not intentionally, but it does feel nice). I've got two 3/16" all-thread wrist pins epoxied in and the wood grain is pretty much straight through the wrist. The stock is also bedded, tang relieved, and cross-bolted.

Do you guys think the wrist will be able to hold up to the recoil of a 375 H&H? I'll go shoot it a bunch to test for sure, but I'm a bit worried the wrist is going to blow up on me on the first shot since it's so thin.

Appreciate the input!

Given your concern, I suggest you wear a good leather glove for the first few shots...

I think what I'm going to do is remove the paint around the wrist, then take some fiberglass cloth soaked in epoxy and wrap it around the wrist. This should further help to reinforce the wrist by bonding the wood to the fiberglass cloth. Then I'll just do a little sanding to smooth the edges and paint it again..

Any suggestions on what type of epoxy to use to soak the fiberglass cloth in?

Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Sevens:

Any suggestions on what type of epoxy to use to soak the fiberglass cloth in?

Thanks!

Go to your local auto parts store and get a Bondo fiberglas repair kit. It has the resin and hardner you need. It comes with fiberglas mat, but I prefer woven roving. Both will work. Cut the mat to size, understanding it will shrink a little. Coat the wrist with mixed resin. Lay the cut mat on wax paper (saran wrap also works) and soak it with mixed resin. Use the wax paper to mold the mat around the wrist. Don't worry if you have trouble getting the wax paper off while it's wet. It will come off easily once the resin is cured. Wear latex/rubber gloves.....Tom

If you epoxied two rods through the wrist, I very much doubt if you will have any problems.

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
If you epoxied two rods through the wrist, I very much doubt if you will have any problems.

What lee440 said. If the job was done properly, you could back the rifle's butt against a tree and shoot a full load with no damage. That procedure has become SOP for all my builds nowadays, just for good insurance.
Regards, Joe

quote:

Originally posted by J.D.Steele:

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
If you epoxied two rods through the wrist, I very much doubt if you will have any problems.

What lee440 said. If the job was done properly, you could back the rifle's butt against a tree and shoot a full load with no damage. That procedure has become SOP for all my builds nowadays, just for good insurance.
Regards, Joe

That's an interesting test procedure.

The pins are in with some Devcon plastic steel epoxy, so I think they should be good. I went ahead anyway and got some West Systems 105 epoxy, drenched some fiberglass cloth in it, and wrapped it around the wrist. Cheap insurance and makes me feel better.