Classy DIY or purchased cheekpieces on wood stock rifles?

[Doc7]

Anyone got photos of their wood stocked rifles with nice looking raised cheekpieces to get a better weld?

Doesn't seem like people are as willing to bore the holes through their stock for the hard polymer pieces that I see a lot of on long range shooting rifles with synthetic stocks. I have seen some duct tape, vet wrap DIY jobs but I haven't really seen what people are doing to their wood-stocked hunting rifles.

Anyone have a solution that works and looks as nice as your (Rem 700, Win Model 70, X-Bolt, whatever) deserves to have on it?

Thanks!

 

[Dentite]

This might work for what you are talking about. I'm about to order one for a rifle.

https://www.triadtactical.com/Triad-Stock-Pack.html

 

[rcmodel]

What kind of rifle do you want to add one too?

The rifles you mentioned (Rem 700, Win Model 70, X-Bolt, whatever) made in the last 50 years already have straight scope stocks, some with Monti-Carlo cheek pieces that require no further built-up cheek rest to get a proper cheek weld to position your eye behind the scope.

Building it up would make for a very hard to shoot and hard kicking rifle!

I think you might be looking at one stock design with adjustable cheek rests, and confusing them with stocks that don't need, and can't use them.

rc

 

[dubbleA]

OP,

I don't know if this what you are talking about but I have done a few DIY's jobs on some of my rifles.

I make the adjustable hardware from scratch and then install it. I am odd shaped .and need the butt adjustable too so I incorporate it at the same time. When you combine both you have a rifle that can be made to fit just about any person.

This Savage came with a fixed plastic comb.


After making some chips it turned out like this.




Something similar, but without a thumbwheel.......

 

[bannockburn]

dubbleA

That's some really nice custom work you've made there! Very impressive!

 

[morcey2]

I've got a couple of guns that have various sizes of "custom" cheek pieces on them. The customization is done with vet wrap and layers of 1/8" craft foam. I'll eventually get either new stocks or permanent cheek pieces on them, but haven't done it yet.

Matt

 

[henschman]

The rifles you mentioned (Rem 700, Win Model 70, X-Bolt, whatever) made in the last 50 years already have straight scope stocks, some with Monti-Carlo cheek pieces that require no further built-up cheek rest to get a proper cheek weld to position your eye behind the scope.

Maybe, maybe not. In my experience, usually not. It depends on how high the scope is mounted, and on the shape of the shooter's face. Some of the issue is that most shooters that I come in contact with don't really know what good cheek weld is -- many haven't heard of it at all, and many think that as long as their face is touching the stock in some fashion they're good. The real test of cheek weld is to take your shooting position, close your eyes, completely relax your neck muscles and let your cheek settle to wherever gravity takes it, and open your eyes. If you are still looking through the center of your scope, your comb is where it needs to be. If not, you need to change it.

Another issue I see a lot is that many shooters position their heads too far to the rear. Ideally, you want to stretch your neck out as far forward as you can, and drop it to get cheek weld. This takes all "slack" out of your neck, so recoil doesn't bounce your head around, and it also allows for a VERY consistently repeatable cheek weld... if you always stretch it to the natural mechanical limit, it will always be in the same place.

As for options for raising the comb, using vet wrap over bandages, foam pipe insulation, etc. isn't pretty, but it works well. Many snipers have used this type of cheek rest over the years. The stock saddle, like Dentite posted, is another more polished version of this approach. You can whittle down a piece of wood until it gives you the perfect comb height when stuck under the saddle. I've also seen people just make their own custom wood cheekpieces, that either glue on, or have nails or rods protruding under them that match up with holes drilled in the top of the stock.

 

[desidog]

Here's my M1A Loaded with a repro cheek riser from a No4(T) Enfield; with half an hour of sanding, a bit of Acraglass, and two stainless screws to match the barrel.

 

[Doc7]

What kind of rifle do you want to add one too?

The rifles you mentioned (Rem 700, Win Model 70, X-Bolt, whatever) made in the last 50 years already have straight scope stocks, some with Monti-Carlo cheek pieces that require no further built-up cheek rest to get a proper cheek weld to position your eye behind the scope.

Building it up would make for a very hard to shoot and hard kicking rifle!

I think you might be looking at one stock design with adjustable cheek rests, and confusing them with stocks that don't need, and can't use them.

rc

I think With everyone's face dimensions being different that the manufacturer raised combs are not going to be "on" for everyone. How does one comb provide the correct cheek weld for a small face individual and a large face individual who may be either using a large objective high ring scope or a small objective low ring scope?

Why would it kick harder? I currently have pipe insulation and Velcro wrapped on a rifle and it only makes it easier to shoot and hold it properly in my shoulder....otherwise only the heel of the stock would be in my shoulder if I had proper eye/scope alignment...

 

[Doc7]

OP,



I don't know if this what you are talking about but I have done a few DIY's jobs on some of my rifles.



I make the adjustable hardware from scratch and then install it. I am odd shaped .and need the butt adjustable too so I incorporate it at the same time. When you combine both you have a rifle that can be made to fit just about any person.



This Savage came with a fixed plastic comb.





After making some chips it turned out like this.









Something similar, but without a thumbwheel.......

This is really nice - I was thinking along the lines of something temporary but that is nice too. What do you think a gunsmith as skilled as yourself would charge to do that to a walnut stock?

 

[RainDodger]

The link that Dentite posted shows a removable rest for $45. They work great. I have an IDENTICAL one that I bought with a Hornady logo on it for $29 I think. I suspect any of the suppliers like Midway or Cabela's have something like that. They're very adjustable and work well. And you can take them off in a couple seconds.

 

[barnbwt]

There's a member on here with a beautiful leather lace-on cheek pad placed on their K31 rifle. Can't seem to find it at the moment...

Ah, madcratebuilder;


If you keep the leather snug, keep it conditioned, and keep the wood underneath clean/conditioned, I see no reason a lace-on wouldn't remain good looking indefinitely.

TCB

 

[Doc7]

I just did this on a Marlin 336 that is borrowed so I can't do anything about the ring height.



It works so I can shoulder the rifle into the same position each time but I def want to do something nicer with my future rifles.

 

[bangswitch]

I made a leather one for my M1A that laces on. I did not want to permanently alter the stock, and didn't like the plastic ones that strap on. I had some scrap leather lying around and figured to have a go at making something to raise my sight line to the scope. I can remove both the scope and riser in less than a minute if I want to shoot irons. The riser just wraps around and laces tight, the rear sling swivel keeps if from shifting. It is lined with moleskin to prevent scuffing the stock finish.