Cracked Stock = Excessive Use?
- Thread starter HGM22
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dogtown tom
Member
Not necessarily.
More likely mistreatment by the owner.
More likely mistreatment by the owner.
WardenWolf
member
Often cracked stocks are due to aging wood. The wood contracts unevenly as it dries out and eventually just cracks. This is particularly true around metal fittings because the wood contracts, but the metal doesn't, and as a result the fitting splits the wood. In a sense, I guess you could also attribute it to improper care. With basic treatment, you can keep the wood from getting to this state. Higher-quality woods also have a much lower chance of cracking.
forindooruseonly
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Depends a lot on the rifle. A lot of the old Savage 99s would develop a crack in the stock near the tang. Old Winchester self loaders like the 1907s would crack in the forearm. Neither of these were contingent upon abuse or hard treatment. Seen some very nice, well taken care of examples that had developed cracks. It's one of the first things to look for on those classics.
Conversely, If I saw a gun with a cracked stock on something that wasn't known for it, I'd be a little concerned at its treatment.
Conversely, If I saw a gun with a cracked stock on something that wasn't known for it, I'd be a little concerned at its treatment.
Shadow 7D
Member
Poor storage conditions, much like weathered decks
some people, places will have a lovely deck, others won't
some people, places will have a lovely deck, others won't
Depends a lot on the rifle. A lot of the old Savage 99s would develop a crack in the stock near the tang.
I was going to make the same comment. I've seen that crack/chip on two 99's. One with plenty of use from the 1970's, one from earlier that was very well cared for. From comments it seems very common.
I was going to make the same comment. I've seen that crack/chip on two 99's. One with plenty of use from the 1970's, one from earlier that was very well cared for. From comments it seems very common.
jgiehl
Member
Pretty sure I remember there's also how the action beds to the stock will crack a stock also.
Bubbles
Member
More likely it means that the gun was abused or dropped. We've had three arrive during the last year that were cracked during shipping. One was NIB.
All three were just put into cardboard rifle boxes with no case, padding, packing peanuts, etc. to protect them.
All three were just put into cardboard rifle boxes with no case, padding, packing peanuts, etc. to protect them.
jimmyraythomason
Member
Loose stock screws on 2 pc stocks such as on shotguns and poor bedding on rifles such as bolt actions are the most common causes of cracks in these stocks.
alsaqr
Member
A cracked stock on a heavy recoiling gun is often a sign that the gun was fired from a heavy lead sled. If the gun has a scope it should be checked out really well before purchase: Scopes get ruined by lead sleds too.
Lots of folks like to use way too much gun oil, store the firearm stock down. The oil works its way into the wood and weakens the stock. I've seen good firearms with stocks you could almost stick your finger in. The other reasons mentioned will also help with damage.
wally
Member
My only cracked stock is from when I dropped it taking it out of the safe to get to the one behind it 
Its a Rossi .44Mag lever action, not particularly valuable, but not particularly easy to find a replacement stock for either. A repair with epoxy keeps it usable and its not all that noticeable unless you look for it.
Its a Rossi .44Mag lever action, not particularly valuable, but not particularly easy to find a replacement stock for either. A repair with epoxy keeps it usable and its not all that noticeable unless you look for it.XxWINxX94
Member
I got the same thing :banghead:
Most of the time a cracked stock isn't from use, or even excessive use, but like everyone else is saying; mistreatment, carelessness or stupidity.
Very rarely a Mfg. Problem, too.
I had an old LC Smith crack in the wrist upon firing and a brand new Beretta 687DU do the same thing. The previous owner took the Smith back; Beretta replaced the stock on the Maass O/U with a beautiful piece of walnut at no expense to me. Good endings to unexpected and unexplainable events.
ljnowell
Member
Sometime in the late 80s to early 90s an uncle of mine bought both of his sons a mossberg shotgun. BOTH of the guns experienced a cracked stock within a year. They replaced them and one of them cracked again about a year later. I hunted with these guys, they did not abuse guns. They both ended up putting synthetic stocks on them, in the end.
Nail Shooter
Member
I have seen recoil forces crack stocks on long guns and handguns. Regards,
Nail
Nail
USAF_Vet
Member
The stock on my M-44 has a crack in it, right next to the receiver on the left side. The entire stock was beaten up, it had a rough life previous to my ownership. A '53 hungarian that looks as though it saw some actions. It's currently my project rifle. As I do an epoxy bed, I'll repair the two inch crack at the same time. I like to think the stock cracked because some commy got whacked in the skull with the rifle after the ammo was all used up.
MachIVshooter
Member
Or because a screw loosened up and no one noticed. Suddenly the recoil is not partially absorbed at those attaching points and, if loose enough, the receiver may be able to accelerate before impacting the stock.
I once watched a rifle stock slowly crack while sitting in my tree stand. Noticed a rough spot directly behind the triggerguard at daylight. About 1/8" long at first. By the time I got back to the truck it had split all the way to the grip cap. Taking the gun out of a warm dry house into a cool misty rain caused this one.
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