Cracked Stock Repair

[REB]

While in the process of refinishing the stock on a model 70 I discover the stock had a crack in the wrist. I have had the rifle for over 40 years and its had a hard life but I have no idea how it was cracked or how long ago. After a little research I decided to pin it with a 5/16 steel dowel pin. Luckily I'm sort of a pack rat when it comes to this stuff and I had everything I needed on hand.


After laying out where the pin need to be I drilled a hole into the stock with an 18" drill bit.



The bit was 0.005 undersized and a little too tight for me so I ran a 5/16 reamer through the hole to open it up a little. The pin still had a very snug fit.



Some epoxy and I drove the pin in place, very tight fit to the point I was a little concerned at one point put the pin went in place.



We will see if I can get another 40 years of service from it.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Mark Novak (YouTube's "Anvil") always drills a very small hole at the far end to vent excess epoxy.

 

[Blue68f100]

@GunnyUSMC always recommend over drilling the hole so your not forcing the crack open. Then he wraps the dowel with fiber glass to strengthen the joint. I've done this process too. I fill the hole with epoxy about 1/2 way then insert a saturated wrapped dowel. Makes a very solid joint.

 

[usaral63]

Had the very same issue with a 1948 M/70..........I didn't pin. I carefully spread the split, compressed air was used to drive Brownell's expoxy into the crack. I then fitted a steel liner into the action screw hole...........liner was a very close slip fit to the bolt.
Held and no indication of any progression of that crack (gotta look close to find it).