Sling swivel hell!

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Hi, all,

I'm freshly returned from an hour in the basement, having been defeated by a Pachmayr QD Flush swivel that started to splinter a brand-new laminated stock as soon as I started screwing it in.

Now I'm looking to try to salvage the project by substituting Uncle Mike's QD-100 universal swivels instead.

I've been searching for a photo of one that's mounted on the comb, just to verify that it wouldn't look ugly (or not too ugly) when it's done.

Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing?

Thanks,
- pdmoderator

 

[critter]

On the comb? Do you mean the one on the underside of the buttstock? If so, there is a small problem. The swivel base that is insereted into the stock is large enough around that it is wider than the thin part of the stock. That may make it look 'funky' and leave too little wood on the sides to hold it well.

If you can move it forward (toward the pistol grip) until the stock is wider at the point you insert it, it will be much better. That MAY not be where you really want it though.

Just something to be aware of. (BTW, I like that type of swivel).

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Found some pics on how to install the Pachmayr swivels. That gave me an idea of how to salvage the project.

Wound up boring the holes out to 31/32" and epoxying the Pachmayr swivels in. Doesn't look professionally done, but it's not an embarrassment either.

Next time, if there is a next time, I'll take Shottist's advice about using the masking tape to prevent tear-out... :banghead:

- pdmoderator

 

[Jonathan]

I really like the Uncle Mike's QD swivels. Just be sure you have a deep enough hole: if you keep things marginal then it's possible for the swivel to pop loose (at the worst time) when it appears to be fully seated.

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Jonathan: Does the rear swivel in the Uncle Mike's set have a little crown like the rear Pachmayr swivel does? I can't tell from the pictures.

For future reference, for those attempting this seemingly trivial bit of woodworking:

1. Put masking tape over the area to be drilled. :banghead:

2. Use a brad-point bit to drill the hole. (At least I did that right!)

3. Ignore the directions that come with the Pachmayr swivels, which are essentially "take it to a gunsmith, don't try this at home." ALSO, ignore the implication that Pachmayr is trying to BS you into shelling out $110 for the installation kit! They aren't BS-ing, because f you want to try to screw the thing in, you will, repeat WILL, need the installation kit. :banghead:

4. Drill a single 1/2 inch hole to a depth of 0.5 inches and epoxy the sucker in.

5. If you must do it the Pachmayr way by screwing rather than epoxying, then:

5a. Drill the 1/2" shoulder first, then go down with the 7/16" hole. Do it the other way and you'll tear out the wood around the hole. :banghead:

5b. You're going to have to shell out $110 for the installation set. The Pachmyr swivel cannot be screwed into a 7/16" hole with a screwdriver without damaging the head. :banghead:

5c. The $110 for the installation set is more than I paid for the entire stock. :banghead:

If I only had a time machine and could go back to yesterday morning... Actually, it doesn't really look all that bad. Just not perfect the way I'd wanted.


- pdmoderator

 

[Jim K]

Just FWIW, I always found installing sling swivels of any kind to be one of the most frustrating gunsmith jobs. One of the reasons is that stocks are seldom perfect, so a swivel that is perfectly centered by every measurement known to man will LOOK off center. This is true for both front and rear, but it always seems to happen in the rear.

And some stocks are so thin at the bottom of the buttstock that even a regular screw-in swivel can start them splitting. BTW, a good lubricant for screwing into wood is plain old soap.

Brownells sells a jig and drill set with a counterbore which helps a lot but at $61 it is salty for a one-time job.

So my suggstion is to go with the advice already given and be aware that you just might get a worse job from a gunsmith.

Jim

 

[Jonathan]

Are you referring to this type of crown on the receiving part?:

I think this is a slightly better picture of the Mike's QD:

The ones I've seen are totally flat, no crown.

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

In the Pachmayr pair of receiving parts, one of the pair is crowned (slightly pointy along one axis) and the other isn't (just rounded, not pointy.)

The crown is nice on the comb - er - underside of the buttstock. Matches the contour of the wood better.

Thanks,
- pdmoderator