I have a defiance action, proof sendero Barrel and manners eh1a stock with mini chassis. All was purchased new by me action and barrel Done up by a gunsmith then the stock delivered directly to me from manners. I finally got all the components together and when I drop the barreled action into the stock it sits straight in the barrel channel, but when I tighten down the bolts of the stock the barrel ends up hugging the left side of the barrel channel nearly touching towards the end. What could be causing this and how should I go about fixing it?
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Gunsmithing Barrel not center of manners stock channel
- Thread starter Atlas11B
- Start date
You can send it back to manners to get the mini chassis straightened out or skim bed the chassis.
I had the same issue with a mini chassis T4A a few years ago. I ended up sending it back to Manners to have them fix it.
Do not fix this issue yourself. The entire reason of paying the extra amount for the mini chassis is so you do not have to bed the stock. Send it back in and let them fix it.
That does suck, but I guess its really the only way they can get everything to fit up perfectly? Without having the BA they would be just blindy messing with the chassis in hopes to make it fit up centered?
This is disappointing though. I have a mini-chassis on order, along with a prefit barrel and TL3, and the whole plan was to just have everything sent to me so I can put it together myself and not have to have it bedded or sent out anywhere. I am really hoping that I am one of the lucky ones and that my BA will bolt up centered to the mini-chassis when I get it. It really is a pain to have to send your BA out, not just the FFL logistics but also the worries of a brand new BA being damaged, dinged, scratched, lost, etc. during shipping and this whole process.
The shipping process is the only thing that really bugs me, manners customer service is great and they do have fast turn around on repairs. I just cringe at the thought of shipping a $5K gun across the country in hopes that UPS doesn’t ruin the package like they always do. It’s a bummer but I do applaud manners for paying the shipping and making it as hassle free as possible
You will have to ship it from an FFL though, correct? I am sure Manners will take care of you, and I'm sure that if I have any issues with mine they will take care of me too, I just pray that I'm one of the lucky ones haha.
Not trying to pull this thread off subject, but does that vary by state? I had thought that if I had to do something similar, I would have to send the rifle through a FFL dealer?
Edit: Nevermind, I just educated myself on the internet lol.
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If just to and from a "FFL" , which i figure manners has, should be good.
California may have some different rules I"m unaware of.
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That’s kind of what I was thinking but the guy at manners told me they could adjust it perfect for that barreled action
They must have some test actions with barrels or something similar to test fit in the stocks? And even with tolerance differences between some actions, I would think they could get it close enough to the point where its hard to see with the naked eye. It's not like any of us are measuring barrel channel gap on either side of the barrel with calipers and demanding it be within thousands of an inch. It just needs to look centered to the naked eye, and were good.
Maybe there is something about the process of fixing the mini-chassis to the stock that makes holding the tolerances difficult? I wonder if the mini-chassis is machined before or after its installed to the stock? I would think it would be best to install the mini-chassis, and then machine the chassis and stock to the action and barrel at the same time, but it might cause some difficulties with tooling or setup time?
I had the same issue with both the Manners stocks I purchased (EH-2 and EH-3) and just had Travis at TS Customs install pillars and bed them. A little frustrating given the price point of the stock. However, both are extremely nice stocks all said and done.
Looks straight to me. Looks like the barrel channel is cut to one side. I would just sand the other side myself. If mini chassis was crooked the barrel would cross the channel, not run straight down one side.
It’s definitely crooked. If you look at the front of the chassis before the lug it meets the stock on the right and has a slight gap on the left. If you look behind the recoil lug there are 2 notches in the stock. The right of the chassis hangs out about 1/32nd further. Not a lot but enough to push that barrel to the left side. The barrel does not sit straight in the channel it starts with slight gap on the left by the action then gets smaller as it goes down the barrel
The mini chassis isn't built by Manners. It is installed in the stock by Manners. These are not custom fitted stocks. If you want a fitted stock, you need to get a blank and send it to builder. That is why true customs cost so much, all the stock fitting and attention to detail. Taking 3k in parts and bolting them together doest not make a 5k custom rifle. Manners wants your B/A so when they open up the channel, they can make sure it fits. They are not going to rebuilt the stock, or remove the mini chassis. They will open the barrel channel and re paint it.
You are saying that the only way Manners can make the BA fit in the stock is if you send them the BA?! Why offer them for sale as fully inletted stocks then? No where on the website does it say "There's a 50/50 chance that your BA won't sit straight, or that the barrel channel will be crooked, and you will have to send the BA and stock in for proper fitting." They must have some props or something that enable them to do a test fit of a BA in the inletted stock, no?
I bought a $300 Grayboe stock that fit my factory R700 better than the OP's $1000+ stock fits his BA with a defiance action and proof barrel... I understand tolerances, but no ones measuring the channel gap on either side of the barrel with calipers and demanding a precision fit, it just has to look centered to the eye.
Not arguing, just trying to intelligently discuss!
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I said what I said, don't attempt to put words in my mouth, or extrapolate data you don't understand. Please, if you don't know, or you don't have experience, keep your yap shut. Bad info is worse than no info.
The B/A does fit in the stock, and requires some fitting to ensure the barrel is free floated{usually bolt handles too in my experience}. That way you don't get giant, ugly ass, generic lines, like the grayboe. No, you can't make a jig that ensures every stock perfectly fits every rifle. I guess thats why they want the B/A.
If you call them and ask they will tell it may require some fitting. If it does and you don't have the gumption, they will do it for you.No my bolt handle doesn't touch in the giant square inlet for it in my grayboe, it also doesn't hit in the same width front to back barrel channel inlet. 15 minutes with sand paper and all my manners look 50 times better than my greyboe.
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For what it's worth, I've had several manners stocks as well as a few McMillan. All the manners have been mini chassis. If I remember right, there has been one manners that didn't need attention in the barrel contour inlet. That's also the same stock that they installed the limited rotation flush cups in where they weren't indexed right. Every single other stock I've had from them had the barrel channel other than centered. Enough you could see it with your eye that there waspre meat on one side of the forearm than the other. I've dealt with this by either sanding it or more recently after wising up, ordering M24/40 barrel channels to put medium palma or remington varmint barrels in. Even then, there's more gap on one side than the other. I'm not picky, as long as it doesn't touch I'm fine with it but Jesus Christ, for the money the things shouldn't have issues this easily identified. The barreld action I'm waiting on now is going in a foundation stock. Similar money but way better fit and finish. Shame they aren't as light as the elite series. If it weren't for that, they would have lost me two or three years ago. What's the point in the mini chassis if you have to take a file and sandpaper to it and sometimes more than that to make a barrel not hit.
Was your experience the same with McM? I have a bedded A5 that looks to have a perfect channel, but I can't be certain that it came that way from McM or if the builder did some finish work to it.
This is disappointing information to hear though, I am waiting on a mini-chassis right now and am just going to pray that I am one of the lucky ones I guess. The whole point was to avoid sending it out for modification, bedding, etc. If I have a bad experience, I will probably just start getting used to a regular chassis and never look back.
I like that they keep it close. It is a lot easier to sand a little out then to refill it. I don't like the hot dog down a hallway look, but I ran an MTU stock with a remington varmint contour for a lone time.
You don't have to do it, as mentioned in this thread, "Manners will do it for you." But you should expect it unless you are having a stock fitted and installed by someone, then they will do it. We are not talking about large amounts of material that need removed.
I don't understand how you guys are relating the mini chassis to minor barrel fitting. Your gunsmith did the same thing when he installed pillars and bedded your action. If he didn't you probably did it yourself or took it back to him.
Foundation is 1300 for a standard stock. A EH1 with mini chassis is 1k without 600. Standard shells are about 400. So about 1/3rd the money.
Drop in design to barrel contours. Depends on whose version of what contour and who cut the threads where on the tenon as related to the A,B,C contours of a stepped barrel.
Bedding the chassis is not how you float the barrel. Sanding is how. Manners will probably cut it on a mill. Their service is very nice if you want old bedding milled out to bed a different action.
Its just a V block. If you put a straight tube in it, no problem. Put a crooked tube in it, and you will have to bed the tang. If you spend the extra on a manners, they will float the barrel for you, but considering the amount of different everything, you should expect whoever fits the stock will need your B/A. If you want to save time and shipping. 100 grit sand paper, and a 1 inch dowel or even a broom stick. Don't get too crazy you will remove material faster than you think.
When comparing the two, be sure to go apples to apples. It's actually $1255 advertised on core shootings website where I got mine. I didn't pay that but for arguments sake let's say I did. The foundation stock came with 5 flush cups, a picitinny rail on the forend for bipod, an anshutz rail and adjustable cheek as well as adjustable length of pull. Throw all that onto the manners and if there's a difference, it isn't much.
I don't know if the mini chassis is the source of the issues or not, just that every one I have had was a mini chassis and they had issues. I know manners will fix it, they are awesome at customer service. So is vortex, look how many people argue that you shouldn't have to know how good their customer service is. Tom is a stand up guy, a few office people are as well. Some people there are idiots. I can only assume some of the ones building the stocks are as well. I think it's a product of rapid growth that some issues are going to arise when you try and ramp up production to meet demand. Also, I've been told multiple times they will remove a mini chassis and rework it to straighten it if it were what's crooked. I know for a fact the inlet was off on one of them, was too obvious to be anything else. It's not always an issue of the shank hitting. There's been times I've had a barrel hit the full length or just on the last third for some reason. I sand, file, sometimes cut and just black sharpie it or paint it and rock on. It's going to get more banged up anyway in the back of the gator or whatever else I do so I'm not too worried. I just know I'm going to deal with it now if I buy manners. Cost of doing business I guess but it sure is irritating to just accept it when I've not had these issues with McMillan. I'm gonna give foundation a solid try, so far I think the only thing I'll miss is the weight loss of the carbon.
The A5s I've had and the A4 I had was fine. That was years ago though so I don't know about current production with the change in ownership. I tried a bunch of chassis hoping to get away from fitment issues but the EH1 grip is just what I need and can't get used to the feel of a chassis or the grips out there.
What I meant about the "perfect channel in my bedded A5" was that the barrel is very well centered within the channel, and the channel looks centered within the forend. I wasn't sure if that perfect fitment was the byproduct of McMillan's inletting or my gunsmiths work (or a combination).
When I receive my stock I will just have to evaluate the situation. If it just needs a tiny bit of fine tuning, I will most likely do it myself. In all that I've read Manners has taken care of everyone, so they obviously have great service for their customers, which makes me feel comfortable that I will end up with a product that justifies the cost even
I agree with you fully that for the price, this shouldn’t be an issue. They do have good customer service, but I have sent a stock in to get the barrel channel opened up and they sent it back to me without doing any work. I had to call, send it back again and they then got it right.. they make great stuff, but something is happening there that is sliding right past QA and after waiting 6 months for a 1300$ stock, I would expect it to be damn perfect. Maybe the mini chassis is the culprit maybe the company is expanding too fast, who knows. I just hope they step up their game and live up to their name, this stock is strike 2 with them for me..
Update: I still haven’t received my gun back from manners. I was told it would turn around in about a week. It’s been over a month and I now missed bear season with my new rifle. I stupidly placed another order with manners for another custom build last night and after further looking into the stock I ordered they had 2 conflicting sizes of barrels it could fit. I trusted their information in the stock builder and it is not correct. I will be canceling that order. I’m officially done with manners stocks.
Unfortunately I had the same problem. Had to send the whole rifle back to them and it took about 2x as long as they said to get it straightened out.
However, Tom was great to work with and I’ve been very happy with the end product.
However, Tom was great to work with and I’ve been very happy with the end product.
The one I have on order is my third as well. I have had problems with the first 2. Not sure why I thought it was a good idea to order another but I’m having a defiant with proof Bull Barrel built. The TA stock in the stock builder said it could fit a 1.35” Barrel so I went for it. Looked at the description of it today on the website and it says it will only take up to 1.125” Barrel which is too small for the 1.25 bull. Then they sent me the confirmation which means they didn’t catch it.
What did you tell them to prepare the barrel channel to? I’m not seeing in your photos anywhere that states 1.125” max.
@Atlas11B I can't believe you still don't have your rifle back from Manners, that is making me nervous for my build lol.
I received my T4A w/ mini-chassis a few weeks ago, and I could tell right off the bat that the barrel channel isn't centered in the forend; it looks like the whole channel is slightly off to one side of the stock. It is pretty minor, and to me it looks like the mini-chassis might also be slightly off center, so I am just hoping that when I drop the BA into the stock it will be centered within the channel and free floated properly. I am supposed to be getting my barrel and action in the next few days so I will probably be putting it all together sometime next week. Really hoping that everything drops in ok.
I received my T4A w/ mini-chassis a few weeks ago, and I could tell right off the bat that the barrel channel isn't centered in the forend; it looks like the whole channel is slightly off to one side of the stock. It is pretty minor, and to me it looks like the mini-chassis might also be slightly off center, so I am just hoping that when I drop the BA into the stock it will be centered within the channel and free floated properly. I am supposed to be getting my barrel and action in the next few days so I will probably be putting it all together sometime next week. Really hoping that everything drops in ok.
lol everyone of my friends who order from manners get huge delays and incorrect items delivered...i cant think of a single order in the last year or 2 that was correct or not months late after multiple follow ups...ill buy their stocks if i find one already made that i want, i wont order from them
That's the safest process other than buying a flat top and letting LRI or someone else do the inlet and fill the voids. If foundation made a stock lighter than their light version, similar in weight to a carbon stock with mini chassis and adjustable cheek then foundation would be the only stocks I have on my rifles. If I can find a game scout or warden I'll try it out and maybe move my EH1as out.
Got an email back from manners this morning saying that the TA will allow a 1.25 Barrel, which contradicts their description, so we will see, I’ll let it get built and if there is any problem whatsoever dropping another defiance/proof BA in it it’s going back to manners for a refund, no more playing their games. And yeah I can’t believe I don’t have my gun yet either. At first it was just annoying to send them 4500$ worth of my shit now it’s just plain ridiculous that I don’t have it back for a hunting season that I built the rifle for when I was assured it would get turned around in a week...
Hi Atlas11b, just came across your thread, pm your build number and contact info and I will get right back to you. Thank you
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