After a few months of thinking, hesitation, doubt and worry about buggering up an expensive piece of equipment...I broke down yesterday and installed flush cups on a McMillan A5.
Bottom line: if my dumbass can do it, you can too!
After a little bit (okay, a lot) of practice on a 2x4 and a fairly ugly install on a Boyd Tacticool rimfire stock, I decided to use a 9/16" spade bit and a cordless drill. First, I used a Dremel and significantly shortened the long tip of the spade bit. This might not be necessary, but I wanted to limit the amount the bit penetrated into the stock beyond the required depth for the cup.
Then, I spent a lot amount of time on the internet, seeing every which way folks had installed cups on their McM A5s and Manners T2/T4s. I eventually found locations that I liked, took a bunch of measurements, then marked the stock with a sharpie.
After taking a deep breath, I started the hole on the left buttstock first. After getting to approximate depth, I removed the bit and blew out the filler dust in the whole. I then took a regular 1/2" bit and 'cleaned up' the bottom of the hole a little, which gave me a few thousands more depth than the spade bit.
Wash & repeat on the left forearm. With the cordless drill and the rifle laying on carpet, the shortened spade bit worked up slightly and caught a bite just above the wide part of the forearm. With a longer or unaltered spade bit, I think more precise drilling on the forearm would be easier.
I then mixed up some JB weld, coated the sides & bottom of the holes, then inserted threaded Grovetec cups into each hole. With a hex wrench preventing the compound from seeping into the bottom of the cup, I could not get the cup seated flush...so I removed the hex head and simply pushed each cup flush with the stock. Wiped up the excess JB weld with a cloth and left the rifle to set up.
This morning, I chucked up a 3/8" bit and very slowly drilled out the hardened compound in the bottom of the cups.
Insert the swivel into the cup and....both worked just great!
Just finished my other McM A5...I'll let it cure overnight, bore out the material at the bottom of the cups tomorrow, and then have both stocks ready to use.
Its not as clean or "pretty" an install as I'm certain any gunsmith on the Hide can produce...but the shell of both stocks resisted chipping.
Bottom line: if my dumbass can do it, you can too!
After a little bit (okay, a lot) of practice on a 2x4 and a fairly ugly install on a Boyd Tacticool rimfire stock, I decided to use a 9/16" spade bit and a cordless drill. First, I used a Dremel and significantly shortened the long tip of the spade bit. This might not be necessary, but I wanted to limit the amount the bit penetrated into the stock beyond the required depth for the cup.
Then, I spent a lot amount of time on the internet, seeing every which way folks had installed cups on their McM A5s and Manners T2/T4s. I eventually found locations that I liked, took a bunch of measurements, then marked the stock with a sharpie.
After taking a deep breath, I started the hole on the left buttstock first. After getting to approximate depth, I removed the bit and blew out the filler dust in the whole. I then took a regular 1/2" bit and 'cleaned up' the bottom of the hole a little, which gave me a few thousands more depth than the spade bit.
Wash & repeat on the left forearm. With the cordless drill and the rifle laying on carpet, the shortened spade bit worked up slightly and caught a bite just above the wide part of the forearm. With a longer or unaltered spade bit, I think more precise drilling on the forearm would be easier.
I then mixed up some JB weld, coated the sides & bottom of the holes, then inserted threaded Grovetec cups into each hole. With a hex wrench preventing the compound from seeping into the bottom of the cup, I could not get the cup seated flush...so I removed the hex head and simply pushed each cup flush with the stock. Wiped up the excess JB weld with a cloth and left the rifle to set up.
This morning, I chucked up a 3/8" bit and very slowly drilled out the hardened compound in the bottom of the cups.
Insert the swivel into the cup and....both worked just great!
Just finished my other McM A5...I'll let it cure overnight, bore out the material at the bottom of the cups tomorrow, and then have both stocks ready to use.
Its not as clean or "pretty" an install as I'm certain any gunsmith on the Hide can produce...but the shell of both stocks resisted chipping.
