Eliminating forend flex in the tacticool.

[djdilliodon]

There are good amount of stocks available for the 455 now. Boyds offers 3 different ones, Richard microfit offers one based on like 12+ styles, Manners offers one, and I believe McMillan does as well. The boyds stock are great for the money but are not perfect. Better than the factory American or varmint stock though IMO. Like the factory stocks the boyds stocks still have some flex in the forend. This will affect groups off both the bench and especially when shooting from a bipod. I sat down to figure a way to fix this problem and had the pleasure of doing it on someone else's stock. It worked so now I'm doing it to one of mine . I ran out of epoxy so can't show it finished yet but can show you the other part. What I did was cut 3/16" steel rod at .780" long and hand filed them down to .774" for a perfect fit (stocks will vary so must be measured). I placed a total of 6 pieces in the stock and then fill the entire area in with acraglas (not the gel kind). This has proved to make for one rigid stick!!!

 

[RingSteel]

Very, very interesting! I wouldn't have thought of reinforcing in that direction first. Good job.

Thanks for sharing your ideas here. Posters who contribute like yourself are a large part of what makes this forum great.

 

[BenY 2013]

Thanks for the heads up! I am about to order one of these to test out my "mini-chassis" on before my Manners goes under the knife!

Ben

 

[justin amateur]

I was thinking of a skin of carbon fiber epoxied to the barrel channel,
or around the exterior of the forestock. Never thought of crossbracing
then filling to prevent channel distortion, to maintain rigidity.

 

[BC 6.8]

How much weight do you think it added to the stock? How much acraglass did it take?

Looks like it would work well. I thought about using two pieces of flat aluminum to do the same thing.

 

[djdilliodon]

How much weight do you think it added to the stock? How much acraglass did it take?

Looks like it would work well. I thought about using two pieces of flat aluminum to do the same thing.

Once it's finished I will def weigh the stock but my guess would be around 4 ounces added give or take. I can't give an exact number on how much the area holds as I just mixed up a bunch and had a lot left over and wasted. I'll pay close attention this time around as I'll be doing a few over the next 3 weeks and want the acraglas to last.

 

[rancilio]

Great. Thanks for sharing the idea.

 

[djdilliodon]

Got some time so I got the epoxy in. I didn't dye it black as I like the look of the bracing . It took exactly 2.55 oz of epoxy to fill the area in perfect. Total weight added is just 3.5 oz.

 

[BC 6.8]

Did the mod work the way you wanted it to? I might try this on my tacticool stock this weekend.

 

[djdilliodon]

Did the mod work the way you wanted it to? I might try this on my tacticool stock this weekend.

On my friends gun it worked perfect! I did a few more so waiting on feedback. If it's not windy tomorrow I'll take mine and shoot a few groups and will post the results.

 

[garandman]

I'm thinking the added rigidity comes from the combination of the 'glass and the steel rod - that the steel rod by itself wouldn't do much.... true? .

 

[djdilliodon]

I'm thinking the added rigidity comes from the combination of the 'glass and the steel rod - that the steel rod by itself wouldn't do much.... true? .

You will need both. The steel rods alone will stiffen it but are held by pressure and can come loose. Glassing them in will make sure they will never move and also helps in stiffening things up.