H-S Precision Mil Spec M24 Stocks Different Than the Civilian Version?

[jmar]

Thinking about doing a M24 replica build but while doing research I found some posts showing H-S stocks completely cracking in half when exposed to heat of around 150°F. This is caused by the foam they fill them with expanding and creating pressure on the outer shell cracking them down the middle. Surely since these were military issued they went through all types of testing and were successful? If someone leaves their stock in their car on a hot day it gets rendered completely useless, while our soldiers in the middle east used them year round in a scorching desert. They must be differently made?

I wonder if the military issued stocks were completely filled with resin instead of expanding foam. Makes sense to me and I would much rather have a solid stock anyways. So does anyone who has a rebuild want to do some science and take their stock off and weigh it on a scale? And someone with the retail stock do to the same? If the rebuild stocks are heavier that's a good indication it's filled with resin, then maybe there's a way to do some cutting and get rid off all the foam making a more durable accurate replica.

This really disappointed me, it's not just this potential issue but the fact that H-S does not even warranty it... $600 stock...

 

[Anchor Zero Six]

Aside from builds for sentimental reasons which I completly understand you dont see much love for HS stocks around here.

Better options at the price point and many good alternatives of comparitive quality (or better) for less than price point. They fall into a weird in between that way.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

The only difference between the stock provided for the M24SWS and the civilian PST011 might be the inlet for the bottom metal. M24's used Dakota or Sunny Hill bottom metal and the PST011 is inletted for the standard Remington LA BDL. Construction wise I would say they are the same, when I had the barreled action out of the stock it was still pretty light and on par to other HS or B&C stocks I've handled. The beauty in the M24SWS was that it was a end user maintainable system to a point and if the stock cracked or became unserviceable for some reason you ordered another one through the supply chain like it was batteries or TP.

 

[FatBoy]

I'm curious about these stocks cracking. I leave mine in trunk in 95+° days and have never had an issue. No doubt it gets well above 135°. I'm thinking there is more to this story.

 

[jmar]

Here's some of the postings that shows people's problems with H-S.

The one that completely cracked in half.
http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/180050-Completely-destroyed-my-HS-Precision-stock

This is someone from the hide, they're the ones who left it in their car.
https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...n-rifles/124944-hs-precision-worst-stock-ever

There's about 25 more complaints of cracking I found on shooting sites.
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=347287
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=557361
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=644406
https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...tion-rifles/178018-cracked-hs-precision-stock
http://www.sniperforums.com/forum/rifles/9908-700pss-stock-cracking.html

Interesting enough H-S mentions cracks in their FAQ. Seems like their material is far to brittle.

 

[FatBoy]

Interesting. I have seen hundreds of HS stocks on the line and never saw any split, nor heard of anyone having issues like this. Never heard of any of the M24s splitting, thought I'm not plugged into those circles. I would think if spitting was common we'd have heard about it after 13 years in Iraq.

If I was building an M24 clone, I'd buy the correct stock with confidence. Guess YMMV....

Thanks for the links. Interesting read(s).

 

[Ledzep]

They're touchy to oven-cure cerakote. The Ckote will cure at 150F over 2-3 hours instead of 300 for 1 hour or whatever the recommended cycle is, but 150 was enough for at least 1 stock to split where I was working.

Tons of off-center barrel channels, too.

They're Okayish, but I expect to have to do some work to them to get a straight barrel channel, and I expect to at least lug/tang skim bed them. Half a step above B&C.

 

[TheGerman]

They're touchy to oven-cure cerakote. The Ckote will cure at 150F over 2-3 hours instead of 300 for 1 hour or whatever the recommended cycle is, but 150 was enough for at least 1 stock to split where I was working.

Tons of off-center barrel channels, too.

They're Okayish, but I expect to have to do some work to them to get a straight barrel channel, and I expect to at least lug/tang skim bed them. Half a step above B&C.

I had one where the channel was so off center, a M24 profiled barrel would literally be smashed up against the side. I'm not talking about 'no freefloat' I'm talking about in order for the receiver screws to line up, you had to push and hold the barrel against the channel wall.

 

[MtnCreek]

I've had two that came on 700P's. They had no promblems sitting in my truck all day in upper 90's, but were very picky on action screw torque. I should have had the skim bedded.

 

[FatBoy]

When did this QC stuff start happening? HSP was a premium stock and built premium "factory" rifles in the early 2000s. For 10+ years the 700p was THE go to rifle for a build.

A lot of shit has changed since then but I built my first LR rifle in 2000 off an M70 Stealth (HS stock) Badger mounts and a Leopold M3 scope with a Harris and TI sling. Pretty standard fair and I still have and use ths rifle. GAP skimmed it and re-crowned after the first 1k rounds and so had a local smith put a magnum recoil pan on. I still consider this a bullet proof rifle and would trust my life with it.

Fucking ceracoat. Another reason to hate that shit....