Gunsmithing Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

[Dylanss180]

Well I have been wanting to make a 338 lapua rifle build for a while. So I decided to make this one as light as possible and still have tactical features. No one made a stock that I really wanted so I decided to make one myself. A quick summary I designed it in cad and once being happy with the design I made it using a manual mill, manual lathe, and a cnc mill. The titanium pieces I made (muzzle break, bipod hinges, handrail connector, buttstock hinge monopod tube, trigger guard, magazine latch and cheekrest tube) are 6al4v. They They were rough machined then stress relieved, then final machined. The aluminum pieces (main stock piece and buttstock) are out of 6061-t6. I am going to annodize them black later. The main tube and buttstock tube are out of carbon fiber along with the bipod legs. (By the way there are two tubes inside one another that extend.)

The stock has a cam handle on the side to allow me to cant the rifle to any angle I want and then I can lock it into place.

Here are some photos and video for your enjoyment. I am sure questions are going to come once seeing some photos.

Click on the photo below to see a video of the cam handle in action.

 

[mscott]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

That's pretty cool and definately a nice job. Since you built it to save weight ...... what does it weigh?

 

[prom93]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Sir you have a nice kitchen....and the rifle its ok too.....
one word wow....amazing stock great jod sir, keep the pics comming.

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

The stock weighs a little over 4 lbs and that is with the bipod legs. I haven't put the entire stock on a scale yet to get the final number yet.

Thanks on the kitchen. I made the cabinets myself from scratch.

 

[mdesign]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Very neat there fella...quite a DIY project.

 

[pawprint]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

I can see why you "made it yourself", It is a thing of beauty, from both appearance and performance. Don't think you can buy one as well made. My guess is- this isn't your first BBQ!

 

[USMARINE1108]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Wow. Just............ wow. That's awesome!

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

If I had enough requests for them I might consider making a few more. But they wouldn't be cheap.

 

[Tribe]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Dylan..... you're a madman....

 

[Country]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

That has some very interesting concepts . Nice work . A light setup in 338 LM is going to kick quite a bit. I particularly like the cam handle cant setting idea that is a very smart idea. It solves the problem of reaching forward to try and grasp a pod lock .

 

[Whiteknuckle]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Have you shot it yet in the new stock? If so how much flex are you getting with the carbon fiber float tube?

J.Weber

 

[SScott]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Very unique idea of having the whole tube and bipod swivel.
SScott

 

[ranger1183]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

my collar bone broke just from reading this. medic!

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. Probably won't be able to for another few weeks. The bipod tube is really solid. I got the thickest softest butt pad I could find so hopefully the recoil won't be too bad. I shoot 50 cal and my 338 snipetac a lot and both of them kick pretty good. So as long as they don't kick worse than those two then I should be alright.

I also designed the butt pad to be higher than normal. I made it kinda like an M16. Basically your shoulder is right in line with the axis of the barrel or I can adjust it up and down where I want it. Basically the concept is that it will keep the barrel from rising after a shot is made. We will see if this idea works or not.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Gorsh, Mickey; can we get us one of them...?

I really like it, but 338 flatly isn't for me. Maybe something more like a .260 or .280 Rem would be better.

Greg

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

I might consider making a smaller version if I get enough requests.

 

[pawprint]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dylanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I might consider making a smaller version if I get enough requests. </div></div>
Please post some cost numbers!!!

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

GREAT job!

 

[Korruptor]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Absolutely a thing of beauty!

You could even leave the Ti uncoated to add contrast to the paint scheme. Regardless, just gorgeous.

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

I plan on leaving the titanium alone and anodizing the aluminum black. I will post photos when I get it done.

 

[Firemarshall27]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Simply AWESOME!! Well done!

 

[Shortdraw]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Is the folding portion of the stock going to clear your scope? Very nice for a home build, puts some production chassis to shame.

 

[Country]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dylanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. Probably won't be able to for another few weeks. The bipod tube is really solid. I got the thickest softest butt pad I could find so hopefully the recoil won't be too bad. I shoot 50 cal and my 338 snipetac a lot and both of them kick pretty good. So as long as they don't kick worse than those two then I should be alright.

I also designed the butt pad to be higher than normal. I made it kinda like an M16. Basically your shoulder is right in line with the axis of the barrel or I can adjust it up and down where I want it. Basically the concept is that it will keep the barrel from rising after a shot is made. We will see if this idea works or not. </div></div>
Being able to adjust the but pad up and down will definately help a lot. As the perfect pad position required when laying prone is different to when sitting up or shooting from a bench or high tripod.

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: paw print</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dylanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I might consider making a smaller version if I get enough requests. </div></div>
Please post some cost numbers!!! </div></div>

Now before I give the price just keep this in mind. An accuracy international stock that gets mass produced making many thousands of stocks out of easy to machine aluminum costs around $1100.

The price to make it will not be cheap. Since a lot of the components on the stock are titanium that gets a lot of machining and stress relieving is what is driving up the cost.

Not completely pricing it out it would cost something around the neighberhood of $2800-$3200 each. I wouldn't also be getting much of a profit off it either. Just the material price alone is over $1200. Also stress relieving in a vacuum furnace is not cheap also.

I know it isn't cheap and I am pretty sure that will drive a lot of people away. Making one off custom stocks isn't cheap. If someone wants to pursue getting it made by someone else I am willing to give the cad files. Again if enough people want these things I can get some machine houses I know to make the pieces for me and that will drive the prices down. Also it took me 3 months to make this thing.

Here is another photo.

 

[Mike308Bell]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

thats cool as chit man. Ive always thought about trying to make an AR style lower to mount a bolt gun to for the mags and butt stock.

good job

 

[Sportin Wood]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

ABS barrel wrap? Nice looking set-up!!

 

[cgleave1]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

WOW!
Amazing work!

Your very amazing me thinks.

Good job!
Wish i had skills like that.
What kind of gear would you need to machine a reciever like that?

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

I didn't make the reciever. I got it from stiller.

 

[SELPHB]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

That really turned out nice congratulations on a job well done.

 

[gixxerrcr]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

That is a super sweet rig..

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

I have the aluminum pieces out for annodizing right now. I should have them back by the end of next week. I will post photos when it is finally put together. I am planning on taking it out the following week to see how she shoots. I just need a Premier scope.

 

[Tribe]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Let me know when you're going to go light that puppy up!

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Oh you will be the first to know when I am heading out.

 

[Tribe]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Whooot!

 

[ranger1183]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

My hat's off to you! That's one hell of a nice rifle!

 

[buckskin52]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

I guess I see what happened to our Stock Stiffner project!

 

[Lefty06]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Very nice work It looks awesome

 

[bender338]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

wow

 

[Shott8283]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build


The work looks amazing. I wish I had 1/10th of the skill.

 

[mcfred]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

That is a really neat build, thanks for sharing! How does the rear part of the stock lock into place? Does it lock in the folded position also? Good luck out at the range.

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

It locks into place with a spring loaded pin almost exactly like how the AICS chassis works. It doesn't lock in the folded position but the hinge is pretty tight so it doesn't swing freely. You have to put a little effort into unfolding it.

I will let you guys know how it shoots when I go out to the range.

 

[mcfred]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

What if you put in a couple magnets that stick together in the locked position?

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

I might do something like that. I am hoping not having to use one but we will see.

 

[8up]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Very nice, like what was already said, wish I had the skill to do that.

 

[younggun22]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Unreal man, great job. How do you like that bipod, would like to hear some specs on it.

 

[Shortdraw]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Did you mill the slots in the carbon or order tubes made to your specs? The cam lock is a great idea.

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

As for the bipod. The joints are made from titanium with a stainless shoulder screw for the pivot pin. The legs are made of carbon fiber. There is another set of tubes inside the main legs that allow them to extend. The pivots themselves allow them to be locked in multiple positions to allow the muzzle to be really low or high.

As for the carbon fiber tube I did mill the slots into it. Milling carbon fiber is really nasty. If I were to make it over again I wouldn't make the slots. They didn't buy me anything.

 

[Shortdraw]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Yes, milling CF is a bitch. Looks good though. Make sure you sealed the exposed fibers, once moisture gets in, it doesn't come out.

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

thanks for the info I will make sure to seal it up.

 

[Dylanss180]

Re: Home Made Lightweight 338 lapua Stock Build

Well I got it back from annodizing. I got some ladder loads made up and I will get an idea how it shoots. Here are some more photos for your enjoyment.