My adventures in stock fitting part 1

[Jeff L]

My adventure began when I noticed my 03 rounds would catch in between the mag well and the receiver. I finally decided to address the issue. I looked through a few tutorials that people posted online, but I referred heavily to my trusty War Dept TM-91270 technical manual.
•Note- this wasn't intended to be a tutorial. This was just my attempt to fix an ill fitting Reproduction Stock that came with the rifle.

Step1- build a rifle vice. I found some plans online, but I did have to modify to accept the 03 butt stock.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7168_zps964bc292.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7168_zps964bc292.jpg.html)
The issue from the outside- the receiver is sitting too high ( about 1/16").
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7169_zps5e0258cc.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7169_zps5e0258cc.jpg.html)
The issue on the inside (note the tear in the wood above the mag well).
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7172_zps92da20fe.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7172_zps92da20fe.jpg.html)

[Jeff L]

Per Jim in Salt Lake, I started with the bottom.
Step 2- mark the trigger guard so you can see where the metal is hitting wood. I used some old lipstick from the Mrs. since none of the local auto parts stores carry Prusian Blue paste.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7175_zps6813c133.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7175_zps6813c133.jpg.html)
Step 3- See where the marks are.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7173_zpsd5423cf5.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7173_zpsd5423cf5.jpg.html)
Another issue entirely is that there is a gap when the trigger guard is assembled- not good.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7176_zps84c5e292.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7176_zps84c5e292.jpg.html)
The persuader a couple of taps with a lead hammer on a lead block solved the problem. I did this to the front trigger assembly only (very gently).
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7177_zps06ec0b50.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7177_zps06ec0b50.jpg.html)
The persuader.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7182_zps339bff40.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7182_zps339bff40.jpg.html)

[Jeff L]

On to doing the receiver.
Step 4- marking the bottom of the receiver to see where the tight spots are.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7178_zps6b9cc4f6.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7178_zps6b9cc4f6.jpg.html)
Look for marks (there were a lot).
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7179_zpsafa8c940.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7179_zpsafa8c940.jpg.html)
Step 5- remove wood slowly and carefully. My tooling was a 1/4" wood chisel, a half round rough cut file, a Dremel tool (used sparingly), and a drum sanding bit ton a drill (also used sparingly).
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7180_zps1b1f9575.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7180_zps1b1f9575.jpg.html)
Final inletting.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7183_zps362b2136.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7183_zps362b2136.jpg.html)
The end results, too much wood on top.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7181_zps373d93b3.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7181_zps373d93b3.jpg.html)

[Jeff L]

Rough sanding after reshaping the near the tang and wrist. I reshaped the wrist a to be a little closer to a prewar stock.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7187_zpsd4af12d8.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7187_zpsd4af12d8.jpg.html)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff34/jeffphotogg/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7188_zps81da4353.jpg (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/jeffphotogg/media/1903%20stock%20inletting/IMG_7188_zps81da4353.jpg.html)
*Note the A4 bolt handle notch which leads me to believe it as built as an A4 stock, not a 1903.
I'll do a final sand tomorrow on the areas that were reshaped, then strip, final sand, stain, and finish with BLO.

[4F4Nam]

Damned fine work, Jeff. Care to let us know what stock that is? For future reference of course.

Ed

[keith smart]

Great work!

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Good job. Inletting can drive one up the wall if one has no patience.

jt

[Rick the Librarian]

Good job. Inletting can drive one up the wall if one has no patience.

jt

Guess I'd better stay away, then!! :D

[musketshooter]

The recoil lug inletting is totally unacceptable. THe wood should make full contact with the lug. It does not appear that you bothered to install the rear stock bushing. It is a guarantee that the wrist will crack eventually.

[Jeff L]

The recoil lug inletting is totally unacceptable. THe wood should make full contact with the lug. It does not appear that you bothered to install the rear stock bushing. It is a guarantee that the wrist will crack eventually.
This is my first time inletting a stock. The goal was to get the receiver to seat properly. The dark areas are how it came from whatever factory (manufacturer is unknown). I'll look into filling in behind the recoil lug. The lug currently makes full contact with what's there. I'll also investigate a rear stock bushing.

[Jim in Salt Lake]

I think you're on a roll, Jeff. You've got a good eye and a soft touch, especially your "reforming" operation on the trigger guard! 2nd on the rear bushing, get one of those before you shoot it. I think I looked at my rifle for two hours before I put tool to wood, mine is a Boyds CMP stock and I think they're all different. It kills me that the aftermarket can't get these stocks right. You'd think with computer controlled milling machines they'd all be the same.

[M1Garandy]

I'll also investigate a rear stock bushing.

PM me if you need one. I should have a couple of extras and I'll send you one for nothing if I can find them.

[PhillipM]

I think you want a little clearance behind the tang too.

Here is a good site that shows how to make your own bushing.

http://www272.pair.com/stevewag/turk/turkbed1.html

http://www272.pair.com/stevewag/turk/turkbed2.html

http://www272.pair.com/stevewag/turk/turkbed2a.html

http://www272.pair.com/stevewag/turk/turkpilrinaction.jpg

http://www272.pair.com/stevewag/turk/turkmain.html

[Jeff L]

Thanks for the replies. It did take a lot longer that I expected, but I think it will be worthwhile when it's done. The hanging rounds were driving me nuts. I'd like to be able to use it in competition, but the hanging rounds would have been a disaster in rapid fire.

[Roadkingtrax]

Just a question, and perhaps an observation.

Did you retain a small gap between the receiver and the top of the trigger guard box when everything is installed AFTER you did the clearance? If not, than in time the conjoined assembly of trigger guard and receiver could move independent of the stock if there isn't sufficient wood to anchor between.

Too much gap, and the follower will hang....no gap, the action will never stay bedded. Those guys that built production rifles were very good at what they did...

[Jeff L]

I think it's a pretty snug fit at this point. The biggest issue before was a 1/16" gap, so with standard M2 ball ammo, rounds would hang up a lot in the gap.

[Jeff L]

To be continued in part 2

[bruce]

Very excellent work! Look forward to part 2. Sincerely. bruce.