7mm-08 Project 4#

Cross Bolt

One issue with the Remington 700 action is that the cylindrical shape of the action can act as a wedge and sometimes split the stock in the web area behind the floor plate. This happens when the action is drawn down tight into the bedding or during recoil. This can effect the integrity of the bedding and ultimately effect the accuracy of the rifle.  I chose to reinforce this stock with cross-bolts to mitigate this issue. 

 First I identified where I wanted the reinforcement and drilled two holes through the stock for the bolts. 

 Then I mounted the stock in the mill so that I could machine a counter bore for the plugs that would cover the cross-bolt holes. 

 Here you can see both holes counter bored 

 Then I inserted a machine screw and nut and drew them down tight. 

 A simple machine screw is more than enough to reinforce this area. 

 I decided to use Ebony to plug the holes because I was planning on putting an ebony tip on this stock and I thought that the ebony plugs would look nice. Here I am using a plug cutter to make the ebony plugs.

Then I put epoxy in the holes to lock the cross-bolt screws in place and inserted the ebony plugs. 

Here you can see the ebony plugs after then were filed down.