cross bolts

[AkRvrrat]

magnum or not crossbolt? I may want to try to do this on a stock that needs reinforcing behind the recoil lug. That wooden web of a block behind the front lug is cracked thru from bottom up and toward the front. This I suspect is causing the rear tang area to crack. What is the preferred method of installing one of these? Which brand of crossbolts and what tool do you use to tighten them? Is a jig preferred? What about the location of the crossbolt?

thanks.

[gunnut69]

I use a sharp punch in the drill press cross feed vise and a bit correctly sized for the bolt involved. Delineate the points where the center of the stock bolts ends should be and maek with a center punch. Then put the punch in the crossfeed vise and align with the point of the drill bit. Putting the punch in one of the punch marks in the stock and the bit in the other will garrantee the holes are right. Still, being a sceptic I dril 1/2 way from one side, then flip the stock and drill from the other side. Use a smaller bit and enlarge after the holes meet in the middle. Usually one can counter sink with a paddle bit on a stock blank but I make a counter sink to fit the head diameter and the bolt diameter.. I've enough now that I can usually get by without making another. If doing a finished stock the paddle bits want to ship rather baddly. Re-grinding the cutting edge so as to add a couple of cutting spurs to the outside of the paddle and to stop the center spur from cutting are all I do, usually. As to cariety I really have no preference. The Winchester style is mice and those Brownells sells are also OK. I usually make my own as they are fairly simple..

[AkRvrrat]

gn69, that clues me in pretty good. Just have to figure what kind of vise it is you are speaking of. Do you epoxy the bolt as well?

[gunnut69]

The vise is a simple X/Y axis vise. It allows a part to be clamped in a holding vise, then that vice is move left/right and in/out via threaded bolts. Much like the table on a milling machine but not nearly so robust. The vise is NOT mandatory though. As long s the bit and punch are lined up the process will work. A maacniist vice is needed to hold the punch but the table of the drill press can be adjusted to align the tools.. As to epoxy, I have and sometimes I have notl.. It is likely a good idea..