Spare hole in Win 100 Stock

[DonT]

Ended up with a Win 100 in .308 with 3 stocks.  2 with the area behind the tang or recoil lug split out.   Repairable just not sure if I will or not, anybody know someone good with wood lookin for a Win 100 stcok?  Also got one good stock.

I bedded what I would refer to as the tang to keep it from splitting out the good stock.   When I removed the buttplate on the is stock it had an "extra" hole directly beneath the one for the stock bolt.  It doesn't appear to be something recent as the wood is discolored the same in both holes.  It is about the same size as the stock bolt hole.  The other two stock are not like this.  Did Winchester make or have a recoil arrester of some sort they installed on these guns?  Or does anyone know what this extra hole was for?

If it is for a recoil arrester can someone tell me what type is typically used...  This one appears to have been built in 1961 based on the serial number..

Thanks in advance..
DonT

[gunnut69]

Sounds like a typical installation for a Mercury filled recoil tamer. Still available in the last Brownells catalog. They are little more than spring loaded weights and simply slow down the delivery of the recoil impulse to the shooter(at least some of the impulse). There are several models, with some installed in the buttstock, some in the magazine tube(shotguns) and some even under the barrel of a rifle in the forestock. They don't eliminate recoil but spread it over a long time period so it seems more of a push than a hit. Same energy is delivered but the time frame is extended. Check with Brownells tech line to see if the hole in your stock is the correct diameter. I am curious as to why this might be done to a gas operated semi-auto 308, as the recoil is already minimal. Just a thought, could it jave been just a method to lighten the rifles weight a bit?? Good luck from the gunnut69

[DonT]

Thanks Gunnut69.  This gun appears to be a recoil operate semi-auto not gas operated (from the looks of things anyway)...

Thanks again. DonT

[jhm]

DonT :  All winchester 100 models are gas opperated.   JIM

[DonT]

Thanks JHM and gunnut69,

These auto feeders are new to me and I ended up with this one in a trade from a guy that was tired of foolin with it after it split out the back of the second stock... I bedded the back portion on the 3rd stock so I don't think that is gonna be a problem any longer.  

Now I gotta get it in for the Firing pin recall which I guess they will fix for free.  I'm into it fer about $250 so I figure I done OK as it came with a spare clip and scope.  

Not sure what I am gonna do the the 2 extra stock though...

Again thanks for the input folks on the board have always been more than helpful...

[gunnut69]

Why not sell the extra stocks?  Are they press checkered or cut? Are they OEM or custom? I might be interested, why don't you PM me and we'll talk?  Thanks from the gunnut69

[Kywoodwrkr]

My observations run something like this.
We're given an unfamiliar rifle with two smashed stocks-(from excess recoil?) and a third stock which is drilled for what appears to be a recoil dampening device.
Were it me,I'd repair one of the damaged stocks, no matter what it looks like and see how the rifle shoots.
It may be delivering too much active pressure to the operating system resulting in the bolt coming back much to hard. Could this be hammering your stock to pieces?
See where the empty cases are ejecting also. My memory of the 100's I had is very foggy at this late date. I can't remember if there was any adjustment in the gas system or not. Maybe someone was using a powder and reloading and obtaining what would be akin to the pressure spike on an M1 where the op-rod gets bent. These are just some thoughts I'd have on that. The two cracked stocks points me to a mechanical problem, possibly caused by reloading. That's strictly a guess now!
FWIW DaveP
PS Check the headspace also!

[DonT]

Kywoodwkr,

Thanks for the input but the "good" replacement stock was purchased at a gunshow.  The one that was with the gun with my partner got it had the piece chipped out and missing so he bought an aftermarket stock. Which began chipping out.

After I got it I looked over the after market stock as that was what was on the gun and found that the hole was drilled too deep in the butt so the take upscrew bottomed out in the action before it pulled it back into the stock.  NOT much, maybe a 1/16th of an inch or so.  When the front screw was snugged down there was enough tension to give it the "appearance" of being tight.  Each time the action cycled I am sure it moved forward slightly and when fired the action opening hammered it back creating a jackhammer effect.

As for the first original stock I am not sure what happened.  Cound have just been a week spot in the wood.  It happens sometimes.

I took the good stock, bedded the back of the recoil block, tighten everything up and took her to the range.  Shoots good, no problems.  Now just gonna take it down to the local Winchester Warranty center to have the firing pin replaced (at no charge) due to a recall by Winchester going back to about 1991.

This is a pre-64 (as per the ser#) looks to have come into the world in 1961.  Been shot and hunted with so it isn't pristeen but it has a lot of good years left in her and every year the value of these seems to climb unlike my mutual fund;-)

Again thaks for the input and folks have safe and fun 4th of July..

DonT

[snuffy]

Don, are you sure you need to have the firing pin replaced? To be sure, take the bolt apart and look at the pin. If it's entirely round it's the old style, if it's partly flat in cross section and goes through a slot in the cam pin it's been replaced.

If you need help in getting  the bolt out to take a look-see e-mail me I'll walk you thru disassembly.

If you've already done this, disregard my post, just trying to save you an unecessary trip.

[DonT]

Hey Snuffy,

Thanks for the offer but winchester had a recall this model and year (called and they checked).. They will do her for free at the local warrantee shop about 1.5 hours from my place.. It won't be wasted trip cause the Cabellas is jist another 10 minutes down the road and this shop that does the warrantee work has a real nice inventory or both new and used guns..

They said to drop her off on the way down to cabellas, blow a couple of hours there and pick it up on the way home.. NO CHARGE!  Can't beat that fer service.  Heck they might just have something I can't live without on the racks too....................

Take care all and have a great 4th of July..

DonT