Opening up a barrel channel

P

Polinese

New member
So my gunsmith is putting together a mauser action with a heavy barrel in 308. I bought a bell and carlson varmint stock for it which for some reason comes inlet for a #2 barrel. He was kind of reluctant to open it up stating he'd only opened up wooden stocks before and wasn't sure the best way to go about opening up a synthetic bell and carlson.

Suggestions on the best means?
 
Your gunsmith is correct to be cautious. I don't have a bell and carlson, but the things could have a foam core fore end. Remove the resin coating on top, what could be on the bottom will be Styrofoam. He needs to call Bell and Carlson and find out if the fore end can be opened without ruining the structural integrity of the stock.
 
I'm sure B&C designed the stock with enough structure to be able to accomadate the larger barrel, but, as mentioned, it would be advisable to contact them to verify.

Oh. Well... A quick check of their website does read under that stock description:
"Drop-in fit for standard #2 barrels, but can be opened up to fit larger barrels."


I haven't done so on a B&C stock, but I have opened other polymer stocks. They cut like butter. I did a Marlin XL7 about two years ago, going from a standard Marlin sporter contour to a Savage 'heavy magnum' contour. Took me just 12 minutes with round scrapers.
 
Ball end mill to open it up. The B&C stocks are molded resin, plenty thick and strong enough to open up for a bull barrel. If you have any doubts, lay a layer of glass mat in the barrel channel after you get it opened up
 
Sometimes there just isn't enough material to open the barrel channel.

Mann%20in%20stock.JPG
 
A #2 contour means different things to each barrel maker. For example, a Douglas 'sporter' barrel is 1.200" at the chamber. A Krieger's is 1.250". Custom stocks are not the same either.
However, Bell and Carson's site says their Mauser Varmint/Tactical/Long Action stock can be opened up to fit larger barrels. You don't need a long action stock for .308 though. So you should probably check that too.
https://www.bellandcarlson.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=1105
 
"You don't need a long action stock for .308 though. So you should probably check that"

The OP did say it was "a Mauser".
 
Probably a stupid question.But, if your spending the money to have this rifle put together why not just use the barrel that works or get a stock that doesn't need opened up? I'm glad I like wood, this would be no problem at all!
 
^^^
Assuming target is the primary application, a #2 contour (anyone's, of which I'm aware) is not suited for this purpose. Too light, not enough mass.

Regular Gunline tools, or a socket/dowel wrapped up with sandpaper will work just as with wood. But there's a lot of material to be removed so the mill is the way to do this job.
 
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