Rifle furniture

[themadbomber]

I am wondering why the old military bolt action rifles have furniture that extends almost the full length of the barrels. The wood on the hunting rifles dont extend as far. Is this to protect it or for balance? It seems like it would just add weight. Please enlighten me.

 

[sgms]

At one time I read that the reason for full length stocks was to protect the barrel and the shooter from burning himself on a hot barrel from extended shooting, as in the enemy is in front you shoot till it is over.

 

[tahunua001]

multitude of reasons.

1. because it protects you from hot barrel burns.

2. it gives you something solid to grab onto in the event of a bayonet charge.

3. it dates back to muskets when the wood was used to stabilize the very long and flexible barrels.

 

[tahunua001]

I often see the M1917 rechambered to 300 win mag but I would be leery of a P14 rechambered to 7 rem mag. the mags aren't big enough to account for the long 7mm cartridge and the bolts are short throw if I recall correctly.

 

[44 AMP]

Is this to protect it or for balance? It seems like it would just add weight.

Short answer: Yes.

Remember that those old military rifles were meant to survive combat. Not just shooting, but hand to hand combat. Hand to hand combat with a foot and half of knife on the end of the barrel. ETC.

SO, protects the hand from a hot barrel, adds some strength, gives a different balance (weight/where it is), all these.

Mostly to protect hands from hot barrel, but the other things were useful, too.

An infantry man of the era might fire quite a few shots in a short period of time. Even a bolt action can get hot enough to burn you in those situations.

These are things a hunter doesn't worry about. The first thing (and easiest) to come off a military rifle being used for hunting is the top wood. The only thing the "extra" wood offers a hunter is extra weight, and we usually don't want that.