In this issue: Laminated stock / ammo sorting Laminated stock (a short novel) Laminated stock expense Laminated stock Theory on ammo sorting Laminated stock ****************************************** Mike- Speaking of laminated stocks I know a friend of mine who recently purchased a laminated stock for his 2013. One significant difference that I noticed was that the laminated stocks are a little bit heavier. Now this difference can be either good or bad depending on your preference. One of the reasons for the extra weight might be explained by the glue used to put the numerous pieces of wood together. Again it's not a giant change in weight but it is noticable. It's just something to consider if and when you decide to purchase one. On to the subject of ammo sorting. I'm firmly convinced that ammo sorting can play a major role in group size. If you really think about it there are a number of variables in a smallbore rifle round. Now if you sort your ammo out that takes care of a lot of those variables which can lead to better performance. Good shooting- Matt Judd **************************************** The Need for Epoxy Bedding of Rifle Actions ------------------------------------------- A combustion-powered rifle is an acoustically-sensitive item of equipment. When the shot is fired, the barrel bulges at the breech, and acoustic waves in different modes propagate along the barrel at a much higher speed than that of the bullet. The problem with these acoustic waves is that they influence the direction of travel and the gyroscopic stability of the bullet as the bullet exits the muzzle of the rifle. If the amplitude, direction, and timing of the acoustic waves were consistent form shot to shot, then they would not adversely affect the rifle's accuracy. Acoustic energy is transferred to the rifle stock, and then to the shooter's clothing and body. The more energy is transferred from the barrel of the rifle to the stock, the shooter's clothing, and the shooter's body, the less acoustic energy remains in the barrel, and the less sensitive the rifle will be to the acoustic waves. However, the energy needs to be transferred out of the barrel in a manner which is consistent from one shot to the next. The more powerful the rifle, the larger the acoustic energy in the barrel, and the more critical is the acoustic interface between the barrel and stock (if any), the action and stock, and the stock and the shooter. Tournament high power rifles almost always have their actions epoxy-bedded to their stocks. Tournament smallbore rifles occasionally have their actions epoxy-bedded to their stocks. Acoustic energy may be an accuracy issue in spring-piston tournament air rifles, because of the vibrations which occur as the rifle is shot, and there is movement of large rifle components. Other kinds of air rifles do not have the high acoustic energy in their barrels as do the high power rifles and smallbore rifles. Normally, one does not see air rifles with epoxy-bedded barrels or actions. Does wood absorb acoustic energy better than polymer/fiberglass? The writer is not aware of any measurements which have been made for these materials. Perhaps textbooks on acoustics or mechanical vibrations may yield some useful information. Wood versus Polymer/Fibergass Rifle Stocks ------------------------------------------ A polymer/fiberglass stock will be more dimensionally stable with changes in ambient humidity. Most high power bolt-action tournament rifles and smallbore tournament rifles have free-floating barrels. The bedded area of the action is relatively short. If there is ample clearance between the barrel and the stock, then the dimensional stability of a wood stock should not be a major factor in rifle accuracy. Bolt-action tournament rifles with wood stocks have continued to be competitive and popular. The above remarks may not be completely true for high power service rifles. There is considerable popularity of polymer/ fiberglass stocks for M14 and M1A service rifles. The M14 and M1A service rifles with wood stocks are still competitive and popular, however. Tournament air rifles usually do not have free-floating barrels. There may be an advantage in a dimensionally-stable air rifle stock if the rifle does not have a free-floating barrel. The issue is not accuracy, but rather, the ability of a rifle to maintain its zero (sight adjustment) throughout changes in ambient temperature and humidity. If a rifle stock distorts, it will apply mechanical stress to the rifle action and barrel. The barrel will be bent a very tiny amount. This will change the point of impact of the projectile on the target with respect to the sight picture. Good shooters fire sighting shots during a tournament to establish the correct sight adjustment for each shooting position and the current temperature and humidity condition. The best shooters are able to establish sight adjustment for the standing position quickly and efficiently during a tournament. If an air rifle requires a sight adjustment because its wood stock has experienced a dimensional change, it is not a major problem for the highly-skilled shooter. It is more difficult for a shooter with a modest skill level to establish the correct sight adjustment for the standing position quickly and efficiently during a tournament. It may only be practical for some shooters to establish the correct sight adjustment by shooting the air rifle from a supported position in advance of the tournament. For such shooters, a dimensionally stable stock which promotes a more stable sight setting may be of great value. Another factor which may influence the choice of a wood stock versus a polymer/fiberglass stock for any rifle may be the ease with which an individual shooter may modify the stock to better fit the shooter. Most shooters are familiar with the techniques for cutting and shaping wood, but are perhaps unfamiliar with the techniques for cutting and shaping a polymer/fiberglass stock. Not to be discounted is the aesthetic aspect of the choice of wood versus polymer/fiberglass. It is somewhat important that a shooter relate in a positive way to the appearance of the rifle. Some shooters think that there is an important difference in the way that a wood stock feels against the shooter's cheek, versus the feel of a polymer/fiberglass stock. - Raoul B. Salem [Ed note - I would say you are correct in most of the above. Still I don't see that even a large dimensional change in my wood stock is going to have an effect on the large block of steel/aluminum (about 1.5" wide and roughly the length of the forearm), which the barrel is then coupled to. I don't think it would change the zero even a little. Smallbores and higpower are a whole different story though. -MR] ******************************************** >[Ed. note - if laminated stocks are CHEAPER than normal wood stocks to make, >why do they ALWAYS charge $50-200 more for one over the normal walnut or >beech stocks? -MR] What's the old joke about dogs licking, er...... BECAUSE THEY CAN! geoff beneze ************************************* * Visit Arizona Shooting Sports * * http://www.primenet.com/~geoffben * * BEAST gunsmithing, Target stands * * NRA Life Member * ************************************* ********************************************** After reading about solid wood vs laminated wood vs composites for gunstocks in 'Rifle' and 'Precision Shooting' magazine and several excelent books on benchrest and highpower shooting I have come to this conclusion. For benchrest where .01" at 100 yards means falling from 1st to 30th composite stocks are required. In Highpower competition where sling tension puts a lot of stress on the stock, laminates and composites MAY be benificial. In all other shooting disiplines the benefits of the more stable platform fall into the background noise and your money is better spent on practice. FWIW And I thought I wouldent have anything to contribute. Jim ************************************************ A some time ago the idea was that the bullet of the 22 must not engage the barrel because the bullet would be pushed back into the casing and therewith change or tighten the cripping ring around the bullet. This tighting caused restricted casing and bullet seperation with the concurrent evacuation of the required measure of oxygen inside of the casing at burn time. Restricted seperation and oxygen caused the bullet flight to be much slower than required for competitive accuracy. Chet Skinner, Coach and Instructor The Mental Art of World Class Competitive Sports Member of NRA abd USA Shooting ************************************************************** Laminated stocks give increased strength, However, all wood stocks regardless of type fail because of Petro-oil. Any location that has oil on the stock will become the consistancy of a sponge and fail thereafter to provided the correct and proper strengthing to the weapon. Glass bedding recovers the bad stock and accepts the receiver group in a foundation of a solid platform to carry the receiver. Once oil has pentrated the wood, not to much can be done except use the stock for firewood, laminant or solid wood. As for the last part of your question, it is just up to the shooter which is used for the competition stock. Preference is basically up to the shooter. Laminates provide good strength and a stable receiver platform while solid wood also provides good strength and has the oil problem if the stock is aged or abused by the shooter. Again the type of equipment is up to the shooter. Mental Art of World Class Sports ************************************************************ End of UIT Mailing List Michael Ray - Systems Engineer Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach The Olympic Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/ Michael Ray - Systems Engineer Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach The Olympic Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/