Dave: All the holes, including the stock pin holes were predrilled on the Pedersoli kit. Laying those holes out for proper positioning is going to be a bugger unless you can drill the tabs at the same time you drill the stock.
I plan to cheat!
First, I noted that the holes in a similar, finished, Jap bess were in line with the holes for the brass bits...so I can establish a line on the stock were the holes should be along...
Then I have a hole drilling jig I bought 20 years ago from MSM... which clamps on the barrel while it's in the stock, and acts as an external reference point to help you aim far enough below the barrel to not hit the barrel itself as you drill, BUT allows you to hit the barrel wedge....
And finally, I will be using hand gimlets to drill the holes (from
Garret Wade), which will allow me to be certain the hole is going in perpendicular to the wedge. I will stop when I hit metal, and will repeat the process for all of the pins. Then I will remove the barrel and finish the hole through to where the stock opens for the barrel wedge... then I will replace the barrel and insert a pin with some blackening agent on the tip to mark on the barrel wedge where the hole in the steel should be drilled... remove the barrel and drill the holes in the wedges, and remove any flash around the holes. Then replace the barrel and use the gimlet to slowly continue the hole as it will then have the outside hole, and the hole in the wedge to guide it through the other side of the stock to the outside.
Pretty straight forward, but time consuming.
OH and as Strawhat mentioned... I usually open the holes in the barrel wedges for the pins just a bit to allow for stock swelling not stressing the stock at the pin holes.
LD