Questions on rifle stock basics

[rocinante]

Basics on rifle stock design.

I just got refinishing two milsurp stocks, one a yugo 24/47 and the other an FN49. Both had areas scooped out on the inside of the forearm and I wonder if this was just for a little weight reduction or does it actually help in performance or just balance?

Bedding is nothing more than using two part epoxy or resin to make the receiver fit the stock more snug?

Both my rifles have long wood forearms and top covers with metal end caps.

Do the barrels free float in this type of design?
If not is there any tricks to improving accuracy by supporting the barrel with upward pressure? Something like making a wedge or two out of tin foil and keep moving it until you think you find the sweet spot?

The FN49 is gas operated and has a tube over the barrel. How does free floating enter into the equation with something like that? Seems it would be inherently more rigid with that thing on top of it.

I have vaguely seen reference to recoil lugs and mercury in the buttstock. What is that?

Is there anything at all can be done with the stock itself besides recoil pad to help with recoil?

I get it that synthetics and laminates are more stiff and stable and not subject to atmosphere as much as solid wood therefore contributing to accuracy.

Would sealing the wood inside the stock with tung oil be beneficial in controlling the effect of humidity?

I am a lefty and most rifle stocks have a slight right hand friendly cant. If I wanted to put a butt pad on what angle would help me counter this bias?

I know a bunch of random thoughts. Add your own on the subject of rifle stock basics.

 

[rocinante]

and cross bolts. why do most military rifle stocks like mausers, MN, SKS etc have cross bolts in the forearm but civilian models do not. More often than not same wood.

 

[rcmodel]

Because a combat rifle might spend weeks or months in the mud and the rain.
Wood becomes soaked and soft.
Recoil kicks the action right out of the weakened stock or splits it.

Combat rifles also are used for bayonet fighting, and as clubs.
Cross-bolts add strength to the wood over what it would be without them.

The hollows inside the stocks and forearm wood is to aid in barrel cooling, and to prevent the wood catching on fire when prolonged firing heats the barrel.

None of this applies to the large majority of sporting rifles in use today, as they are not bayonet mounts, or clubs, and will very seldom if ever get wet for more then a few hours at a time.

In general, anything you hang on a barrel, like a gas piston, decreases accuracy due to interference with the natural barrel harmonics.

Sealing all exposed wood grain inside the stock will make the wood more resistant to moisture & swelling. It is a good thing.

rc

 

[rocinante]

Thanks RC

so a cross bolt since it tightens up the receiver and makes for a stronger stock could be an accuracy plus too?

The hollowing makes sense. I have wondered if cutting slots in the top cover would help cooling and in a way look cool too?

HARMONICS!!!!! What a mythical word in firearms discussion. Some piston rifles are highly accurate and I wonder why considering the faith displayed in free floating barrels.

Recoil lugs are trunnions or enlarged steel rings where the barrel weds the receiver?