Repairing cracks in a gun stock begins with finding a crack. The gun stock that we repaired in this picture was cracked in the inside of the stock in front of the hole where the front action screw goes through. This is a common place for cracks to occur, and they are not visible without the action and stock being separated. If cracks of this nature aren’t found and repaired promptly, they will increase in size and create a bigger problem. To repair the crack in this stock, we decided to epoxy the crack and also pin it. Pinning the stock gives the repair greater strength than just epoxying it.

The first step to the repair is to measure and mark the stock so the hole for the pin can be drilled. Special care must be taken to ensure that the pin will be positioned where it will have enough wood to hold and not interfere with the action screw. Pins can be made from brass or steel.

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Once the location for the pin is found and marked, the right size drill bit must be selected. The hole should be just large enough to allow the pin to be inserted. A snug fit is what is desired. Attention must be given to keeping the drill straight and not using too much pressure and making a split in the wood or finish when the drill goes through the offside.

Once the hole for the pin is drilled, the pin must be measured and cut to length. The pin should be cut so that it is flush or just a small amount below flush of the stock. After the pin is cut and the ends polished smooth, the epoxy needs to be mixed according to directions. If it is possible to spread the crack open without doing further damage to the stock, it can be spread just enough to get some of the epoxy into the crack. If spreading the crack is not possible, epoxy should be pushed into the crack without spreading it. a small amount of epoxy is also placed into the pin hole and the pin is pushed into place. carefully clean any excess epoxy from the surface and clamp stock if necessary until the epoxy has set.

After the crack has been repaired, a small amount of stain and wax or oil can be rubbed on to finish the repair. As with many jobs, the key to repairing a gun stock is attention to detail. Not letting a crack go unrepaired will keep the stock from becoming a big problem. Once a stock has been repaired in this fashion it is strong and ready to go for many more years.

If you need stock repair done Craig’s Outdoor Sports offers this service.