Adding weight to Synth stock

[Tuco]

I have a Mountain Stalker in .54 that is so light at under 5 lbs that it beats me up shooting on the bench. Great to carry, bad at the range. I'm no featherweight at 235, and I use a thick recoil pad, but after 20 rounds I start to anticipate the recoil, and it blows my trigger squeeze. Once on a hot day it knocked my shooting glasses clean off of my sweaty nose.

I have thought about adding some lead shot to the hollow stock using epoxy or Gorilla glue to secure it and keep it from rattling. I think I can get the recoil pad off.

Anyone had any experience with these?

In the alternative, could I have someone with a stock duplicator copy mine in Maple or walnut?

Thanks.

Tuco

"Some people are like Slinkies: Not good for much of anything, but entertaining when you push them down the stairs."

 

[arcticap]

The plastic CVA Bobcat stock has a light airy foam inside that's easy to remove. And placing some shot or BB's in a large ziplock bag did create some stock rattle, and it was somewhat butt heavy. Other's have mentioned using 1 lb. blocks of modeling clay from Walmart with good success. I wouldn't epoxy shot directly into the stock unless you're really satisfied with the weight distribution after testing. Solid lead or brass might make suitable counterweight material if adequately padded inside of the stock.
Various used wood stocks are often available on eBay, it's just determining which ones might fit if an exact replacement isn't available.

 

[Many Klatch]

You might try replacing the ramrod with a solid steel rod, like a BMG 50 caliber rod from Army Surplus.

You can drill out the buttstock and fill it with lead shot, that will help too.

Many Klatch

 

[jtmattison]

I had a Bobcat a few years ago with the same problem.
I took an old sock and put a pound or so of lead shot in it and put it in there. I stuffed the rest of the space with old socks.
It made it balance much better.

HD

 

[sidelock]

Find a good plumbing supply (it's got to be a real goodin these days) and ask for some plumbers lead wool. Just pack it in the butt with a wood dowl till you get all you want. It's worked fer me morin once. Good luck :hatsoff:

 

[Zonie]

I would suggest that whatever method you use, use the ones that can be undone until you test it.

The reason for this is that by adding lead or whatever to the inside of the butt area without adding weight to the fore end will change the way it recoils.
With weight added well below the centerline of the barrel, the rifles muzzle will raise notably more than it did without the weight when it is fired.

When I did a similar thing to a CVA Frontier the upward "whip" of the muzzle and the comb of the stock into my cheek made shooting it worse than it was before I started.
I had epoxyed my wieghts in and had a H of a time getting them back out.

If you temporarily add the wieght and you like the results, you can always go back in and make it permanent.

zonie

 

[flintlockmdj]

I have a Mountain stalker in .50 cal and I intend to restock it with wood, southern po-boy stile.

 

[cheatherly]

I haven't done this with a muzzle loader, but sometimes if you stuff the hollow of the stock with tightly packed bits of card board, or news paper, it can make a difference. It seems to absorb more recoil shock without adding much weight. Plus it's easy to remove.

 

[roundball]

I would suggest that whatever method you use, use the ones that can be undone until you test it.

The reason for this is that by adding lead or whatever to the inside of the butt area without adding weight to the fore end will change the way it recoils.
With weight added well below the centerline of the barrel, the rifles muzzle will raise notably more than it did without the weight when it is fired.

When I did a similar thing to a CVA Frontier the upward "whip" of the muzzle and the comb of the stock into my cheek made shooting it worse than it was before I started.
I had epoxyed my wieghts in and had a H of a time getting them back out.

If you temporarily add the wieght and you like the results, you can always go back in and make it permanent.
zonie

Good advice

 

[sidelock]

If you just pack it in with a dowl you can get it out if you wish. Never had to retrive any of mine before. Lead wool sure tamed my favorite turkey gun, and I have lots of tails to show for it. :thumbsup: By the way Zonie--- thanks for all your good info. :hatsoff:

 

[Tuco]

Thanks for all of your input, hadn't heard of lead wool before, I'll try that.

Tuco

 

[Tuco]

I bought 5 lbs of lead wool from a commercial plumbing supply outfit (they had to order it in), added about 3 lbs a little at a time into the stock and packed it in with a dowel, then secured it with "Great Stuff" foam in a can up to the butt, worked great. According to the recoil program the recoil previously was on par with the 375 H&H at around 23 ft lbs :shocked2: (no wonder it knocked my glasses off ), now it should be down around 9, much more manageable. Balance point is now about 3 inches forward of the trigger guard.

Thanks for the suggestions.