Layout questions

[Chris In SE PA]

Before I start removing wood that I can't put back in, I'm asking for some advice.

Attached pictures show on the right side the 2 lines represent the top of my ramrod hole and the bottom of the barrel Chanel. My front lock bolt will go through there.

The left most vertical line represents where the breech plug ends. To the right of this is a vertical line indicating 1/2 the diameter of my touch hole liner. The horizontal line through that will indicate the center of my barrel and thus the center of the touch hole

 

[rich pierce]

In general it looks good but I would pare down the top of the stock till half the barrel side flat is exposed.
It looks like there is quite a thick web between the top of the ramrod hole and bottom of barrel inlet. That will yield a less than slim look. I’d consider inletting the barrel 1/8” deeper if it won’t ruin your wrist layout.

 

[Chris In SE PA]

To keep the front lock bolt in the web it drops the tail of the lock considerably. I'm thinking that I will have to remove a considerable amount of wood to keep the wrist and the wood aside of the lock panel in harmony

 

[rich pierce]

Consider what would happen if you A) inletted the barrel deeper, B) lowered the touchhole position on the side flat, or both.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Am I reading this correctly in that you have a 3/8" web? That's awfully thick. What style of gun are you building? Hawkins and most half-stocks have about 1/4", and that to accommodate the under rib thickness. I do swamped barreled LR's with 1/16" in the rear, 1/8"-5/32" in the nose. Also, your barrel is well past the 50% coverage ratio of the side flat. Is your design correct in having that much coverage?

To find the correct location for the lock you basically locate the point for the touch hole first. That comes AFTER you have your barrel fully inletted, and the tang at least started. Don't worry about the side flat coverage part too much yet though. That gets adjusted way toward the end. You will want that extra wood as something to grab and hang on to in the mean time. It adds strength to the fore stock.