Just got done drilling the barrel pin holes in the tenons on my Traditions Ken. rifle kit. Front one was perfect, couldn't have done better with a CNC. The back one lined up right but the drill walked a little (those tenons were harder than I thought ) and it ended up going in at a slight angle. The hole on one side of the stock is about .100" lower than the other. Not really noticeable, but my in my perfectionist/ocd head it's glaring. Best to just leave it and move on , as any attempt to "fix" it will only make it worse, as my past experience has proven. Oh well, it's my first kit and it's all part of the experience and learning curve, nothing ventured nothing gained. At least I got the holes dead center on the tenons, so I can measure better than I can drill. Carry on.
Not perfect , but better than expected
- Thread starter kyron4
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Phil Coffins
69 Cal.
When I drill any hole threw a stock I drill till I touch then remove the part, center punch and drill the metal alone. Then replace to finish the drilling. Try it on the next one.
I see talk about "slotting" the tenons for the pins. Is this really necessary? Hard to image a thick steel barrel explanding from firing heat. Guess the stock might expand or contract with the weather? But seems unlikely to affect anything. Maybe I'm wrong.
Trapper Scott
45 Cal.
I slotted mine per Kibler's instructions using a jeweler's saw. As I understand the big threat is with the different atmospheric changes in weather, humidity, rain, etc., the stock can swell and pull the pins and possibly damage the stock. Slotting gives them that little extra to move.
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