dick rankin
32 Cal.
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2006
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 7
I have a McCoy rifle that has the barrel attached with screws coming up thru the bottom of the thimbles. I am going to install new thimbles and pin the barrel so it will look a bit more traditionally built. I see there are at least a couple different ways of attaching a barrel lug. Simply dovetailing and adding a solid lug or, using an underlug staple. I'm a bit nervous about the staple as I'm nervous about drilling into the barrel even if very carefully done with a drill press. I have built a few guns from kits and have dovetailed underlugs in the past. Any thoughts on which might be considered best/easiest? The barrel is 42", will attaching at 3 spots be ok or should there be 4? Are there special or particular places where the barrel should be attached? Will cutting into the stock to inlet the bases of the thimbles and the lug or staples weaken the stock and/or make it more prone to split up the ramrod channel? What is best to use for pins and what is the best dia of these? Do I use one pin or two to hold the thimbles? Would it help at all to epoxy the thimbles too? Would the epoxy help strengthen the stock after inletting for the thimbles and lugs? Any tips on drilling into an already finished stock for installing the pins without messing up the stock? Sorry for all the questions and really appreciate any help, thoughts, and/or comments.