Discussion Forums

Nathan Foster

Hi guys, I just want to go over a particular job that a customer has brought into question.

Rifle is an SMLE No.1 Mk III (has the open V sight on the barrel).

The stock has been replaced with a Champion brand synthetic stock and has been stabilized. It is about to be bedded. The customer did really well to pick up on this critical point.

Issue- on the underside of this stock, there are no flats to bed the trigger bow to.

The SMLE does not have a normal rear action screw to hold the stock in place. Instead it has a cross pin in the wrist strap which traps the fore stock in place.

If the fore stock is not properly trapped and held by the trigger bow and cross pin, accuracy will be abysmal. So, after the bedding the rifle, the fit must be checked to ensure that the forestock is actually trapped in place and not flopping around at the rear. If there is any slack, the underside rear flats should be bedded (should realistically bed regardless).

Again, this stock does not have these flats so some planning is required. Having spare kits on hand is certainly useful for such unexpected challenges. Failing this, the area could perhaps built up by splitting off some of the stabilizer kit for this second job- however to do this, your measurements must be exact so as to not upset the mix ratio. The stabilizer (and plasticine) can then be used to create the flat undersides. The same can be done with the bedding compound but again, the mix ratio is important. I have seen guys try to split out packs in half with inaccurate scales resulting in weak mixes or in the worst case, a tar like setting.

Champion stock, view from the underside showing the missing flats.



Below is the top view of my rifle (no underside photo sorry). Nevertheless, you can still see that the stock is solid all the way through. The underside is bedded.




Now if you will excuse me, there is a 240lb boar in Riley's bedroom wanting his morning pig nuts (his theme song "I like pig nuts and I cannot lie, you other pets can't deny").....