What type of wood for a LV stock?

[Bro.D]

I'm beginning the process of building a stock for a LV bag gun and I need some advise on which wood to use. I want a wood that will be pleasing to look at but will also not be so dense as to cause undue heartache trying to make weight. I lilke the properties of cherry, it's easy to work, and I don't believe too dense. But to complicat matters some, I actually want to use two different types of woods, laminating them together to help with rigidity and also to enhance the esthetics of the stock. I like the laminated look. I'm also quite fond of curly maple. Would these two woods fit the bill or should I consider others? Let me know your experiences.

When I get the stock finished and the rest of the gun put together, who would I talk to to ensure it's legal? I've been reading the rule book and think I have a handle on it but don't want to get half way throgh a match and get called on the carpet by someone. I would just as soon get that part out of the way first. Would my regional director be the one to put it in a jig, if there is such a thing, to make sure it conforms to the specified dimensions, or do I get at least six people to say it's ok and go for it?
Thanks, Bro.D

 

[Sonof A. Gunn]

dee dee deedee, dee dee deedee...

You are traveling through a dimension of sight and TIME - you have just been transported back 50 years!

Amazing!

How did Wilbur do this?

 

[henrya]

You'll want a lightweight wood for LV stocks

Cherry and maple will be too heavy if you are using conventional LV barrel contours and scopes. For HV or heavier you can use almost any wood and be OK on weight. Redwood is likely your best choice to make LV weight. Western cedar will make a light stock but it does not "work" nearly as well as redwood.

Meeting the rules shouldn't be that hard. Copying the shape of a currently successful stock lets you be sure that you're on track to being legal. Butt taper seems to be the main thing to watch for short range stocks.

Seb's imaginative new stock is very, very different looking but as far as I can tell from what is written here on this forum it is legal. The rules are pretty broad, its not that tough to meet them. Making LV weight with a sufficiently stiff stock is the chore.

 

[henrya]

Benchbeam - Cherry and Carbon Fiber Laminate Stock

Here are a few pics of my .30 BR. The rifle with scope weighs 13 pounds as shown. It could be bit lighter if I thinned it down but I'm pleased with it as is and for a HV rifle it doesn't need to be lighter.

I still have a little room to add a heavier scope. Once that is settled I'll probably add weight to the butt to get to just under legal weight. (or I might be on the limit already)

Redwood weighs about 60% of walnut and cherry (which are very similar in weight). I'll have a LV redwood stock ready to show in a few days.

 

[Butch Lambert]

Bro. D, I haven't learned to post photos yet, but can email photos of my 21oz. redwood carbon fiber laminated stock.
Butch
papawlambert@starband.net

 

[henrya]

Here are Butch's stock pictures

Posting for Butch:

 

[Butch Lambert]

Thanks Henry,
The first pic. was my walnut heavy. The others are of my Redwood light. All redwood or any wood does not weigh the same. Al Flores went through a lot of redwood before he settled on the lightest pieces. Even with dry redwood, I'll bet you could find 6 oz. difference between light pieces and the heavier.
Butch

 

[Bro.D]

Redwood...

Ok, sounds like redwood is the choice. Now, since I have no experience with the carbon fiber, please explain this process. And please give the details of what glue to use and where is a good source of both materials. Thanks again, Bro.D

 

[Butch Lambert]

Check West Systems for your needs in that regard.
Butch