Stock grain direction..

[Northman]

I was wondering if this is a good grain direction for a heavy recoiling rifle?

 

[nztimb]

That is a 1/4 sawn blank. I would prefer a plank sawn board and with the grain flow through the grip area. Personally I would not use this one on a heavy recoiling rifle.

 

[Ray B]

To expand a little on @Von Gruff , I think the issue is that if a profile line for the side view of the stock were drawn on the bland, it would show grain starting at the lower tang/trigger guard and traveling to the notch at the top of the grip immediately ahead of the comb. this would make for a likely split/separation of the stock in the grip.

The preferred grain would be a slight diagonal that travelled through the grip.

 

[steve white]

I like quarter sawn wood when the grain starts in the root and curves up into the trunk--then it has the required turn which lends the very best strength to the grip area. The grain in your blank is straight with the trunk all the way, hence the potential shearing effect as the stock profile turns down from fore end to the butt. I still think your stock will be plenty strong enough to use. Additionally you might glass a hidden iron rod in the pistol grip which would surely keep it intact. Since many people these days make stocks straighter than the old-timers used to, it is probably doubly irrelevant that your grain is so straight. Straighter stock profiles do not penalize a scope user, and make recoil more in a straight line, thus lessening recoil to the cheek bone.

 

[Nevada Mike]

these two blanks (both thin shell walnut, one plain and one a bit fancier) show good grain layout for a rifle.

Here is the lower blank after shaping and finishing...

 

[nztimb]

these two blanks (both thin shell walnut, one plain and one a bit fancier) show good grain layout for a rifle.

View attachment 466016

Here is the lower blank after shaping and finishing...

View attachment 466017

Perfect grain flow in the most important area.

 

[CJW]

I would be interested to hear the caliber of the rifle this would be for and see the style of the stock laid out on it. 100 years ago this might have been a very poor choice but with todays stock shapes you may get the grain to flow directly from forend to buttpad. Not necessarily flowing down through the wrist but definitely not an obvious shearing risk like once might have been.

 

[RockSlinger404]

I'm not trying to hijack the thread, however on a related topic, what would your opinion of this stock be? It is a Beretta 486 in 12ga. It has a very similar look to me as the OP's photo.

 

[nztimb]

I'm not trying to hijack the thread, however on a related topic, what would your opinion of this stock be? It is a Beretta 486 in 12ga. It has a very similar look to me as the OP's photo.

View attachment 466638

Two piece stocks are a different prospect to a one piece stock and the lovely stock you show will have no grain impact.

 

[RockSlinger404]

Two piece stocks are a different prospect to a one piece stock and the lovely stock you show will have no grain impact.

Thank you, much appreciated!

 

[Challer]

Plus, the 486 is awesome. Have both 12 and 20 in pistol grip

 

[IvW]

I'm not trying to hijack the thread, however on a related topic, what would your opinion of this stock be? It is a Beretta 486 in 12ga. It has a very similar look to me as the OP's photo.

View attachment 466638

Shotgun with a Prince of Whales grip compared to a heavy recoiling rifle??
Two piece vs one piece?
Chalk and cheese

 

[RockSlinger404]

Shotgun with a Prince of Whales grip compared to a heavy recoiling rifle??
Two piece vs one piece?
Chalk and cheese

Prince of Wales grip? That is an English straight stock.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Shotgun with a Prince of Whales grip compared to a heavy recoiling rifle??
Two piece vs one piece?
Chalk and cheese

Shotguns are different, of course. But they usually fire far more rounds and are carried more than centerfire rifles. And no one but a target shooter would want a heavy 8 lb.+ shotgun. Gameguns are far more lightly built and slimmer than almost any rifle. So, yes, grain layout and direction do count, especially through the vulnerable wrist area.

 

[Aaron N]

Does grain flow through the for-end matter? I feel like I once read it should flow slightly down? I’m not 100% certain though

 

[Nevada Mike]

It matters - somewhat. Best is straight, vertical grain, but slightly up or down is OK. Have a forend tip in place, which helps stabilize the forend by re-enforcing against longitudinal stresses.