repairing stripped screw holes in stocks...buttplate ect.

[Chuckindenver]

common issue with alot of vintage rifles, missing a buttplate screw, swivle screw ect, and most are stripped,
you can use a match book, paper, epoxy for a quick fix...but heres how to fix it for good.
again,
please wait until the post is finished, it will be picture heavy.

rifle pictured is a Winchester .22 semi auto. was missing the upper buttplate screw, and yup, it was stripped out.
i found a replacement screw, and started on the repair.

Information

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[Chuckindenver]

i use small wooden dowel plugs available at most hobby stores, they are ribbed, just the right size for small screw hole repairs, you can make them as well from walnut if you have a couple broken stocks laying around.
drill the hole, just the right size for the dowel to fit tight, i go just a little deaper to let the epoxy grab, careful when drilling, be aware of what type of rifle your drilling into, some have cavities in them,, some Remington shotguns, and the M1 Garand have larger holes,
you can trim the dowel shorter as needed.

[Chuckindenver]

with your choice of 2 part epoxy..i use JB weld Kwik, as it sets up fast, avoid Gorilla glue, wood putty, and elmers glue, Gorilla glue expands, and tends to loose its grip after a while,
Elmers glue doesnt hold enough to keep the plug in when you tighten the screw.
push the mixed epoxy into the hole with a popsicle stick, the role the dowel in the epoxy,
then drive the dowel into the hole, just tap it,,dont pound it, it will splinter if your heavy handed, drive it in until it bottoms out, then let set.
with the Kwik epoxy, and hour usually does the trick..others will have to set over night.
make sure the dowel sticks out just a bit, as it is rounded at the edges,
with a small hand saw,,,{hobby saw} trim the access, and sand lightly with a sanding block using 80 grit.

[Chuckindenver]

now..
your on the home stretch...
install the buttplate, use the good screw if its possible, and tighten it in place, with a marker or pen. mark the center of the dowel to be drilled.
then, remove the buttplate...DO NOT DRILL THROUGH THE BUTTPLATE... a buggered stock can be repaired easier then a bugger buttplate.
find a drill bit that is just under side of the screw threads, i put the screw un front of the drill, if i can see the complete threads, then its just right..
making sure your drilling straight, drill a hole...slowly..carefully, drill it just longer then the screw is, so that it doesnt bottom out.
tap the hole with the screw being used, i have a wood screw hand tap set, used on most military rifles.
weird rifles such as the 1917 P14 SMLE have threads not common in the gun world..
so use the screw your replacing it with, remamber, go slow, in a turn back out a half turn,,
dont force it,,if it stops up, back it out, blow out the hole with air,,,
and start again...
your ready to finish...wipe some dark stain to match the wood you have,,,
let dry a while, install the buttplate and see how well you did....

[Chuckindenver]

on heavy geased up stocks, you may have to clean out the drilled hole with acetone or carb cleaner before the epoxy will stick...
enjoy....