doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com stock bending

But what about the tangs? I have all these old doubles with the old drops. I am following this thread closely but what about the tangs both top and bottom? Is the stock bent off or on the gun? Do the tangs have to be reworked?
And, since I am asking, what about a bit of cast in the process as well?
Jake

This Tang issue has me confused also. It would seem difficult to get much bend behind the tang?

I bent two yesterday. Pretty good results too. The first gun had an excessive amount of drop, 3" at the heel. It is a nice English semi-pistol grip gun and bent up 3/8" for much more usefull dimensions. The other gun had excessive cast off, about 5/8" and the tangs of the action is swept to the right for a right hand shooter.I bent the stock back to a little more than 1/4" of cast and it seems much better. After bending a little over a dozen guns, I feel that the type of wood makes a huge difference. Older american stocks are mucgh harder to bend than English walnut. I use the red lamps and canola oil and have had no discoloration as of yet. This is very interesting stuff.
Steve

I noticed Jim Legg was having trouble with the wood checking...you having any wood checks (cracks) ?

the stock is left on- make sure the screws from the top and bottom tang are tight. When bendng, the barrels and receiver are what is clamped. The stock is bent in the wrist area. No rework to the tangs , unless when making sure the screws are tight the top and bottom tangs come closer togeather . Then the safety may not work. This would require maybe some shims under the screw head. Paul

I have had several stocks bent by Ed Mason. He has a website. Look for Ed Mason Guns, in Cordova, TN. I shoot a very straight stock and I'm a lefty, so he has to bend them up and over for me. Never a problem. They cost about $125 to $150 to do.

But the tangs. What about the tangs? Jake

I have no experience bending stocks and no desire to have any. I've only had one stock bent and it was by Ed Mason a professional Gunsmith.
I was told the long tangs and pistol grips are tough to bend very much and that pistol grips usually won't bend as much as an English style stock.

What about bending stocks with through bolts?? Grant.

What about the tangs ? They are what holds the stock to the receiver - you don't do anything about them. The wood bends behind the tangs. The gun is clamped down - a clamp on the receiver , and one on the barrels. Then pressure is applied to the butt of the stock after heating the wrist area. I've never bent a stock with through bolts. I believe it's done, modern trap guns are bent all the time, just never saw it. I've been told the through hole has to be enlarged. Paul