Scope Rail and Rings for Smallbore and Long Range Rifle – Unfinished Prototype

April 6, 2010

This has been one of my chief rants over the last couple of years… that the advent of the new rails and rings, which are actually pretty high quality, add so much height to the shooting position, that when you go from your iron sights to your scope you have to raise the cheekpiece 1/4″ to 3/8″.  On this project I set out to make the scope at the same height as my iron sights.  One of the things that I discovered is that when you order a set of rings (that they call low rings now) are the same height as an old set of Weaver rings.  You think you’re getting low rings and they are actually high rings.  The whole affair ends up that you have an extremely high cheekpiece when you get done.  After arguing with the parts for 2 years, I decided to build a prototype for myself to see if it could be done, and still end up with a set of workable, reliable, repeatable rings that ended up the same height as the iron sights.  I think this whole problem developed over having rings and bases to satisfy the tactical shooters.  I appreciate the precision and the quality of rings that are being made for tactical rifles, but what you lose  is the ability to shoot a prone rifle in a comfortable position.  Or maybe I’m just getting to be a cranky old fart….





F-Class TR Stock Finished

March 1, 2010

This is a right hand stock with a left handed action.


New Grips Available

March 1, 2010

Just arrived and ready for finishing …. they are all available except the one marked “Lige”.  The unfinished grips will be available through Gary Eliseo.


Curly Maple F-Class Prone Rifle Finished

March 1, 2010


Surface Grinder

February 21, 2010

This machine is really handy to fix recoil lugs that have been overtightened, and also truing parts that need grinding.  This is part of the equipment that was once owned by George Mitchell (Mitchell movie camera and Panavision).


Curly (Quilted) Maple Rifle Stock – Mike C

February 13, 2010

First coat of finish.


Quick Disconnect Cheek Piece with Magnet for TR and F-Class Rifle

January 29, 2010

Inletting and Bedding ~ Barnard F-Class Rifle

January 28, 2010


Bedding Block and Recoil Lug ~ Barnard F-Class Rifle

January 27, 2010

Typically, the Barnard action is bedded with either a round screw in the center of the action, or a square bedding block in the middle screw on the action.  Since this is an F-Class rifle with a heavy barrel, I made a recoil lug to fit the slot in the bottom of the action so that I could use the middle screw as another action screw.  I also enlarged the length of the bedding block.


F-Class Stock

January 8, 2010

This is an exhibition grade piece of fiddleback maple.  The blank was too narrow to make the 3″ width necessary for the fore end, so I am inlaying walnut strips to bring it up to the proper width.  I’ll put a matching pistol grip cap on it and carve in a right hand pistol grip.


More Inletting Process – Walnut Rifle Stock

December 21, 2009


Setting up for Inletting – Walnut Rifle Stock

December 20, 2009

Start of inletting and leveling stock in milling machine

Nice figuring in this wood

Setting up the stock for inletting


Walnut Prone Rifle Stock

December 15, 2009

Separating the wood to  make adjustable cheek piece

Cutting the rifle butt for an adjustable butt plate

Starting to trim up the cheekpiece


Exhibition Grade Prone Rifle – Mike

December 11, 2009

I just started on a prone rifle, which may also be used for TR.  The wood is a spectacular piece of Walnut.

Forming and shaping pistol grip cap.  The cap gives a little extra length to the pistol grip.

Removing material to create space for hand below cheekpiece

Shaping Pistol Grip.


More Final Pics US Veterans Palma Raffle Rifle

November 22, 2009

To see the progress on this rifle, click on the Category tab to the right titled “Veterans Palma Team Raffle Rifle”