Installing your own sling swivels

[Deerslayer99]

I'm assuming lots of you have installed your own swivels into your gun stocks....i want to do the same to my 308......I just want to know what each of you did...any tricks, ideas, things to do/not to do.......what i plan on doing is finding the center of my fore stock and butt stock and drill a small starter hole (drill bit size smaller than swivel screw size) apply a wood glue to the screw and screw it in slowly.....does this sound about right....thanks

[Marker]

Make sure the glue you use is waterproof.

[zirguy]

The package should tell you what size pilot hole to drill. I would drill through some masking tape to prevent burs in the wood or synthetic and start with a smaller drill bit first then the larger, final drill bit for the pilot holes. The few sets i've installed i used red loctite on the threads but you could also use 5 minute epoxy.

[Deerslayer99]

Thanks guys......

[Stu]

When doing them at work, I use a drop or two of oil on the threads of the screw turning in slowly and backing out often to prevent cracking the wood. Also, after drilling the pilot hole countersink as per most instruction with proper drill bit size. For the fore end I prefer to use the machine screw type with a countersunk nut on the inside where there is room. If not enough thickness in the wood use the shorter wood screw type. No need to use glue or loctite but if you feel better doing it I guess it wouldn't hurt.
I don't recommend red loctite [blue only] on any gun screws especially if they are screwed into another metal part or nut. Not sure if screwing into wood.
Stu

[pmannat]

X2 on oil on the screw. I don't use glue. Use a drill press not hand drill. Hold/ mount stock so that the drill is entering at 90 degrees to the surface of the stock not 90 to the overall gun, so the swivel head hits flush and level to the stock.

I always use a piece of scrap wood to test drill size to make sure I'm happy with fit for the pilot hole.

[pmannat]

Also, a piece of tape wrapped around the drill bit is an easy way of controlling depth of the pilot.

[fratri]

X2 on oil on the screw. I don't use glue. Use a drill press not hand drill. Hold/ mount stock so that the drill is entering at 90 degrees to the surface of the stock not 90 to the overall gun, so the swivel head hits flush and level to the stock.

I always use a piece of scrap wood to test drill size to make sure I'm happy with fit for the pilot hole.

Also, a piece of tape wrapped around the drill bit is an easy way of controlling depth of the pilot.

Very good advice....