Cutting a Plastic/Synthetic Stock

[shotgunshooter]

I hear this is a royal PITA. Does anyone have some advice on this or know someone who could do this? Getting another gun or stock is not an option because of the gun (Nova) and other priorities. I talked to someone that has done it multiple times (they created a Mossington) but they said they'd only do it for $100 an hour. I think I know how to do this but I'm not ready to get out the power tools.

[Dolomite_supafly]

They do not make a youth version of your gun? That would be the way I would go if I could.

[peejman]

What sort of cutting are you doing?

 

Regardless, it's going to require hand tools.  Power tools will go too fast and melt the plastic instead of cutting it.  That'll be messy. 

[maroonandwhite]

I contemplated doing this before on a cheap Maverick 88 but ended up buying a shorter stock. From everything I read you want to make sure to tape the area you will cut with painters tape. Supposedly it prevents the edges from cracking when you cut. I'd use a new/sharp hacksaw blade and take your time. You'll have to it afterwards so you'll need some progesively finer grit sandpaper. You'll also have to make sure the screw holes for the butt plate/pad are deeo enough. Some if not most stocks taper down as you get closer to the receiver so the pad may not fit perfectly after the cut.

 

I would guess it's a tough job to make it look right but I'm not familiar with the Nova's. You could always just use a slip over buttpad after cutting and put some type of cover plate that is cut to fit on the end of the stock.

[gjohnsoniv]

Are you talking Benelli Nova?

[TNWNGR]

I hear this is a royal PITA. Does anyone have some advice on this or know someone who could do this? Getting another gun or stock is not an option because of the gun (Nova) and other priorities. I talked to someone that has done it multiple times (they created a Mossington) but they said they'd only do it for $100 an hour. I think I know how to do this but I'm not ready to get out the power tools.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-63943.html

https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=1&t=301909

 

If your going to do it I suggest you review both of these and some u-tube videos. Go ahead and invest in some Accra glass and a replacement recoil pad a tap and die set, some good drill bits and a drill press or lathe. There's a bit more involved here other than cutting and sanding because you'll be fabricating new mounting tabs. I suggest trying this out on an inexpensive air soft or air rifle stock first but aside from a bit of time think its DIY-able.  

[shotgunshooter]

Are you talking Benelli Nova?

Yes. Already got it set up as a defensive shotgun. It'll be perfect with about 2 inches taken off.

[Wingshooter]

I cut the plastic stock on my stoeger m3000 with no issues. I bought a fine tooth blade for my electric compound miter saw. I spent some time carefully marking the angle and how much I wanted to take off. I placed blue tape on the section I wanted to keep with the edge of the tape along the line. Then I put wider masking tape over it but I could still see the line. I put it on the saw and cut it through the tape. No splinters or melting. It worked great. Then I installed a kick-Ezze pad. I'll post some pics in a minute...

Edited July 22, 2015 by Wingshooter

[Wingshooter]

I used a grindable kick-Ezze pad. After the stock was cut, I installed the pad (bigger than than it needs to be). I put green painters tape on the stock next to the pad. Then I put blue tape over the green tape. Next, I sanded the pad with a belt sander until I saw green tape again on the stock.

Before grinding the pad:


After grinding the pad:
I also install a Cheek-Ezze pad. The changes made a huge improvement in felt recoil for me.

Edited July 22, 2015 by Wingshooter

[graycrait]

If you are trying to impress a gunsmith from Purdy then you may want to rethink this.

 

I have cut plastic stocks and grips a number of times.  It ain't rocket science.  Tape,hack saw, dremel what have you.   Belt sander of some sort is nice to smooth edges fast but hand tools work great too.   If it is to make your gun a better tool and you don't really care about looks it is simple.  

 

If you need to mount a butt pad and you don't have screw points then that is what they make black Devcon 290 for. 

[shotgunshooter]

So any other tips or suggestions? I really want to cut this stock but I don't want to f*** it up too bad. I don't mind what it looks like as long as the stock is cut straight and I can fit a pad to it.

[Wingshooter]

So any other tips or suggestions? I really want to cut this stock but I don't want to f*** it up too bad. I don't mind what it looks like as long as the stock is cut straight and I can fit a pad to it.

Go slow. Take your time and double check that the line you want to cut is at the proper angle. Use a sharp, fine tooth saw blade designed for cutting plastic, metal, and finished cuts. Put masking / painters tape on the stock where you want to cut and cut through it.

Here is the grind-to-fit pad I used. There is a good video explaining how to shape the pad https://kickeezproducts.com/installation/ Although, I did mine differently :) I put the pad on the stock first, then did the grinding Edited July 23, 2015 by Wingshooter