Folding Stock Flex

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Ezana4CE

Ezana4CE

Member
Jan 15, 2021
10,263
3
7,097
Texas, United States
Is anyone experiencing their folding stock flexing at the hinge? Unlike PB’s the recoil isn’t what’s causing the stock to flex in the instance I’m speaking of. I’m talking about when you shoulder the rifle does the stock flex any on your rifle?

2) If so, how is your shooting performance affected?

3) How do you compensate for this flexing or work around it so that your POI is least affected?

4) What are some of the better folding stocks that you have used that don’t have this problem over time?
 
It probably won't really affect accuracy, but man, it feels like crap!

I can't leave that sort of thing alone.

On my AEA the hinge was loose when folded, so I put some tape in between the joint to make it tight when closed.

On the sliding part it was also loose, and again, just some gaffer's tape to eat up the gap worked great.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iAMzehTOASTY1
Upvote 0
From the bench or off a tripod using an Arca plate attachment, the flexing of a folding stock can open up my groups quite a bit sometimes if it decides to move as I let off the shot. With most folders, I haven't noticed much movement when shooting off hand.

Depending on the stock design, you can often shim it or alter the facing surfaces to remove movement, or with my Buck Rail folders for example, pressing the joint area pieces together firmly rather than just letting it latch on its own, removes most of the flex.

I haven't tried any folders for airguns that didn't have slop in them. The folding unit from Sylvan Arms for an AR platform has less play than my Buck Rail folder, but is pretty expensive. It could be adapted to an airgun that has AR style tube threads on the end. The folding unit on my MPA Savage long action chassis has zero play in it, but the chassis was over $500 several years ago and has only gone up since then.

There are some AR style folding stocks such as the Luth-AR MBA, that have adjustment screws in them to remove any play between the tube and the stock.

1681397232453.png
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ezana4CE
Upvote 0
My issue is that it affects my hold. Here’s a photo of the gun I’m having an issue with.

5A994015-E1CA-451D-8854-947BA94C2A83.jpeg

Any suggestions on how to shim this stock to resolve or improve upon the issue?

Also note where the cocking handle is located. If I grip it firmly and establish decent cheek weld then I’m ok most times. It can take a moment to get comfortable taking a shot off of shooting sticks considering I’m focused on situating the sticks and my grip. It is annoying in the sense that it takes longer to setup for a shot. The flex has been there since I bought the gun. I guess taking a break from shooting this gun for a while caused me to pay more attention to this when I picked it up again.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Depends on how it's moving. Up and down? Side to side?
Me? I have a lathe and other tooling to fix issues like that.

There could be several issues like how well it locks when open to the shooting position, is the pin or the hinge area worn, is it an up and down movement?

I had an Evanix in a 10/22 folding stock and never had a problem with it.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: iAMzehTOASTY1
Upvote 0
Privateer said:
Depends on how it's moving. Up and down? Side to side?
Me? I have a lathe and other tooling to fix issues like that.

There could be several issues like how well it locks when open to the shooting position, is the pin or the hinge area worn, is it an up and down movement?

I had an Evanix in a 10/22 folding stock and never had a problem with it.
Click to expand...
@Privateer Up and down. An intentionally firm grip can keep it from flexing frequently. After putting it down and shooting other guns more, when I picked it back up I noticed it and it’s annoying.
 
Upvote 0
Kind of sounds like the pivot pin is the problem. That should be the main anchor point for the stock.
I suspect to much play in that area. I'd bore the area where the pin goes and put a brass bushing in there and have a new pin made.
Open the stock to about 45 degrees from closed and see if there is play.
Reason I say do that is of there's no up down play like that? Then you have an oblonged hole.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: iAMzehTOASTY1
Upvote 0
Last edited:
Upvote 0
That I can't answer. You have the RAI stock adapter from your picture. Is the actual hinge part RAI or other brand?
Now I have had other brands that the hole the pivot pin fits into wears and ends up out of round.
I bore the holes and fit a bronze bushing to stop that wear on all new folders I buy.
For $30? I'd just replace it and expect it to also wear over time.
Most are aluminium with a steel pin. Guess what part goes bad first?
 
Upvote 0
@Privateer Yes, there is some wear on the pivot area. The joint pictured in post #5 has to be compressed in order to unlock and fold the stock. That’s why there’s that spring around the pivot pin above the folding part that receives the pin creating a hinge (I’m not sure what to call the piece that the pin threads through). I don’t know how the wear occurred. I bought this gun used. I’m not even sure if the stock is more rigid when it’s new. It’s the same brand as the linked adapter.
 
Upvote 0
1) Yes, until yesterday.
2) Very badly.
3) I replaced the hinge-locking spring with a much heavier one, and put two layers of electrical tape between the mating surfaces.
4) I've never used another folding stock than the one on my AEA Challenger Pro that rattled like an '83 Buick with 180,000 miles on the odometer... that stopped working 50,000 miles ago.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: iAMzehTOASTY1
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Resources
Menu