Added More "Cheek Piece" To My Retirement Rifle

[Ohio Joe]

Well, I was never really able to get this build to shoot consistently, but i finally got it figured out...

When I built this rifle I gave it 3/16 inch "castoff" (which was a bad idea on my part - as I normally go no more then 1/16th inch castoff on my builds and have done fine over the years with that),,, however, I gave the ol' Retirement Rifle 3/16" cast off and it has proven way to much for me...

-so-

I made an extension cheek piece to help make my head alignment not be at such a tilt, and by golly I tested it this morning and did pretty darn good with it as the extension "cheek" piece I embedded into the rifle's cheek piece now lets me align my head much better with my sights centered on the barrel...

I will never ever go that much cast off again!!!

Here is a picture of the rifle's cheek piece now, and it cured my problems;  It's embedded and held in place with beeswax (wood to wood / bottom & edges, and of course you can see the screw)... It shot very well this morning with the sights centered on the barrel...

NOTE: I'll add a picture in a few minutes of the complete rifle

[Two Steps]

Way to think there Joe!  Nice looking rifle gun too 

[Ohio Joe]

Thanks Al 

I will probably counter sink the screw a bit deeper and then inlet a piece of brass over the head of the screw so when I cheek this rifle (as it turns out I just barely can feel the head of the screw on my lower jaw where I need to cheek the stock) the brass inlay will make for a much faster reference point... I've done this before with one of my X-Stick Rifles and it works great.    You just can't grow a beard... LOL!!!

[Ohio Joe]

Hey Al,,, that was easier then I thought it would be... I had a small brass cup washer, so I put it on. Easy to feel it with my chin... If it's to high I'll counter sink it. 

[Two Steps]

Looks like you made it that way on purpose from the get go 

[Ohio Joe]

Looks like you made it that way on purpose from the get go 

 

I got darn lucky on the original screw placement... Probably never be able to repeat that if I tried... 

[PetahW]

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That's a good solution, Joe - have you considered making another one that's the same as the built-in cheekpiece ? (so it's not as noticeable)

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[Ohio Joe]

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That's a good solution, Joe - have you considered making another one that's the same as the built-in cheekpiece ? (so it's not as noticeable)

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Funny you should ask that question as I was just this morning thinking about that very thing,,, options in wood... Perhaps something like a "half or rocker moon" or perhaps a tear drop shape...

Of course before I proceed with the above I need to make 100% sure of my current location of what I have now. Probably won't get to the Range until Tuesday to do my testing... 

The location of what I put on the cheek piece is about center of my lower jaw (which feels right to me - but only Range time will confirm that).

[Ohio Joe]

I switched out the (cheek piece locator brass cup washer) and inlaid a piece of brass that matches the contour of the added wood cheek piece extension...

Have to admit, I like the looks of this better, and it works the same as what the brass cup washer was intended for.

[Ohio Joe]

Well, still not real happy with my cheek piece which I feel still needs to come out a bit more - I was talking to a friend of mine today who I've built several rifles for over the years, and he mentioned tying on a leather cheek piece over what I have already...

The more I thought about it, the better I liked that idea - so I did it. It gives me about another 3/32nds in thickness (to help offset that stupid cast-off I incorporated into this build) and I gotta say, it feels pretty darn good, and doesn't look half bad on my Rendezvous Rifle... Gives it a little of that Fur Trade "bling" so to speak, but actually does in this case, serves a purpose (which I'll find out this coming Monday - June 1st.

[Spotted Bull]

That's a cool idea Joe. Let us know how it shoots.

[PetahW]

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That lace-on is the best change yet, Joe - VERY good-looking !   

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[Ohio Joe]

I can't take credit for the idea Spotted Bull and PetahW, but I'm sure glad I talked to Stan yesterday who suggested it to me. 

[Eric Krewson]

You could have just bent the wrist with heat and taken the cast of out.

[Spotted Bull]

Joe did you ever get this one out to shoot after the latest modifications?