Pray for me: drilling sling swivels on a nice wood stock

[NCLivingBrit]

I've done this before and it didn't end well, but this time I scored a B-Square sling swivel drilling jig (little rusty but complete) for $10 on ebay just now.

My question is do I drill the rear swivel:

a) perpendicular to "down" (as in towards the ground when the rifle is held in a normal posture) or

b) perpendicular to the lines of the bottom of the stock (so at a slight angle when the rifle is held in a normal posture)

??????

I'm guessing b) but my brain won't stop fussing about a) because it's a bit mouldy and broken.

I really don't want to bugger it up, the stock is rather nice and last time I did this I had no jig and made a right mess of it.

 

[Chdamn]

Drill press. If you can make it to my shop we can do it there.

 

[Burt Gummer]

B

 

[NCLivingBrit]

Drill press. If you can make it to my shop we can do it there.

You sir are a life saver. Soon as all the bits get here I will get with you about a TPO.

The last time I tried this I ruined a really nice stock but the bottom was sharp as an axe and murder to drill.

 

[Walkabout Dan]

B but in all my years I think I have more crooked than straight.

 

[BrettB]

Make a jig to hold it steady and use a drill press

 

[beamernc]

If the edge is sharp, take a sharp knife blade and take out a small scallop of wood and then use a center punch to make an indentation to keep the bit from walking. Use a Brad point bit if you can. These bits have a cutting edge that will score the wood and help prevent it from chipping out on the surface like regular bits do.

 

[Scsmith42]

You sir are a life saver. Soon as all the bits get here I will get with you about a TPO.

The last time I tried this I ruined a really nice stock but the bottom was sharp as an axe and murder to drill.

If you don't do it at Chad's place, I'm around 1.5 hours from you and have all of the equipment and tooling needed.

 

[NCLivingBrit]

If you don't do it at Chad's place, I'm around 1.5 hours from you and have all of the equipment and tooling needed.

Thanks! Apparently the jig I got off ebay came from someone in NC because it got delivered already!