FWB 300S Stock with holes in the back. Anyone seen this?

Hi,

   I've rebuilt and refinished a number of FWB 300S's but I never noticed any of them having these holes drilled in the back of the stock.  This particular rifle was totally unmolested and I believe it was original from the factory.  Was there an adjustable stock kit available from FWB around 1975?  Any info or clarity you might be able to provide would be much appreciated.  See pic below

-Steve

there is no weights shown at the factory sight so maybe that is where they lighten the stock to reach a factory weight of the stock 

just a guess

The last three mini stocks I have seen had them, one of which is an early model, and two late models.  I just cleaned up a full size late model 300s original finish with stock mud and didn't even look.

I imagine one is for your cigar, and the other for beef jerky storage,

Prairie Farmer 

I've got a Mini at home and I've never thought to look. I'll have to pull the buttplate later to see now! 

What if they did that to make the stock balance at a certain point so every rifle felt identical? Now THAT would be impressive. 

Posted by: @10metershot

Hi,

   I've rebuilt and refinished a number of FWB 300S's but I never noticed any of them having these holes drilled in the back of the stock.  This particular rifle was totally unmolested and I believe it was original from the factory.  Was there an adjustable stock kit available from FWB around 1975?  Any info or clarity you might be able to provide would be much appreciated.  See pic below

-Steve

Can you, please, measure the diameter? And if you had a cylinder to insert, do the holes have a stop/depth limit?

If they are about 26 mm's they COULD be places where you were allowed by the rules to place weights.

Steyrs have three holes in pretty much the same location, but the weights are inserted from the top, not the back.

These locations are interesting as a concept because they would allow people to balance rifles with large scopes that become too top-heavy.

Just an idea.

HM

I'm coughing these up to a place where you can place weights.  I'm going to place notes in there at the end of of the rebuild.  The notes will say "Once there was this thing called CIVID..."

I have two Jr.s, circa '88 and '97. They both have these same holes in the buttstock. I might fill them with lead shot to control the recoil.

@amg What recoil ? Do you want to add recoil ?

I had my Junior down for a little work this week - same holes! Just a way to fine-tune weight and balance I think. The short, non-sleeved barrel on this model is much lighter than the standard guns of course, and normally you like target rifles to be a bit muzzle-heavy.

Back in the day, correct balance was a big deal, and this was not a new way to do it - you will see the same on BSA underlevers made before WWI.

@airmojo

That was just tongue in cheek. I wouldn't change a thing about how this rifle balances and feels when shoulder fired.