throughhiker
Lil-Rokslider
Background
This spring I bought a new Kimber Montana 6.5 CM from eurooptic, having never handled one before. I discovered that I hated the sandpapery finish of the stock - every touch left a mark, and the gritty finish would catch on the tiny corners of skin next to my nails. I couldn't deal with it, plus I enjoy projects, so I decided to paint it.
I sanded the whole thing down, and for reference, there are 3 layers on the Montanas: gritty grey outer layer, white sub-layer, carbon fiber core (sorry no pics of the process).
The sanding was straightforward, and I progressed down a ladder of 80--20-350-500-1000 grit.
For paint, I used a high-fill primer and then sanded it smooth, followed Montana Gold: Roof, but this color was too dark grey for me and it splattered like crazy. Sanded it off and went with a light grey from Krylon. I did 10+ coats, used the whole can, and then wet sanded the stock 500-1000-2000.
I had watched a bunch of folks share their painted rifle journeys here on the Rok, and I really liked the marble effect. I hated the Montana Gold regular spray paint, but their Marble Effect was awesome and easy to use. I hung the stock vertically from a bent coat hangar, and a couple of light coats later I had the look I wanted. Finished it up with another 10-15 coats of clear coat and a final wet sand. done. Definitely, one doesn't need to do this much work, but I enjoyed the process.
Then I went to shoot it.
Issue
After a few shots, taking it slow with the virgin barrel and letting it stay cool, I set the rifle on my tailgate and noticed a crack in the bottom paint in front of the trigger guard. I may have freaked out a bit, thinking my stock had split, but turned out to just be in the paint, thank goodness.
I used a razor blade and cut the bubbled paint off, then new primer, new paint/webbing/clear coat.
Took it out for a second round at the range and the same thing happened again! A ~1" crack in the exact same spot, right in front of the trigger guard.
My only thought is that the stock is flexing in that spot and splitting the finish. But how do I keep this from happening? Any ideas on how to fix it or other theories about what's going on?
Thanks!
This spring I bought a new Kimber Montana 6.5 CM from eurooptic, having never handled one before. I discovered that I hated the sandpapery finish of the stock - every touch left a mark, and the gritty finish would catch on the tiny corners of skin next to my nails. I couldn't deal with it, plus I enjoy projects, so I decided to paint it.
I sanded the whole thing down, and for reference, there are 3 layers on the Montanas: gritty grey outer layer, white sub-layer, carbon fiber core (sorry no pics of the process).
The sanding was straightforward, and I progressed down a ladder of 80--20-350-500-1000 grit.
For paint, I used a high-fill primer and then sanded it smooth, followed Montana Gold: Roof, but this color was too dark grey for me and it splattered like crazy. Sanded it off and went with a light grey from Krylon. I did 10+ coats, used the whole can, and then wet sanded the stock 500-1000-2000.
I had watched a bunch of folks share their painted rifle journeys here on the Rok, and I really liked the marble effect. I hated the Montana Gold regular spray paint, but their Marble Effect was awesome and easy to use. I hung the stock vertically from a bent coat hangar, and a couple of light coats later I had the look I wanted. Finished it up with another 10-15 coats of clear coat and a final wet sand. done. Definitely, one doesn't need to do this much work, but I enjoyed the process.
Then I went to shoot it.
Issue
After a few shots, taking it slow with the virgin barrel and letting it stay cool, I set the rifle on my tailgate and noticed a crack in the bottom paint in front of the trigger guard. I may have freaked out a bit, thinking my stock had split, but turned out to just be in the paint, thank goodness.
I used a razor blade and cut the bubbled paint off, then new primer, new paint/webbing/clear coat.
Took it out for a second round at the range and the same thing happened again! A ~1" crack in the exact same spot, right in front of the trigger guard.
My only thought is that the stock is flexing in that spot and splitting the finish. But how do I keep this from happening? Any ideas on how to fix it or other theories about what's going on?
Thanks!
before seeing any pics or the gun, which would cost me around $500. After pressing the facts, they said that stock was no longer made and that I would have to wait a year or more once they received the rifle. I asked if I could open up the barrel channel a bit for hunting season and then send it in once the season was over and he said I would void any warranty if I removed material. 
