SKB forearm problem

[Lankyframe #44046]

Last fall I was shooting a SKB 200 E at a match when the rear most screw  on the forearm broke and the nut on the plunger tube broke off. I finally got around to brazing the nut back on and put a new screw back in. Today I shot less than a box of shells through it when I noticed the forearm was loose. The rear most screw is bent again. I'm not using heavy loads. The first time this happened I was using Winchester low noise low recoil shells, today was with some light reloads. Any thoughts on what could be causing this?

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

I do not have a 200E around right now so I am going from recollection.  The 100 and 150 have two screws in the main body of the forearm iron that secure it to the wood.  (Not counting the screw holding the plunger tube.)  The 200 has one screw.  To help secure the forearm to the wood there is a round recoil lug on the back of the forearm iron and a matching hole in the wood.  When the screw loosens or breaks it frequently results in that steel lug compressing or breaking the wood around the hole.  If that happens it does not matter how tight you tighten the screw.  It will not hold.  The only solution is new wood or to glass bed the hole to strengthen the wood.  Remove your forend iron and check the condition of the hole in the wood.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Found a schematic in one of my books that shows the hole.

 

[Captain Bill Burt]

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[Lankyframe #44046]

Looks like you nailed it Larson. The wood is mangled around the hole.

Thank you much 

[Johnny Meadows,SASS#28485L]

On 7/23/2023 at 5:39 PM, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

I do not have a 200E around right now so I am going from recollection.  The 100 and 150 have two screws in the main body of the forearm iron that secure it to the wood.  (Not counting the screw holding the plunger tube.)  The 200 has one screw.  To help secure the forearm to the wood there is a round recoil lug on the back of the forearm iron and a matching hole in the wood.  When the screw loosens or breaks it frequently results in that steel lug compressing or breaking the wood around the hole.  If that happens it does not matter how tight you tighten the screw.  It will not hold.  The only solution is new wood or to glass bed the hole to strengthen the wood.  Remove your forend iron and check the condition of the hole in the wood.

I have rebuilt that support area many times with JB weld

[Captain Bill Burt]

On two of my 100s where the screw goes directly into the wood, I've cleaned out the wood, selected a slightly oversized oak dowel, sanded it down, tapped it in with a little wood glue, then screwed it back together.  That has held up well.  I don't know if that would work given the 200 has a lug in the wood rather than a straight screw into the wood.