I have a new wood thumbhole stock for my Mini-30 that I need to drill to mount the rear stud. My old swivel studs are from my factory synthetic stock.

2 questions here:

1) Can I use the swivel stud from the old factory synthetic stock?

2) Any tips on drilling the hole for the stud?
(its a nice new shiny stock and i'm nervous about screwing it up)

Thanks in advance

Just go to your LGS.

Mine have uncle mikes swivel studs for $5.

I would definately drill a pilot hole. How big i'm not sure. Start with a 1/16'' and slowly step up the drill bits until its a real snug fit.

A tip, when twisting them in there, an allen wrench through the hole makes life a whoel lot easier

Its an easy process, at least the centerline of the plastic stock was visible. Idk about your wood one. Measure at least twice, drill only once!

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581 Series 18.5'' Mini 14 Ranch Rifle SS
Henry .22 S/L/LR Frontier

I drill a pilot hole and put a little candle or bees wax on the stud threads before twisting it in.

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Nevada, The last free place in this country.

Thanks for the quick replies.

I will post some pics when its all together. The wood thumbhole stock feels much better than the factory synthetic.

The only really correct way to do it is to use one of these. It spot faces the stock as well as drills it. That way you have a flat surface for the stud base to sit on.
SWIVEL BASE DRILL BIT SET - Brownells

So I was planning on measuring the I.d. of the hole from the synthetic stock sling stud mount and drilling out the wood stock to that same size. Does this sound right or should I go a bit smaller since its wood?

Nothing should be the ID of the nylon spacer. The counter sink hole would be the size of the OD of the spacer, but the screw pilot hole would be much smaller.

usually with hardwood the drill bit wants to be the same as the shank size of the screw maybe slightly smaller but as close to the shank size. you can put the drill bit up to (hold them both together)the shank and visually see . you can also have a scrap peice of hardwood and try the bit out first soft wood will feel diferent so use a comparable wood to practice first, same with the spacer practice first so you kow what it will look like when your done ,the wax is a good thing to

Thanks for all the good tips!
Il definitely practice first and go by the shank width and the wax.

I'm happy I posted the question before just going ape with the drill

Its a very easy process that you just need to take your time with.

On my stock plastic stock I just drilled a small hole and stepped it up slowly until I could thread it in there tight as all get out.

Just go small and step it up by size until you can finally thread it in there real tight.

Very simple

On my plastic on I put loctite epoxy on the top of the screw head to basically weld it to the plastic stock. You wont need to do this because wood threads are meant for wood

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581 Series 18.5'' Mini 14 Ranch Rifle SS
Henry .22 S/L/LR Frontier