Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Repairing cracked A5 Forearm

What is a good glue to use to repair an A5 forearm crack. I plan on removing a very little bit of wood with a small drum sander on inside and gluing a fiberglass patch on. Not going to remove much because wood is very thin on these forearms already. Wonder if fiberglass resin or two part epoxy would work better with patch? I am soaking forearm in acetone to get oil out now. Already stripped finish.

Epoxy is stronger than wood, what do you need a patch for? Relieving the fit is good, wood shrinks over time, something's gotta give, and it won't be the steel.

I have a 11/87 that came with a fiber cloth glued in where the forearm has historically cracked on the A5. I really don't trust simply gluing a crack together in this location. It hasn't held together on a lot of guns the wasn't cracked to begin with, why would it be any stronger now?

The main cause of a cracked fore stock on the A-5 and other action types has been a loose magazine cap. An A-5 or similar action where the barrel moves was the most damaging but any semiauto would crack the forestock if it were loose. The fiberglass mesh is an attempt to prevent the fore end from cracking when the mag cap is not tightened sufficiently. The hope is, the fore end will stay in one piece until the next time the cap is removed and hopefully replaced correctly. My grandfather would crank the cap down so tight I needed a plumber's pliers to get it off (he laid railroad track and then logged for many years and had a grip one would not believe). That degree of tightness is not needed but it does take more than barely snug.

I have owned a fair number of A-5s, some had damaged fore ends. Some had what appeared to be Elmer's wood glue holding things together, others some sort of epoxy. Both held up to the moderate use I put the guns through. But then I did make sure the magazine cap was on tight. I would use the epoxy to repair the crack. It is strong and seems up to the task. Adding a layer of fiber mesh isn't a bad idea and should give one piece of mind at the least if not added strength.

Best of luck on your repair, may it turn out as you hope.

Didn't know that. All I've seen (not A5) cracked from the wood shrinking and the hole getting too small.

Woodsmaster is correct about why the Auto Five forearm cracks and the remedy.

I fully understand why it cracks. Bought the shotgun a week ago with cracked forearm. Can't go back in time and tighten magazine cap for previous owners, only trying to repair the damage already done. Besides loose cap, worn friction piece and relaxed recoil spring add to problem of cap loosening and forearm cracking. Already ordered both of theses.

I agree with the mesh patch for the cure...

I fixed lots of A5 cracked forearms. This was back in the 70's before todays miracle glues & epoxies. I removed some wood and used fiberglass cloth & resin. Never had any come back because they broke again.