Yesterday and today, I put sling studs on a Marlin Model 60 .22 rifle. The front stud was no problem, although it's the one that usually bugs people. The rear one, which should have been easy, gave me trouble.
The instructions for the stud, which had a wood screw as its base, said to use two drill bits: 5/32" and 7/32". You make a 1"-deep hole with the 5/32" bit, and you counterbore the first 1/4" with the 7/32" bit.
I made the 5/32" hole. Knowing the stock's wood loved to chip and tear, and that it didn't like countersinks, I took a round Dremel-type stone and opened up the top of the hole to keep it from tearing when the 7/32" bit hit it. I didn't know what else to do.
I still got a little tearout. I am highly annoyed. It was only a tiny bit, and I can make it go away with filler and whatever, but I thought I took extraordinary measures to prevent it, and it still happened.
I know I could have avoided this by doing the entire counterbore with the stone, but what's the best way to keep irregularly-shaped pieces of wood from tearing when a drill bit hits them?05 15 18 marlin 60 sling stud rear installed with chipping visible small.jpg