Why test fire a rifle without the stock?

[Go Packers!]

The gunsmiths on the Discovery Channel show "American Guns" often live test fire rifles without the stock. Why? I can grasp the idea that they may have a prototype or are checking to see if their idea on a gun build will even work and they don't want to bother making a stock if the receiver and action will not work. However, I have seen them take the stock off of a few rifles to test fire them, even big bore calibers! Why? Is this just for television purposes or is there an actual reason?

[Nutso]

If something goes wrong you don't want to damage an expensive stock or have to spend all the time on making another one.

[Go Packers!]

If something goes wrong you don't want to damage an expensive stock or have to spend all the time on making another one.

Interesting. If something did go wrong, wouldn't it be safer to hold onto a stock vs. the receiver alone? I would rather damage an expensive stock than my hand.

[Merc1138]

Interesting. If something did go wrong, wouldn't it be safer to hold onto a stock vs. the receiver alone? I would rather damage an expensive stock than my hand.

Wait, they were just hanging onto the barreled actions?

Why do people continue to watch garbage like this...

It wouldn't be unreasonable to clamp it into a vice or some sort of jig in a vice to hold the action in place and test fire it(it's not exactly difficult to put a couple of holes in a block of wood and bolt it on). I'm sure this is SOP for some shops, but it sounds incredibly dumb.

[repubconserv]

It is reality TV, The stupider, more hillbilly redneck you act the higher the ratings.

Personally I think these shows are bad PR for 2A movement because it shows idiots being idiots. I realize that it is for ratings, and it is "familiarizing" the public with guns, but for the most part (at least in SOG) it is the "special" FFL building and selling the special class 3 weapons to the the special buyer. They should focus more on guns the public can get their grubby hands on to (again, I realize this is for ratings.) otherwise, all it does is let the public know that special people can have special guns

[Go Packers!]

Wait, they were just hanging onto the barreled actions?

Yes.

[Josh3239]

They actually talked about it on the show. It is to keep the stock from breaking if there is a failure.

It wouldn't be unreasonable to clamp it into a vice or some sort of jig in a vice to hold the action in place and test fire it(it's not exactly difficult to put a couple of holes in a block of wood and bolt it on). I'm sure this is SOP for some shops, but it sounds incredibly dumb.

Hows it dumb to hold it by the barreled action? And the point of putting it in a vice would be what?

[dieselpower]

They actually talked about it on the show. It is to keep the stock from breaking if there is a failure.



Hows it dumb to hold it by the barreled action? And the point of putting it in a vice would be what?

to hold it? if you are removing the stock for fear of a failure, that same failure has the potential to ruin your arm, hand, face or life. all firearms that could malfunction need to be test fired by locking in a vise. they make protective jaws for this purpose so it doesn't mark up the barrel or receiver.

[Distro]

It is reality TV, The stupider, more hillbilly redneck you act the higher the ratings.

Personally I think these shows are bad PR for 2A movement because it shows idiots being idiots. I realize that it is for ratings, and it is "familiarizing" the public with guns, but for the most part (at least in SOG) it is the "special" FFL building and selling the special class 3 weapons to the the special buyer. They should focus more on guns the public can get their grubby hands on to (again, I realize this is for ratings.) otherwise, all it does is let the public know that special people can have special guns

American Guns focuses mostly on guns that almost anyone can buy, besides one .50 BMG someone went into purchase, every gun is basically classical.

[Distro]

Wait, they were just hanging onto the barreled actions?

Yes.

I think this is what OP was referring to, they were building a yellowboy with a fancy stock, and decided to test fire it. If they actually fired it who knows, could have easily been just a set up tv shot.

[Shellshocker66]

I thought on the yellow boy the main guy got a face full of blown back powder? Maybe that was the episode before...

Anyways I thought they explained it pretty well on the tv show prior to doing it, some of those stocks cost a ton of money due to rare woods, and custom work. I just think I would be wearing some kevlar gloves myself.

[Go Packers!]

If you are removing the stock for fear of a failure, that same failure has the potential to ruin your arm, hand, face or life.

^ Exactly!

I have seen them test fire several firearms in this manner, barreled action only. I must have missed the episode(s) when they explained why they remove the stock.

[21SF]

They said it right in the episode, wow!!!

[NytWolf]

It is reality TV, The stupider, more hillbilly redneck you act the higher the ratings.

Personally I think these shows are bad PR for 2A movement because it shows idiots being idiots. ...

It closes the gap between the perceived gun world and the anti world, making them friendlier to one another.

[Merc1138]

They actually talked about it on the show. It is to keep the stock from breaking if there is a failure.



Hows it dumb to hold it by the barreled action? And the point of putting it in a vice would be what?

If the stock could break due to a failure, what do you think is going to happen to your hand if it fails?

Testing a barreled action before making a custom stock makes perfect sense. However it does not make sense to test with your hand instead of the a stock(or just even a block of wood bolted into place) if you're afraid damage is going to occur due to a failure. It's either tv being dumb, tv for dumb people, or dumb people on tv.