Embedded cant indicator for rifles

Abstract

A device comprised of bubble level embedded into a solid block of material and located above the rifle grip and behind the barrel to facilitate the measurement and compensation of the rifle's cant while lining up the rifle's sights. The device is precision machined to allow the bubble to be aligned with the axis of the barrel to produce a true “zero-cant” condition. Graduation markings are placed on either left or right of the bubble level to allow the user to judge the relative degree of cant. The location allows cant adjustment without having to change the shooter's position.

What I claim for Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A method of compensating for the cant of a rifle comprising:
 a) Identifying a target through a rifle, the rifle comprising a stock section, an action receiver section, a barrel having a centerline axis, a sight reticle and a cant measuring device further comprising a cavity positioned within the rifle's stock section behind the action receiver section having a front wall, and left and right side walls, a tubular bubble level placed into the cavity such that the bubble is closely aligned with the centerline axis of the barrel when the rifle is at zero cant and marking lines for observing the relative position of the bubble as the rifle is rotated about the barrel's centerline axis,   b) Aligning the sight reticle with the target;   c) Assessing the degree of cant to the rifle by observing the left or right displacement of the bubble relative to bubble level's position marking lines; and   d) Rotating the rifle about the axis of the barrel such that the bubble inside the level aligns with the centerline axis of the barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of realigning the sight reticle cross-hairs relative to the target after removing the cant from the rifle. 
     
     
         3 . A method of compensating for the cant of a rifle having a barrel, a stock section, and a bubble level embedded into the stock section, the center of the bubble level in line with the axis of the barrel, the method comprising:
 a) Identifying a target and its proximate distance from the rifle;   b) Aligning the rifle with the target;   c) Assessing the degree of cant to the rifle using the alignment of the bubble relative to the centerline axis of the barrel; and   d) Rotating the rifle about the axis of the barrel such that the bubble in the level aligns with the centerline axis of the barrel.   
     
     
         4 . A cant measuring device for a rifle stock section, the stock section having a forward end for attaching to an action receiver and barrel further comprising:
 a) a cavity bored within the forward end of the stock having at least one sidewall and a centerline that intersects the vertical plane of and is perpendicular to the centerline axis of the barrel;   b) a topside of the stock having a view port created by removing material from the stock such that the cavity can be viewed when the rifle is held in a shooting position;   c) a bubble level inserted into said cavity through a circular hole bored through one sidewall and the hole having a diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the tubular bubble level's diameter such that at zero cant, the bubble level is aligned with the barrel's centerline axis.   
     
     
         5 . A cant measuring device for a rifle stock comprising:
 a stock having a top surface, a side, and a forward end, the forward end for attaching to an action receiver and a barrel;   a cavity in the forward end of the stock and recessed below the top surface of the stock, further comprising:   a first end open to the side of the stock,   a bubble level inserted in the cavity, and   a view port in the top surface of the stock for viewing the bubble level.   
     
     
         6 . A cant measuring device for a rifle stock comprising:
 a body having a top surface, a side, and a forward end, the forward end for attaching to an action receiver and a barrel;   a cavity in the forward end of the body and recessed below the top surface of the body, further comprising:   a bubble level inserted in the cavity, and   a view port in the top surface of the body for viewing the bubble level.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising the bubble level oriented parallel to a horizontal axis of an attached barrel at zero degrees of cant. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising the bubble oriented perpendicular to the vertical centerline of the body. 
     
     
         9 . A method of machining a cant measuring device for a firearm comprising:
 a) determining a cant axis of a stock;   b) machining a cavity below a top surface of the stock to receive a bubble level, the cavity being perpendicular to the cant axis of the rifle and being larger than a bubble level;   c) machining a view port in the top surface of the stock to view the cavity; and   d) embedding the bubble level within the cavity;   wherein a bubble is centered in the bubble level when the stock is at zero degrees of cant on the cant axis and the bubble can be viewed through the view port on the top surface of the stock.