Gunsmithing Custom Stock/Gun Project

[WVguy59]

Hey guys, don’t know if this is the correct forum to post this in but just wanted to share a project that I am working on. I’ll probably have some questions later down the line as I progress through it.

As of now here’s what I’ve done so far. I got a black walnut slab from a buddy at work that has been drying for the past couple years. I’m gonna build a 300 PRC with it. Here’s the build list so far

•custom stock
- going to have a KMW loggerhead adjustable check riser
- Area 419 Arca rail
- Hawkins M5 CIP+ bottom metal
- Haven’t decided what I’m going to do with the buttplate (I’m open to suggestions)

• Action: Defiance GA Hunter- should be arriving at my FFL next week!

• Trigger: TT Diamond single stage

•Muzzle Break: muzzle breaks and more CF Beast II

• haven’t decided on the barrel yet. Can’t decide if I am just gonna buy a proof prefit or send the action to a gunsmith like Southern Precision and have a barrel made up. But I have decided to go with a Carbon Barrel because I think it would look awesome in a Walnut stock.

• I haven’t decided on a scope yet either. Probably something like a Mark5 5-25, NF 4-32 or similar

I’m not going to go much in detail about the woodwork I’ve done because I don’t want to make this post a mile long, but if you have any questions or comments feel free to let me know! My Dad has been a big help with this project as well. I currently work 2 hours from home so I only get to work on it on select weekends, but I’ll be updating the post with pictures periodically.

Here’s what I have done so far. I’m kind of going for a hybrid between a MPA Matrix and a Foundation Genesis 2:

 

[Mr.BR]

Looks good so far , i probably would laminate the blank so that you gain a bit of stability, wood stocks move all the time, and laminated ones move less .

 

[WVguy59]

Looks good so far , i probably would laminate the blank so that you gain a bit of stability, wood stocks move all the time, and laminated ones move less .

I plan on putting pillers in and bedding the stock with Marine Tex once I have all the inletting done/components together, and putting polyurethane on the stock as a finish to seal everything up. That’s the plan anyway.

 

[Mr.BR]

I plan on putting pillers in and bedding the stock with Marine Tex once I have all the inletting done/components together, and putting polyurethane on the stock as a finish to seal everything up. That’s the plan anyway.

Pillars and bedding do not change that , wood twists and bends reagardles.

 

[LRI]

You'll be fine if your wood has been allowed to wring out to around 5-8 percent moisture and you put a good finish on it. Pillar bed it so that the screws don't squish between the action and floormetal and send it.

Good luck on your project.

 

[powdahound76]

Yeah, but what do you know about making thumbhole wood stocks anyways Chad???





@WVguy59 - I dont do FB and look up LRIs wood stocks they have done.
They are OK I guess…..

Your stock looks pretty sweet so far.
Looking forward to seeing more pics of it and the process.

 

[WVguy59]

Just an update from this past weekend. A lot of the parts have came in so I was able to start carving out the cheek piece and start fitting the KMW hardware. (Also shout out to Terry Cross. Had a hand written thank you note in the invoice, which goes a long way in my book) I also trimmed down the vertical grip and probably will thin it a little more for a more perfect fit later on.

I chiseled out the top piece for the hardware and then used a drill press for the bottom portion of it. I still have to drill a 9/16 hole for the cross bolt and epoxy it into the stock. Although it’s a pretty tight fit the way it is now. I still have a lot of shaping to do for the cheek piece and need to sand/file and straighten everything up.

I also ran into an unseen knot right is the middle of the cheek piece, and I went too fast when cutting it out and kinda screwed up the back of the cheek piece. But my grandpa always said “A good wood worker screws up too, he just knows how to fix it”

Also got my Defiance Ruckus in this week and that thing is slick!

 

[WVguy59]

Well here’s the update from last weekend. I got my buttpad in the mail from MDT. I didn’t know if it was going to fit/work, but I ended up making it fit. Just had to break out the grinder and cut some off of the bottom portion a little bit because it was too long for the stock.

Once I got that done I found a bolt that I drilled and tapped for the buttpad screws and then cut the bolt in half and drilled and tapped the stock and glued them in place and it worked like a charm. Screwed the buttpad in and sanded the back of the stock to taper flush with the buttpad

I also drilled the cross bolt hole for the KMW Loggerhead and got it finished up. I just need to epoxy the base in place now. Now I’ve started the barrel channel. I got more done than the picture shows but I forgot to take pictures before I left for work last Sunday.

If anyone has any advice on how to inlet for the action that would be great because I am procrastinating the inletting.

 

[Bigfatcock]

If anyone has any advice on how to inlet for the action that would be great because I am procrastinating the inletting.

What tools do you currently have, and plan to use for inletting for the action?

 

[WVguy59]

What tools do you currently have, and plan to use for inletting for the action?

The only tools I have is chisels, drill press, and jerry fisher scrappers. I don’t have any inletting blue but I plan on ordering some soon.

 

[WVguy59]

Been a little while since I updated. I’m not the greatest at keeping up to date and with not being able to work on it as much with holidays and work but I’m getting closer to it being completed! Since I posted last I’ve gotten the lions share of the work done. I have the action and barrel inletting done, action screw holes lined up and pillars installed with marine tex, the Hawkins M5 bottom metal carved out and installed, and installed a 419 arca rail.

I just recently got my 26” Bartlien M24 Carbon barrel that I had Southern Precision Rifles (SPR) chamber up for me, and got it screwed in to see what it will look like finished.

I have been contemplating cutting off the wood in front of the magazine well and making it flush with the bottom metal. I was hoping to get some of your guys opinions because I can’t make up my mind on what I want to do, but I’m leaning towards cutting it and making it flush.

I’ve had a lot of enjoyment with this project so far and have a few things left on my to do list. Next thing up is getting the action bedded to the stock with Marine Tex.