Hunting for a repo M40 walnut stock (my Beaver156 repo stock got slightly damaged)

[Random Guy]

My local gunsmith building my repo M40 "shooter" accidentally dropped my repo M40 stock on his shop floor...and the toe broke-off at the screw. Opps. If this had been an original M40 stock I'd be teary-eyed about it, but it's just a Beaver156 (eBay) repo stock, so I'm not upset about it. Accidents happen. Could that area be repaired? Possibly, but the repair would never be as strong as it should be for that area, so I'm looking for other options at this point.
Here's the damaged toe...

The eBay seller (Beaver156) doesn't have any short action M40 stocks listed at this time...but I really want this build completed in March 2025 if at all possible - so I can break-in the new Bartlein barrel, and then use this rifle at the upcoming CMP Eastern Games Vintage Sniper Rifle match in late April. 2025.

So here's my question: How fast can I get banned for making a WTB post outside the PX?
(Ouch, my apologizes for inadvertently violating the forum rules, just figured this might be an okay inquiry given the 'vintage sniper rifle' sub-forum is really the only area I have been active for the past decade , and I figured only us 'old school/vintage guys' might have a wooden M40 stock... My observation is the PX section doesn't exactly contain old school/obsolete stuff like an vintage M40 stock - at least not that I recall over the past decade. A prospective "vintage PX" section with perhaps pre-2000 stuff would be useful, as I honestly don't know many of the modern 3/4 letter acronyms used in the current PX section. Just an observation from a middle-aged (aka Gen X) shooter... On a happy note another vintage sniper rifle collector/aka "old school guy" came to my rescue with a proper vintage wooden stock that he offered me, probably in part out of pity for my project dilemma. Again, my apologizes if I inadvertently bent the rules.)

Here's my M40 project parts that I dropped off last month. I was never crazy about this stock as the forend is too thick, but the price was nice and it was available, but I'd like to find another stock at this point. Maybe another one of these Beaver156 stocks, or preferably one of those discontinued Taylor Precision stocks, or maybe even an early Remington PSS wooden stock, etc.

Any assistance (or tips where I could find a replacement M40ish stock) is greatly appreciated, just in case someone has a spare, thanks.

 

[ArmyPilot12]

Do what the .mil would have done, repair it. Wood glue, some clamps, and brass pins will give it some BTDT panache.

 

[RIGREG]

@Random Guy

I have a beaver 56 that I can replace easy enough when he lists another. It hasn’t been touched yet. It won’t leave me short for the 4 builds I’m simultaneously trying to accomplish. They’re all at the choose a barrel stage, so I’m in no hurry.

Just a thought, based on my gunsmith’s SOP; did you, or your smith, predrill those buttplate screws? My smith has specific tapered drills for stock screws and swivels to prevent possible splitting of the wood.

Anyway, see if you get any better options and let me know. It’s yours for cost.

Greg

(ETA: I just remembered Forum Rules. I upgraded to Supporter. Let me know if you want me to post it in Buy, Sell, Trade, earmarked for you. I’ve been meaning to go Supporter and offload some excess from my M40 buying spree of the last two years, anyway.)

 

[cplnorton]

Yeah glue, clamp, and run some brass pins in there and it would be stronger than the rest of the stock.

I would not hesitate to fix that and would not be afraid of it at all. It def could serve till another Ebay listing pops up.

 

[Random Guy]

I have a beaver 56 that I can replace easy enough when he lists another. It hasn’t been touched yet. It won’t leave me short for the 4 builds I’m simultaneously trying to accomplish..

Thank you, that is much appreciated. I was considering it - when another collector reached out to me with an offer I simply couldn't refuse.
He had an original Remington PSS stock (late 1980s/early 90s) with the correct metal and its in great shape. It cost me more than the Beaver56 stock, but it's a 'turn-key' stock, and honestly the PSS stock is what I wanted to use when I started this project, but I could never find one for sale....so it all worked out. Thanks again nonetheless. I owe the other collector a favor by helping me out with this project.

Fwiw, the gunsmith is going to reduce the price of the build somewhat given we had to buy this PSS stock, but I'm quite excited about this stock upgrade!. It even has the correct brass pin on the left side, and the condition is awesome. Cost a few $$, but worth it, IMO.

...correct M40 (on edit) Remington (not Wichita) sling swivels already installed front and rear...it's these small details that make me happy...

...buttplate is not too shabby either...

....I'll post pics once the project is completed, hopefully next month.

 

[RIGREG]

If you repair the broken Beaver stock like @cplnorton suggested, I’ll bet it will morph itself into another build. A 40X rimfire trainer would put that stock to good use.

Greg

 

[Random Guy]

If you repair the broken Beaver stock like @cplnorton suggested, I’ll bet it will morph itself into another build.

I hear you, but I’ll let that Beaver56 stock go - as my safe is really at capacity. Two M40 replicas will be sufficient, one for competition, and one for collecting.

Btw, in late 2023 I filled the "vintage 22LR target/trainer rifle" hole in my collection with an original 1952 Remington Model 37 Rangemaster, so I think I’m all set in that area. The vintage Remington 40-Xs 22LR target rifles are very nice, but the workmanship of its predecessor was unparalleled.

 

[deltawiskey]

Here's a 40X .22lr M40 for some inspiration

 

[USMCSGT0331]

My local gunsmith building my repo M40 "shooter" accidentally dropped my repo M40 stock on his shop floor...and the toe broke-off at the screw. Opps. If this had been an original M40 stock I'd be teary-eyed about it, but it's just a Beaver156 (eBay) repo stock, so I'm not upset about it. Accidents happen. Could that area be repaired? Possibly, but the repair would never be as strong as it should be for that area, so I'm looking for other options at this point.
Here's the damaged toe...

View attachment 8621490

The eBay seller (Beaver156) doesn't have any short action M40 stocks listed at this time...but I really want this build completed in March 2025 if at all possible - so I can break-in the new Bartlein barrel, and then use this rifle at the upcoming CMP Eastern Games Vintage Sniper Rifle match in late April. 2025.

So here's my question: Does anyone have an extra M40 repo wooden stock they could live without? (with or without buttpad or sling swivels). I realize that price will vary, based on a host of variables.

Here's my M40 project parts that I dropped off last month. I was never crazy about this stock as the forend is too thick, but the price was nice and it was available, but I'd like to find another stock at this point. Maybe another one of these Beaver156 stocks, or preferably one of those discontinued Taylor Precision stocks, or maybe even an early Remington PSS wooden stock, etc.

View attachment 8621487
Any assistance (or tips where I could find a replacement M40ish stock) is greatly appreciated, just in case someone has a spare, thanks.

Damn, it always sucks when things like that happen. However, your outlook is respectable and understanding that accidents happen. It shouldn't be too difficult to repair the stock, it would be awesome on an M40 .22LR trainer as suggested by others in this thread.

After reading your post, there's only 1 thing that I'd like to help correct. You wrote:

"correct M40 Wichita sling swivels already installed front and rear"

The correction that I'd like to make is that the Wichita sling swivels were used on the M40A1's, not the M40's. I've seen a lot of people in the past few years talk about Wichita sling swivels being used on original USMC M40's and how their correct for clone builds. As far as I've seen, this just isn't the case. All of the original USMC M40 rifles and loose stocks I've ever documented have all had Remington sling swivels. Every trustworthy resource I've read says the same thing.

I'm not sure where the rumor of Wichita sling swivels being used on USMC M40's (or even on 6257xxx M40's) started, but unless we find solid proof of that happening, we shouldn't call it clone correct. The Remington rear sling swivel isn't too difficult to find, but the Remington front sling swivel for an M40 is very rare (and it's missing on most original USMC M40 stocks).

I personally think that using a Wichita front sling swivel is great for an M40 clone because it's realistically next to impossible to acquire the correct Remington M40 front sling swivel. Sometimes you just use the part that is closest in resemblance to the original military part, there should be no worries about doing so. The only issue I have is referring to these incorrect parts as clone correct. Definitely use a different part if an original part can't be found, but lets not refer to the substituted part as clone correct.

And after I wrote all of that, I'm just counting down the minutes until @cplnorton, posts some insanely obscure and never before published source that documents armors installing a bunch of Wichita replacement sling swivels on 56 USMC M40's at precisely 7:08am on June 23, 1967, or something to that effect . Steve's information is literally that good and he has some very impressive documents that have really closed some major gaps in our M40 knowledge. So, maybe he does have something on M40 sling swivels, but until that actual proof surfaces, I'm going with Wichita sling swivels as being historically incorrect for an original military M40. However, Wichita sling swivels are completely acceptable for a good clone build, and should be used if a correct Remington M40 front sling swivel can't be acquired or made by modifying other Remington sling swivels.

I just wrote 4 paragraphs based on the word "correct" being used in someone's forum post, and only now do I realize how ridiculous and pedantic this is. This right here is a great example of why I need to get a life outside of this stuff, lol!

 

[Random Guy]

The correction that I'd like to make is that the Wichita sling swivels were used on the M40A1's, not the M40's. I've seen a lot of people in the past few years talk about Wichita sling swivels being used on original USMC M40's and how their correct for clone builds. As far as I've seen, this just isn't the case. All of the original USMC M40 rifles and loose stocks I've ever documented have all had Remington sling swivels.

Yes, that is also my understanding re this topic. Corrected my post to reference Remington sling swivels, not Wichita. I probably should have written “Wichita-style” swivels, my oversight. Your expertise will be missed re this kind of stuff, but maybe you’ll still consider writing a book on the M40 rifle at some point? I’d be happy to help in that endeavor, if possible.

 

[cplnorton]

I freaking love you Ryan. lol But no you guys are all right. Remington made them in house for the M40 and put them on the M40 stock. The Wichitia's did not come around till the M40A1. It actually details the specs, and finishes for them in the original Remington M40 Contract. Then they even have the Remington Schematics of how the Sling Swivels were manufactured in house. You guys are 100% right.

Probably what it was is, the Wichita's look close to the original Remingtons. So maybe someone was building a clone back in the day and someone recommended to use the Wichita's, and then over time it morphed into that was actually used. Or maybe because they look close in appearance the rumor started as well. But that is only some guesses.

 

[DstRflMn645]

Not trying to hijack this thread, but repairing a stock with today's epoxies is very easy and probably stronger than the original wood. I picked up this Winchester Marksman stock for an eventual Vintage Sniper rifle build. It had been shortened for an adjustable buttplate. Obtained a piece of walnut from a friend that does stock work and did all the shaping/ contouring myself (I'm more of a metal worker than wood). By the way pre-64 target stock hardware prices are crazy.