Has anyone made their own rifle stock from a blank?

[ddcalvi]

So I just ordered a rifle blank, black walnut that has been air dried for at least four years, and I am planning on making my first homemade rifle stock for my Ruger 10/22. Has anyone out there done this before? I have been doing reasearch, the fourms on Rimfirecentral have been a great wealth of information on the subject, espically the stickies, but I am always looking for more advice. I have wanted to do this for many years and since I just had major knee surgery and it will take me at least three months to heal, I figured this is the time.

I have tentatively settled on this set of ideas for the stock: a target style stock with a swept back pistolgrip including a thumbhole, raised coumb and flutes simmilar to the monte carlo style with a fixed cheek rest (maybe concaved), possibly the fore end having a wide base and slight taper toward the top.

Does anyone have any advice or personal experiences they would be willing to share? or some ideas, photos, or descriptions of a stock that is along the lines of what I described. Nothing is set in stone, I am open any help. Thanks people.

Daniel

[jtv3062]

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[21SF]

Good luck.

[Bhobbs]

You need to make a thread following the progress.

[starsnuffer]

Might want to practice on some cheaper pieces of pine or something first.

Save that piece of wood for a good guitar!

-W

[dfletcher]

I did years ago and it was alot of work for little return. I had a shop with alot of tools, plenty of time but it was quite a chore. I'd never do it again, just getting the action inletted is tough, then finishing, getting it to look good - the style of the stock so to speak. Tons of work.

But, if you're going to do it I'd say practice on something else first - that's the best approach. Inlet, shape - the whole routine. If you're going to have something hand made it should look best, I can't think of very many things a person did the first time and said "well, that's the best I could have done".

As an aside, I'd also say don't try to do too much in one sitting. It's amazing that what looks good after 4 or 5 hours of work results in "what was I thinking?" when viewed the next day.

[RugerNo1]

Personally, I have no experience. But, Doan Trevor of Clovis is very well known for his work. Perhaps you could pick his brain for tips and tricks.

http://doantrevor.com/

[cabinetguy]

Ive never worked with a stock blank, but I do work with wood everyday. do you have any woodworking experience? do you have tools? I think anybody can do it, but go slowly and make sure your tools are sharp.