Beat up gun stock. Restore or buy new?

[BKS357]

Thanks in advance for your help. I have a Remington Model 700 30-06 Springfield. The stock has become damaged over the years and I'm debating whether to buy a new sythetic stock or try to remove the remaining clearcoat and restain and reclearcoat the old one. If I buy a new sythetic stock will it have to be professionally done or can I do it myself? I've heard about "glass bedding" but am not sure if this applies to my situation. Where is the best place to purchase a new sythetic stock.

Preciate it.

[Pawildman]

Does the gun shoot well enough for you now? If it does , I would recommend a re-finish job. Fairly easy to do, and these new polyurethane sprays come out pretty nice. You can get satin or gloss finish. You can also use the oil treatment finish, which does a nice job also. Just take your time and do it right. And please, don't sand the checkering.......

[Wingbone]

I agree with Pawildman. I've refinished a couple of stocks and the results were quite good. An oil finish really brings out the beauty of the wood and it's easy to maintain.

[eldeguello]

How badly damaged is it? All dents where the cord of the wood is not cut or broken can be steamed out (raised) with a wet patch and a plain electyric iron. Then the stock is sanded, and you need to "rasie the grain" by wetting the stock and drying it over an electric stove burner. You can feel the "whiskers". Then sand it smooth. Repeat this process until the grain stops rising. Then finish sanding with 400A wet-or-dry paper. I always doa final polish with OOOO steel wool, but some "experts" say not to use steel wool. I do though.

Next, fill the pores. A good varnish will do this, let it dry then cut it down to the wood with fine sandpaper, leaving the stuff in the pores.

Once you get all the pores filled flush with the surface of the wood, sand smooth with 600 or 800 paper. Then apply four or five coats of Tru-Oil, cutting each one down to the wood with 0000 steel wool each time when it is thoroughly dry. You can leave the last coat uncut or polish it with powdered rottenstone with a felt pad to remove the gloss, leaving thedull sheen of a"London Oil" appearance.

[kirby375]

I have used Birchwood Casey tru oil on a couple of my guns, I love wood with oil finish. You should be able to pick up a synthetic stock to put on a 700 with no modifications, might even find one on ebay, ora gun show, cheap. Get the plastic and refinish the wood for later.

[kelbro]

I have re-done a few stocks with the TruOil and really like the way they turned out. Nice, classic finish. I'm not a glossy gun type.

[thndrchiken]

Won't find anything gun related on Ebay anymore. Most synthetic stocks are a drop in fit, check out cabelas and midway.

[USNRETHunter]

Instead of synthetic, I'd consider a nice wood laminate, thumbhole if you like them (I do). Boyds gunstocks has some very nice 700 replacement stocks in the $100-$150 range.

[TUK101]

Lol, this thread was what I needed to clean up the stock on the Savage 340 30-30 that I picked up this week. I just spent the last 2 hours sanding the heck out of it. It wasnt too bad, but I am taking the opportunity to put a lighter stain on the stock.

[savage3006]

If the stock is not too damaged I would refinish it and spray it with a good synthetic satin clear coat. That will last forever and be almost maintenance free. The question is how good are you with refinishing wood? It is possible you will have to do a little bit of sanding in few places and put some stain to restore the original color.