Wood stocks and wet weather?

[Back40]

I am really uncomfortable with taking a wood stock out in the rain for fear that swelling will occur and temporarily if not permantly affect the accuracy. What can I do to protect my future Tikka Whitetail Hunter's wood? No synthetic available for the lefty model.

[A5Mag12]

As long as the wood is sealed, whether oil finish or varnish type finish, it will hold up rather well. Problem areas on bolt rifles are under the barrel and trigger area. A regular application of a silicon spray will keep out most moisture. Most problems come from storing a wet gun. If you get one good and wet, wipe it down when you leave the field and spray it down good with WD-40 getting in every crack and crevice. Let stand for a minute or two. then wipe dry with clean lint free wipe and then with a good silicon gun cloth. When you get home remove gun from case, never store a gun in a gun case. Lube gun as the WD-40 washed out what was there, let gun stand muzzle end down for a day or two and you will have no problems.

[Danny45]

A5 had some great ideas. I usually take a wood stocked gun and the first thing I do with it after taking it out of the box is clean it, getting rid of any packing grease or lube. Then I take the action out of the stock and use a car paste wax on the inside action area and the barrel channel. I put on a fairly good coat, but not super thick (don't want hot metal touching it), and let it stand and haze up. (I do not wipe it off) After it's good and dry, I replace the action back into it, tightening it down, but not over-tightening it. I then carry it around a bit, sling it over my shoulder, etc for a few minutes, then remove the action again very carefully. I can then look at the inside of the stock and detect where the action or barrel is, or is not, making contact where it should or should not. If everything seems fine, then I reassemble it and I'm ready to go to the range.

[PABuck_HNTR]

I use Gun stock filler/sealer under the barrels and trigger areas. I give all exposed wood two or three coats. Works for me!