Got the nose area all filed down, sand down and finished it off with many strokes of 2000 grit sandpaper. This is with 2 coats of stain, im going for 6 coats to get it as dark as possible. Would buffing with 0000 steel wool between dried coats be a good idea? Im pretty much seat on leaving the barrel bleached, i really like the look of it with this dark stain. The color along with the boiled linseed oil finish should really look well on the stock. Gawd i cant wait to shoot it! I also left just enough material incase years down the road i want to resand it and finish it. I'd rather leave enough for one more redo than end up with the metal trimmings standing above the wood.