Yes most likely if you take much wood off sanding it the stain will come off. At most hardware stores they have a display that show what the stain will look like on the wood. Try the stain out on a part of the stock that doesn't show so if it isn't right no problem, in the barrel channel is good. Some people like the hand rubbed oil look but it seems that I'm hunting in the rain so I use high grade spar varnish thined out with turpintine and give it a few coats.