I recently re-finished a butt stock on a Browning BAR with several coats of Tru-Oil applied with bare fingers and would highly recommend it. If you are going to use a stain first be sure to use a water based stain as an oil based stain will seal the wood and not allow the Tru-Oil to penetrate. I did not need a stain as the butt stock finished with Tru-Oil nicely matched the forestock. gg.