I very much like Minwax clear satin water based Polycrylic. I cut with 25% water and apply very thin coats using a 8" square of clean cotton cloth balled up into a puff ball. It dries almost instantly and can be sanded within fifteen minutes. I apply at least six coats, wet sanding very lightly with 600 grit paper between coats. It gives you a durable finish that's also easy to touch up if the gun gets banged around. Be sure to put a coat or two in the barrel channel to seal it.

http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/...tective-finish

Jeez. I was hoping someone would say some spay on crap in a can would be good.

Crap it would be from a spray can.

I like the hand rubbed oil finish, but it is more work.

That looks pretty nice.

Did you do the barrel yet?

Oops! I went back and looked. You blued the barrel already.

You're almost ready to go shoot it.

Thank you. Working with wood is by no means my strong suit. But once I seal the stain and put it all together I think it will look half decent. I've given it my best shot and I'm fairly well satisfied with it so far. And what the heck, it's given me something to do for the past few days or so and it's been fun to play with.

I have used a minwax spray polyurethane a few times with good outcome.....applying thin even coats about 5 coats is what I always did.....and used oooo steel wool between coats. Always got a nice even sheen and was very durable..

Its looking real good. You didn't waste no time in putting it together. You probably could get it ready for hunting season THIS year!

I know a stock guy that does a heck of job and he just uses tru-oil. I think the way he does it a coat once a day for a week. Then a coat every other day for a week and then once a week for a month. Then does a coat of the stock sheen They turn out fantastic! Actually he is doing a stock for my dad right now.

Does anyone have any opinions on no finish at all. When I put my Hawkins kit together over 20 years ago I never put any kind of finish over the stain. It has darkened up considerably since then. Due probably to oils from my hands and the ones I have used when cleaning the gun. Other than that I have seen no ill effects from not putting a finish over the stain.

I thought the stain was a little too light in color so I just finished putting another coat of stain on the stock. I think it looks much better. I'll post pictures after it dries this evening.