I recently picked up a 30-06 that was built on a FN commercial action with hinged steel bottom metal. The stock is a really beautiful piece of English that was a bit over-inletted and amatuerishly done. I can correct or minimize most of the problems, but the bottom of the mag wall hangs exposed by about 1/16", too enthusiastic on the sanding I suspect. It also has a reasonably well done checkering job so I am limited to what I can do wood-wise. I was thinking of shortening the top of the mag to seat the metal deeper in the stock to get the bottom flush, but then I would have to reshape the grip and the foreend, screwing up the checkering, damned if I can figure out any other way to do it, so I am asking for advice to try to salvage this stock! Thanks, Lee.

Lee,

Show us a picture....we might be able to help a bit more then.

Sounds like the top of your mag box is already touching the bottom of the reciever with screws tightened, sense you want to file the top of the mag box. Id hate to see you file the box top though.

I think Chic told me once ya want about .030-.040 at least, gap between the box and the reciever when inlet bedding a mauser.

I got to thinking(DOH!) and decided to spot in the guard. You guessed it, behind the mag and to the sides of the trigger he had left it high and then tightening the guard screws put it in a bind and "humped" the middle! I don't know why I did not check it first! When I looked at the top of the magazine thru the feed rails, I saw the front was flush but the back was down over 3/16". I will have to rebed anyway, so I will get it all straightned out. Thanks! Lee.