My resource for gun smith questions is out of pocket right now, so I will ask ya'll if ya'll don't mind...

I have an old cheapy SILE gun stock that used to hold a springfield A303 that I would like to try to re-finish (newbie alert!!). I assume I should sand it down and re-finish, right? but what about the checkering? I am fairly certain I do not want to sand that...right? I do I just have to BE REAL CAREFUL not ot sand out/down the checkering??

also, what grain sandpaper should I use and what do I use to re-finish?

Also, will any other action fit in this stock, or do I need to find another A303 to put in there?

Thank you

Dave

If you want a really smooth finish try scraping the stock instead of sanding. You can buy scrapers at Woodcraft type stores or make you own from any assortment of hard steel blades like plane blades. The idea is to hold the blade perpendicular to the surface and draw it just to remove the finish, not into the wood. I did an Egyptian Hakim (back when they were $75 out of shotgun news) with an old Swiss Army knife main blade and then rubbed in two coats of Formsby's satin Tung Oil. Smooth as a baby's butt! Took about an hour to scrape and two 15 minute sessions a day apart with the oil. And yes, still stay away from the checkering.

really? just that easy?? hhhmmmmmmmmmmmm

what about the action? what else can I drop in her? or am I stuck with A303?

That probably sounded easier than it actually was but it was far easier than going through all the progressive sanding steps a new piece of wood requires. The factory already did that part for you so why duplicate the effort? Usually newbies sand way to much and ruin the stock lines anyway. Lastly, since you're not sanding or chemically stripping thru the existing sealer that step is eliminated too (assuming you're not to addressive with the scraper). If the stock has dents you can raise them after scraping. Do a search for "stock dents" and you'll find lots on that topic.

As far as inletting for a different action, you are stuck there, amigo.

how do I go about picking up an A303 action????????????

Start haunting gunbroker.com and auctionarms.com. Subscribe to the Gun List, too. Be careful though because you can probably buy a complete sporterized rifle for less than the parts you want to accumulate to do this one.

WOW! that finish sure comes offfairly easy with an old pocket knife blade! got about 75% of it done in about 40 minutes!

still wondering about the checkering though...will I just put an "extra" coat of finish on it when I finish the rest of the stock? and what is the best way to find out what kind of wood the stock is made of?

tiggertate, thank you for the help so far! and those A303's are not cheap? bummer...does it have to be a303, or can I go with any bolt action springfield 30 06?
I'd really like to do a project like his in a 223 caliber, now that I have a truck load of 223's (thank you M1Tanker!!) But at least this one is good practice!

Thank you again

Dave

You got me there; what I know about Springfields wouldn't fill a thimble. I would work around the checkering until you finish the stock. You can always come back after the fact and work on it if necessary.

well, I got it all scrapped off, save the checkering! Not too bad at all!

NOW WHAT?

any anyone want to take me step by step on how to glass bed this stock??

Try some paint remover and a stiff tooth brush for the checkering.