ForrestB,
You mentioned seeing my 308 Norma in progress.

The stock is shaped, sanded and the pores have been filled. Just starting to wetsand with 450 grit. Barrel and action have come back and are soaking in oil. Nice beadblasted blue. I also have a new grip cap to replace the current unfinished one.

It's on track to be a very fine looking rifle.....love the pics!!!!

Ramrod, it's really coming along. Personally, I'd soften the "darts" at the rear of the action. The line looks a little severe compared to the subtle lines on the remainder of the stock; but that's just one opinion. Let's see the metal work also when you have time to post a pic.

Thanks for sharing.

quote:

The line looks a little severe compared to the subtle lines on the remainder of the stock;

You might be right. Looks sharper in the picture than when I'm working on it. Heck after spending all that time keeping them sharp. I'll stick the metal in it tomorrow and take a closer picture of the action area. The action a barrel are nothing special. Just a Daly action with a sporter barrel. Just a 308 Norma to go with it's big brother.

Ramrod is that a GAG stock?

Yep .

OK , Is that the british express?

Didn't mean to be short.
I believe it is their Gody Classic. It was on the bargin list so it just said classic. The Express has a good bit of drop at the heel and the front of the checkpiece curves to the rear.
http://www.gunstocks.com/Stock%20styles.html

ramrod, it is coming along nicely. Good job. Don't be afraid to eliminate items like the raised "dart". Often their stocks have a lot more wood than you need. You end up with something a lot more personal when you start to shape them into something of your own.

It might be a little late in the game for this discussion, but I keep coming back to look at your stock in order to see what it is that is "bothering" me about it (if that's the right word). I think I've figured it out, the "dart" is pretty far forward. I'm used to seeing it behind the bolt, and transitioning into the grip. There is a little sculpting that has to be done to transition from the round grip into the flatter sides of the action at the rear edge of the magazine box. On the left side of your stock it doesn't look so pronounced. Maybe all of this is in the lighting and it's really not as severe as it appears in the pic.

Chic is on the right track though. It looks like you have plenty of wood available to move that line further back and make it less severe.

There's certainly more than one way to skin a cat. Your stock is more like the traditional side-paneled mauser sporter, but without a sculpted front to the panel. I have no idea how thick the stock is through the magazine box, but you must have quite a bit of wood there to work with.

Remember though, all this advice is coming from someone who would never have the guts (much less the skill) to do what you're doing. It's looking good.

quote:

Don't be afraid to eliminate items like the raised "dart".

Actually I want some of the raised "dart" as you call it. When I'm working on it the curves look the same. Side by side in the pictures the curves are different. The grain on the left side softens it some.

Hey if it were easy everyone would do it.

Forrest looking at a couple of yours the dart does appear to be more to the front. Not sure how much is the dart vs the bolt curving rearward vs straight like yours. If the inletting for the bolt was straight the dart would be behind it. I think?

Thanks everyone for their thoughts

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

Forrest looking at a couple of yours the dart does appear to be more to the front. Not sure how much is the dart vs the bolt curving rearward vs straight like yours. If the inletting for the bolt was straight the dart would be behind it. I think?

I see what you mean by the angle of the bolt handle. Your stock is going to look a lot different on the right side with the metal work in it. When I look at the pictures closely and when I examine a nice rifle, I'm amazed at all the different lines and curves that have to come out just right. There are really two subtle darts on my stocks: the first is where the magazine box transitions, and the second is a little further to the rear where the grip transitions from round to flat. NO WONDER I DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

I want to see your rifle in person when you get it finished.