I'm building a 300 H&H rifle, Winchester Modle 70 Classic action and Lother Walter barrel. I talked to Mr Smart thursday about using one of his Acra Bond stocks(www.acrabondlaminates.com) he asked about wood types and grade I would like to use. I don't have a clue. I mean, I'd like more figure than the factory straight grain stock I'm replacing. But this is going to be a working rifle not a show piece so is the "A" to "AA" upgrade worth $100? Whats the differnce between American Black Walnut and California English Walnut. Anybody got any photos of the wood or Smart stocks?

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Mark
http://communities.msn.com/20012002HuntingSeasoninAlabama/homepage

Mark, if you are going to this kind of effort, you will want to upgrade the wood from the plain jane vanilla variety. You can't upgrade it in the future. I personally would spend more than 100 on an upgrade.

Black Walnut is a species that is native to North America. California English is the name given locally to nut trees found in nut orchards in Northern California. It is the same variety (juglans regia) as French Walnut, English Walnut, Turkish, etc. Soil conditions and moisture make them grow differently. The California english is very good wood.

Mr Smart has a pretty good selection of wood in his shop. A number of the blanks I saw the last time I was up there were "too nice" to laminate.

Pay the extra as Mr Worthing mentioned you won't be sorry.

Mr. Smart had a brochure with pictures of his wood and a couple of his stocks, you might ask if he can send you one. Having spent a little time with him, I would feel comfortable telling him to pick me a nice one. You will get at least what you paid for.

[This message has been edited by RussT (edited 02-04-2002).]