anyone tried shaving down a stock?

[Big Al in Nebr]

I'm toying with the idea of shaving down the butt stock on a Handi.  I'm thinking about the grip area mostly, as my hands don't seem to fit the stock too well.  I'm worried about weakening this critical area though.  Has anyone attempted this?  Any advice?

[Jal5]

I am pretty sure someone has done this and reported on it here. you might try searching the posts for stock modification or something like that and see what comes up.

Joe

[Fred M]

There is lots of wood on Handi stocks. The pistol grip can be made a lot smaller
with out sacrificing any strength. I made two stocks like the one in the pictures.

[Dave Weiss]

Big Al, I've done one and am currently working on another. There's enough wood there that you won't weaken anything by reshaping the grip. Use finish remover to get the factory finish off, then sand to suite. I was able to get the grip rounded and reduced with just sandpaper. I used Min-Wax Poly Shade (polyurethane and stain) to refinish the first stock, but I'm going to try Tung oil on my current project. Hope that helps.

>>>===> Dave

[Big Al in Nebr]

Thanks, I'll give it a try!

[knight0334]

Mine aren't factory stocks, but you can get'm down to a flush fit with the receiver if you work at it.

[Prof. Fuller Bullspit]

I used a belt sander on my Target Classic to slim the grip area down. I refinished with mahogany stain (to get the slightly red color) and polyurethane to match the factory treatment. It came out well.

[quickdtoo]

I used a belt sander on my Target Classic to slim the grip area down. I refinished with mahogany stain (to get the slightly red color) and polyurethane to match the factory treatment. It came out well.

How bout a pic!!

[Graybeard]

Fred, was that upper stock made to look like that from a factory stock? If so you sure do fine work.

[greyling]

I'm in the middle of doing an ultra varmit stock right now. I really disliked the way it was oversized in addition to hating the way the checkering felt and ruined the look of the laminate on the gun. I took a belt sander and some 100 grit and paper to mine to shave it down, then finished it off with some 220. it is nowhere near as gorgeously sculpted as Fred's, and lacks his sexy gripcap and buttplate, but is is vastly superior to the stock stock. I am just finishing mine off with some TruOil and it the finish looks as good as Freds. I also cut a section of white 5 gallon bucket and put it between the buttpad and the stock before I started sanding. It looks pretty good. Best of luck.

[Fred M]

Gray beard.
The bottom stock (above pic) is before reshaping.  Top one is the reshaped one from
an Ultra Lam. stock. I made two one for a rebored 257 Roberts and one fore a rebored 6x47.
Both rifles weigh 7.5 lbs. Both started with 223 24" bull barrels. The weight reduction
included milling the barrels octagon. The stocks too went considerable lighter without the heavy recoil pads. Top 257R bottom 6x47. Both are super accurte when the
underlug is not upset.

[db22]

There is an entire "wardrobe" of NEF and H&R stocks for my NEF frames in my collection. All but one have been re-shaped to fit my hand and to better fit the frame. You will find that all stocks interchange, but a stock that is flush with one frame will be proud, or alternately, below the metal, on another. The yellow birch that NEF uses can be stained to a very pretty walnut tone, or anything else you might like. I have had good results with Tru-Oil, and even better with Minwax Antique Oil, as a final finish. Re-finishing the wood is part of the fun of working with Handis. It is addictive!

[greyling]

db22, what do you use to put your final coat or 2 on with? I've been using my finger with the truoil and it works pretty well, but I just can't seem to get that "spray gun in a clean room" glassy finish. is there a better methd?

[Graybeard]

Really beautiful work Fred. I wish I had the ability to work with my hands to make things turn out so nicely. Sadly I'm a klutz at such and usually end up butchering the piece I'm working on. I reckon I got so much good looks that there was no room left over to add talent. 

[Rustyinfla]

  Fred,
    It looks like you checkered the fore ends on those as well. That looks VERY nice!

                             Rusty <><

[Fred M]

Thanks for the compliments Graybeard and Rusty. Been doing gun stocks for a long time as a hobby. Used to do them from scratch using a solid block of wood.

Now you can get them semi inletted  which saves a lot of work. Though some designs are very poor and lack clean lines.

[db22]

Can you imagine what a Handi would cost if it were made at the factory to Fred's standard? Holy smoke, them are good-lookin' rifles!!

Greyling, I use my fingers to rub Tru-Oil into stocks, and buff to a matte finish with four-ought steel wool followed by a clean, coarse shop rag. I had my fill of high-gloss finishes on guns. You'd have to use a spray gun of some kind to get an even gloss, but I have had Tru-Oil dry pretty evenly when thicker coats are applied. I always cut it 50-50 with mineral spirits. Minwax Antique Oil seems to be good as it comes out of the can, though. Dries kinda semi-matte.