Restock with a different model stock? Why not?

[mannyrock]

 
Dear Guys,
   I am looking at a pre-64 Winchester 70 featheweight in .308.  The metal and bore are excellent, but the stock is pretty beat up.   I like the actions of the pre-64, but really don't like the overly thick, clubby stock.
  What I would really like is one of the sleek Schnaubel style stocks that came on the Model 70 XTR featherweights.
  I know that the results would not be perfect, but is there any compelling reason why I could not buy a used XTR stock, basically "fill up" the interior (where the action sits) with brown accra glass, and just start from there, to custom fit one of these stocks to a pre-64?
   Yes I know that the action screw holes may not line up, but PC Woody two-part epoxy looks like wood and dries as hard as iron, and could easily fill up an out-of-aligned hole, so that I could drill a new one.  This would go for a recoil lug space as well.
   And it may be that when I am finished, there is some brown accra-glass peaking out of the top or bottom of the stock, around the action or bottom metal, but I have been highly successful at refinishing stock patched with brown accra-glass, so that you can't even tell the accra-glass is there.
  I am very handy with tools and woodwork, and have made minor stock modification before to fit actions, but have never tried the whole-hog.  I know that I would have to get a shorter magazine box, since the XTR Featherweights only held 3 or 4 in the mag, instead of 5.
  Any advice?
 
Thanks, Mannyrock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[spruce]

Have you considered just getting a semi-inlet stock from Boyd's and shaping the contour to your liking?
 
Or, unless you want to save the original stock, you could reshape that.  I realize even if the stock is somewhat beat up it's originality may still have some value.

[mannyrock]

 
  Thanks for the thoughts Spruce, but the real beauty of the modern  Featherweight stocks is not just the forend, but the great wrap around, floral, checkering.  No way to reshape the existing stock without trying to sand off all of the old checkering (almost impossible to do on a 60 year old stock), and recheckering it(which would cost more than a new rifle.   It may possible to reshape the Boyd's stock, but again, no checkering. 
 
  I will keep the original stock of course, but really would like to  have a modern featherweight stock.
Manny
 

[Nobade]

It wouldn't be wood, but it may be possible for McMillan to inlet one of their featherweight stocks for a pre-64. Might be worth a phone call if you didn't mind the fiberglass look.

[Dave in WV]

It wouldn't be wood, but it may be possible for McMillan to inlet one of their featherweight stocks for a pre-64. Might be worth a phone call if you didn't mind the fiberglass look.

And ask about a "McWoody" finish.
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/6563379/1

[DAT19K]

there are alot of really nice stocks out there with 96% - 99% inletting. one place that comes to mind is richards micro fit stocks.

[gunnut69]

I haven't tried this the actions are basically the same! The stock should just require minor fitting.. Of course the M70 has had a short action introduced, the pre-64 did not.. If the stock is a long action all should be well. There are some conture differences but  don't remember the differences.. they are minor. I put one of those featherweight style stocks on a Ranger in 243 (pushfeed). The fit was great.. Checkering I did myself..It's not too hard and a learning project.

[oneoldsap]

                      I recently fit a pre-64 featherweight into a post 64 stock . It's a little work to fit it but the results were good . You must use a long action stock though . The rear tang screw has to be moved forward about 1/8 inch . I did this by removing most of the wood between the trigger mortice and the tang screw and glassing in an aluminum pillar . First I bedded the recoil lug and an inch of barrel , than I installed the pillar and bedded the rear of the tang . Lastly since the stock I used was for a standard barrel contour , I bedded the entire barrel channel (floated barrel) . I was able to do this , including the cost of the used stock ($60.00) and a refinish for $300.00 . My customer was tickled pink , and it shoots perfectly . Of course the Shilen trigger doesn't hurt .

[mannyrock]

 
    Thanks guys for all of this excellent info.
Mannyrock

[gunnut69]

If you use a M70 featherweight stock (modern) the barrel channel will be very close.