All weather guide gun, finally Alaska worthy!

[Thebear_78]

I have had a stainless guide gun for a little while now and was a little worried about how the wood stock would hold up to alaskan weather, IE wet, really wet.  I had toyed with the idea of getting the WWG synthetic stock for it but at 250 for an unfinished stock it was a little too pricy for me.  

I figured out a easy anwer today.  I swung by WWG and purchased a factory wood stock for the guide gun, they often have a few laying around from when the replace them with their synthetic stocks.  I got it for a reasonable price too, $50.  I compleletly sealed the inside with minwax sealer and then roughed up the outside and gave it several coats of spray on bedliner.  I really like the spray on bedliner,  it has a really good texture to it.  Its rubbery and textured which allows for a very positive grip.  Now I can go ahead and use this rifle the way I want to and not worry about it getting wet.

[Wilbe Lead]

Hi Thebear_78,
Looks like a great setup.
That gun looks like it has had a little custom work do there.
What caliber is it now?
Where did you get it done?
Later
Wilbe Lead

[Thebear_78]

Wilbe,

Its basically just a standard stainless guide gun.  The only custom work has been a few after market accessories that I installed myself.

XS ghost ring sights-  very easy to install, rear sight mounts in the back two screw holes tapped in the receiver for scope mounts.  Front sight replaces factory front sight.  It takes about 5 mintues to install.

XS scout scope base-  mounts in the front two tapped screw holes for the front two screws of the scope mount hole.  and front attaches in the dovetail from the rear factory sight.  Takes about 10 minutes to install.

Wild West Guns oversize lever loop-  its a drop in fit but it might take some fitting to get it fit snuggly.  I used a small plasitc washer to take up the slack and give it a very tight fit.  Less than a minute to drop in but might take a little while to get it tight.

Wild west trigger kit-  Its basically a drop in fit but does take some time to dissassemble the trigger mechanism.  Some minor fitting might be required.

Wild west magazine plunger-  Drop in, takes less than 5 minutes. Replaces factory plastic magazine plunger with aluminum one.

The stock work I did myself this afternoon.  Completely sealed the inside of the wood and several coats of spray on bedliner to get a nice hard shell on the outside.  Took a couple hours.

Its still a 45/70 and I don't see any reason to change that.  I have a couple of loads worked up for it that are extremely accurate.  I really like the 405gr Rem JSP and H322 @ 1800fps and 405gr Kodiak JSP @ 1850fps.  Between those two loads I'm good for anything that you will find running around alaska.  Both loads print to the same point of impact and will shoot 1 1/4-1 1/2 groups at 100 yards.

[TennesseeNuc]

Nice job.

[biglmbass]

I like it, and I may just have to do the same thing.  Sharp looking rifle you've got there.

[pc]

Very nice looking rifle !!,

I would like stainless guide gun like that !!

[billpool]

I have had a stainless guide gun for a little while now and was a little worried about how the wood stock would hold up to alaskan weather, IE wet, really wet.  I had toyed with the idea of getting the WWG synthetic stock for it but at 250 for an unfinished stock it was a little too pricy for me.  

I figured out a easy anwer today.  I swung by WWG and purchased a factory wood stock for the guide gun, they often have a few laying around from when the replace them with their synthetic stocks.  I got it for a reasonable price too, $50.  I compleletly sealed the inside with minwax sealer and then roughed up the outside and gave it several coats of spray on bedliner.  I really like the spray on bedliner,  it has a really good texture to it.  Its rubbery and textured which allows for a very positive grip.  Now I can go ahead and use this rifle the way I want to and not worry about it getting wet.

Hi:
I've searched high & low for synthetic stock for my 1895G 45-70 and can only find WWG  who only sells synthetic blanks.  I don't want to ship my gun from CO to AK so that looks like the only choice.  was wondering if you've noted just how much work their blanks are going to require to get fitted and if most of the work comes in the mating areas or what.  Also like your idea with the sealer and bedliner.  Can you tell me your opinion of just how you think it's holding up in the wet weather so far?
Thanks
bill

[Thebear_78]

Bill-

I think that not only do the stock blanks need some final inletting but they also need  an exterior coating as well.  Probably not a lot of work to be done but definately not a drop in affair.  


The bedliner is holding up great,  it spent most of the year bouncing around the inside of the airboat and getting drug thru the tightest, heavy cover I could find.  Its as durable as any other material I have ever found for rifle stocks.  IF there is a chip or nick it is easily fixed with another little spray of bedliner.  I used it for almost a month strait in constant rain with no ill effect.  I think it is very important to put a good sealer on the interior of the wood.   I didn't notice any swelling or cracking of the wood and even when wet the bedliner still provides very positive grip.   It has proven to be about as weather proof as you can get.

[45-70]

Back on the old "Marlin Talk" there was an effort to petition Hogue Grips to start making a synthetic two-piece stock for the SS guide gun.  One of those rubberized types with metal inserts in strategic places for strength and durability.  I'd love to have one for my custom GS in rough weather...I figure it would be big seller amoung the 336, 1894 & 1895 crowd! :grin:

[Thebear_78]

I'm sure that would make a nice stock.  I have a hogue overmolded stock on my 375 H&H and they are very comfortable stocks.

[billpool]

Bill-

I think that not only do the stock blanks need some final inletting but they also need  an exterior coating as well.  Probably not a lot of work to be done but definately not a drop in affair.  


The bedliner is holding up great,  it spent most of the year bouncing around the inside of the airboat and getting drug thru the tightest, heavy cover I could find.  Its as durable as any other material I have ever found for rifle stocks.  IF there is a chip or nick it is easily fixed with another little spray of bedliner.  I used it for almost a month strait in constant rain with no ill effect.  I think it is very important to put a good sealer on the interior of the wood.   I didn't notice any swelling or cracking of the wood and even when wet the bedliner still provides very positive grip.   It has proven to be about as weather proof as you can get.

Sounds great Thebear!

I've got the cans of  bedliner spray standing by now and am looking for a good wood sealer as well as a source for wood for the 1895G as I want to keep the original for later.  In the process of all of my searching, I've gotten an email back from MPI also.  The gent says that they have fiberglas replacements for the 1895G also.  FWIW.  Thanks again.

bill
 :toast:

[Thebear_78]

Try giving wild west guns a call they usually have some takeoff stocks form the ones they replace with synthetic stocks.  Thats where I got my set that I bedlinered, my original had great grain.    

WWW.wildwestguns.com

their phone number is on the website.

[billpool]

Try giving wild west guns a call they usually have some takeoff stocks form the ones they replace with synthetic stocks.  Thats where I got my set that I bedlinered, my original had great grain.    

WWW.wildwestguns.com

their phone number is on the website.

Got my 1895G wood via ups today and am waiting on Midway to ship me some Dem-Bart Stock Sealer and Filler then all should be ready.  I still want to contact my favorite gunsmith and see about a Limbsaver grind to fit, pad  other than that I'm ready to do the deed.  Question, did you use steel wool on the stock?  Inside before sealer and outside before the bedliner?

Thanks Again
bill