Gunnut69 is right. Cherry is good for smaller calibers only. It has a nasty habit of exploding into splinters when way overstressed. Usually it just cracks, breaks up, and falls apart; diehearteneing to be sure. You'll be safe with "squarrel" calibers.
Cherry is plain. In the right circumstances, the simplicity is an attribute. I like working with it, little tear out, finishes very nicely, all the things you wish the exotic woods would do. Since Cherry is low in silicates, tools don't dull as fast either. If you want to bring out more of the orangish color, put it under a UV source. Sunlight will work, flourescants will too, just takes longer. Keep an eye on it, you don't want to do it for too long, it will bleach.
My application was a barrel a great-great-great....uncle had on his rifle in the early 1800's. The rifle was built around it with the idea of reproducing something like he had. Since there are no records of what it was, imagination supplied details. The rifle was used to supply dinner, so it would have been simple....this rifle is probably 15+ years old.
Forgot to mention,this is a 36 caliber, it was a 32 before the barrel was "refreshed". It was in bad shape. Thankfully wrought iron is easy to work with.
Give it a try,
Chris
