Timber Gunstocks, CNC and Digital Scanning

[Spadfa]

Hi All.
Here's a few pics of a couple of stocks I recently carved on the CNC. Technology is awesome these days. These stocks were digitally scanned, modified in CAD and produced on my multihead CNC machine. Our only limitation is our own imagination.

[Wapiti]

It does checkering too?

[GQshayne]

Fantastic result!!!

[Spadfa]

Re: Timber Gunstocks, CNC and Digital Scanning
Unread post by Wapiti » 17 Jun 2026, 5:37 pm

It does checkering too?

Yes -- CNC technology is awesome. Checkering is done using 4th Axis.

[Wapiti]

That's unreal. Is it expensive to get into?
Is the programming fairly straightforward or do you have to have a background in industrial machine programming i.e. laser cutters, plasma ?

[Damo300]

They come out really nice.
Well done.

Do you plan on selling them, or more for your own enjoyment?

[JDM9691]

Very impressive! How smooth do the recoil lugs and mating surfaces come out? I'm guessing you'd still need to bed them, or do they come out fitting like poly stocks?

[Fester]

Nice, the checkering turns out awesome.

Technology eh

[Spadfa]

by Damo300 » 18 Jun 2026, 8:00 am

They come out really nice.
Well done.

Do you plan on selling them, or more for your own enjoyment?

Hi Damo --- The plan is to sell some eventually. I love working with timber so I also get plenty of enjoyment building stocks for others. I also enjoy CADCAM so I can offer custom work. The green stock shown above is an example of customization - it's a Sako 75 that has been modified with a wide flat fore-end for kangaroo harvesting.

[Spadfa]

by JDM9691 » 18 Jun 2026, 10:06 am

Very impressive! How smooth do the recoil lugs and mating surfaces come out? I'm guessing you'd still need to bed them, or do they come out fitting like poly stocks?

Hi JDM9691. The accuracy of the machine and the scanner is 0.01 mm and actions and barrels can fit like a glove. That being said - I still recommend bedding. Each stock I make has large aluminum pillars inserted into the stock before machining the inletting. This way we machine the pillars and the inletting at the same time and accuracy is awesome.

[Spadfa]

Re: Timber Gunstocks, CNC and Digital Scanning
Post by Wapiti » 18 Jun 2026, 5:01 am

That's unreal. Is it expensive to get into?
Is the programming fairly straightforward or do you have to have a background in industrial machine programming i.e. laser cutters, plasma ?

A good CNC machine with 4th or 5th Axis is not cheap. I have a background in CAD CAM programming, however, there is no reason that you could not learn how to design and program in 3D. Many people learn 3d modelling these days when they buy a 3D printer.

[Damo300]

by Damo300 » 18 Jun 2026, 8:00 am

They come out really nice.
Well done.

Do you plan on selling them, or more for your own enjoyment?

Hi Damo --- The plan is to sell some eventually. I love working with timber so I also get plenty of enjoyment building stocks for others. I also enjoy CADCAM so I can offer custom work. The green stock shown above is an example of customization - it's a Sako 75 that has been modified with a wide flat fore-end for kangaroo harvesting.

G'day Spadfa.

Mate, they look fantastic.
Good idea machining the pillars at the same time too. Only have to bed the recoil lug and you're good to go.

I bet you're having a ball. I'm excited for you just reading about it. I'd have a stock for every day of the week... Haha.


Can you cut alloy stock parts as well?

[Wapiti]

Thanks for the info. I've done may CAD drawings for the workshops but never programming. But hey, yes we all could learn.
I've got so many questions but don't want to bombard you.
I'm struggling to find the time and to clear the mind to learn to use the DRO on the workshop mill here at the farm. About time I did.

[bladeracer]

Hi Damo --- The plan is to sell some eventually. I love working with timber so I also get plenty of enjoyment building stocks for others. I also enjoy CADCAM so I can offer custom work. The green stock shown above is an example of customization - it's a Sako 75 that has been modified with a wide flat fore-end for kangaroo harvesting.

Have you considered doing pistol grips as well? Ortho grips for pistols are in the realm of $400 and need to be imported. Having somebody local that can do them would be useful. I got a price to 3D scan a right-handed grip and he wanted $800. I figured I could scan it, reverse it and 3D print a left-handed grip, but at that price it's not viable.

[Faedy]

Bloody great skills there mate

[Spadfa]

by bladeracer » 19 Jun 2026, 9:39 am

"Have you considered doing pistol grips as well? Ortho grips for pistols are in the realm of $400 and need to be imported. Having somebody local that can do them would be useful. I got a price to 3D scan a right-handed grip and he wanted $800. I figured I could scan it, reverse it and 3D print a left-handed grip, but at that price it's not viable."

Hi Bladeracer. To be honest, I had not thought of pistol grips. They would not be hard to do. Flick me a pic of your grip when you get a chance. I would love to see it and would be happy to assist if I can.