.17 Remington Project Rifle

[GQshayne]

I tried something different on this stock, and have finished it with a wax finish. I think it now looks like many factory timber stocked rifles you see now. No doubt the process is different, but it is less glossy than it was before with just the Tru Oil, a bit lighter in colour, and very smooth.

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Bolt handle is quite understated, but in comparison to the original one, I like it a lot better. And it is a personalised piece, something that cannot be bought, and made from timber collected from where I have hunted in western Qld - gidgee.

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Having completed the woodwork to my satisfaction, I went back to the trigger which has a small amount of creep. Obviously, if you can shoot a sub moa group it is not bad, but my other Tikka has none at all. So more work needed. After some more polishing of the trigger without a total result (improved, but not 100%), I decided I had to remove the sear, which I was hoping to not have to do. But I managed to remove and re-install the assembly and have it function as intended, so all went well. And no more creep.

So next job will be to polish up that old metal work. As you can see in the photos, it is a bit shabby, but does not have any major pitting. So it should polish up well. I have resurrected much worse than this, so should not be a problem. Polishing will be in preparation of a two colour Cerakote job. Once again when time permits. But I have said that a few times, and work is progressing quicker than intended. My stuffed elbow is preventing me doing any harder work, which is more important, but I cannot do. So at least the rifle is progressing nicely.

[GQshayne]

This magazine has a plastic insert to suit the smaller cartridge, which has to be removed for Cerakoting. Took a bit of thinking to work out how it came out. The .222 mag is my dad's for a reference for re-assembly.

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I have used JB Weld to plug a few holes that are not required before coating. This works quite well. As you can see the barrel is partly polished here. I was going to take a couple of pictures when it was finished - but I forgot. Just as well no-one much is interested anyway. Everything has been done, bolt, mag, barrel and action, mounts etc, all by hand with file, sandpaper, and steel wool. Takes time, but comes up perfect. This is only done with about 240 and some 400 paper, but JB had to be filed flat before continuing.

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[GQshayne]

Now waiting for material to arrive at the coaters, then the rifle will go in. Should be done soon! Pretend Xmas present to myself.

[marksman]

its coming along great GQ
the waiting is the worst part hey

[GQshayne]

its coming along great GQ
the waiting is the worst part hey

It is being done a lot quicker than originally planned actually. But that is not a bad thing. I bought it in June, so six months or so by the time it goes back together.

[GQshayne]

Something I forgot to mention. This is now the fourth time I have sanded a rifle back for coating. I reckon three of those had rust UNDER the bluing. So it looked good, but as soon as you rubbed the bluing back a bit you could see corrosion underneath. I am doing old rifles of course, so newer stuff would most probably be fine, but anyone doing an old rifle should keep this in mind. I think it is worth the effort to rub them back. You can remove any imperfections, and makes sure there is no hidden corrosion.

[GQshayne]

Still waiting for my coating to be done, but these things happen. I am told he is hoping to do it between Xmas and new year, in conjunction with another job using the same colours. Taking time to get the colours in, as the distributor has been ill. Or something. Anyway, these things happen, so must be patient.

The original stock I have no use for, so it was always going to be sold off later. But I had intended to re-finish it first. No point trying to sell an old, well worn stock to some that already has an old, well worn stock. Better if it is tarted up a bit, and given that I have had some practice with doing stocks, no big deal.

As you can see from an earlier photo, the standard M55 stock is not a bad thing. Not a lot of grain, but stained nicely.

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I decided to strip it back to bare timber to see what it was like underneath. I reckon compared to the Deluxe stocks it obviously has less figuring, but also I think they are finished to a lesser standard. Basic finishing, and then stained and a grain filler and sealer used before the final coating. When I stripped it back, there was a lot more open grain than the fancier stocks I have done, and it took more work to bring it up to similar standard. I have decided to put the work into the timber, no stain, and no filler. So lots of sanding, wet sanding, and rubbing back, to get a nice finish

So far it is looking quite nice, and something different to a standard M55 stock. Getting rubbed back again here, ready for final coats. The rubbing back with the ultra fine 0000 steel wool is probably the hardest part. Plenty of effort, and it takes about an hour and a half each time. Gets a good sweat up!

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[deanp100]

Hi mate. What wax did you use on the deluxe stock?
Cheers
Deano

[GQshayne]

Hi mate. What wax did you use on the deluxe stock?
Cheers
Deano

It was just a Kitten auto wax Deano. From the reading I did, anything that uses carnuba wax is suitable, with people using auto products as well as furniture products. I have not tried one of the specialist gun waxes - Birchwood Casey make one though.

[deanp100]

Interesting. Your finish has a nice glow to it. I have played with a few of the furniture waxes and they were a bit underwhelming. I have always liked a bit of shine on my wood, and the waxes never produced it. I will have a look at the car waxes, it may be the next big thing.
Cheers
Deano

[GQshayne]

Interesting. Your finish has a nice glow to it. I have played with a few of the furniture waxes and they were a bit underwhelming. I have always liked a bit of shine on my wood, and the waxes never produced it. I will have a look at the car waxes, it may be the next big thing.
Cheers
Deano

No doubt it will depend on what you are putting it over too. On the stock above, I rubbed the stock back with steel wool before waxing it, so it was quite flat to start with. If you put it over a glossier finish it would no doubt be different, likely a lot brighter. I found an old article that suggested rubbing over Tru Oil "with a hard carnuba wax", and polishing it quite hard. That would be another alternative.

https://www.ssaa.org.au/stories/hints-tips-gunstock-refinishing.html

[Am88]

Kind of would like to find a Deluxe stock now for my lsa55, just a bit more shape to it. Also like the car wax idea, I have a few products at home I think that I could look at that I have for my car, I have tried dubbin before but did not like it at all, the stock on mine has been stripped back and then finished with equal thirds of BLO, turps and spar varnish, quite a few coats, may try some wax over the top and see what sought of finish I can get.

[GQshayne]

I used a liquid carnuba based wax. No sure about others, but reckon they would be similar.

Plenty of options to try for sure. I have only ever used Tru Oil, but there are a lot on the market. Birchwood Casey make a Gun Wax, so that would be an option too. I will have the M55 stock finished in a day or so, so I will put up a picture when it is done.

[GQshayne]

Here is the original stock, with an "off the gun" Tru Oil Finish using my method. From here, there a few options to finish it depending on preference, but seeing as I do not need it, it will be sold. No point me picking the finishing touch, so I will leave it to the new owner to make it satin, waxed etc.

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[GQshayne]

And here is the old stock compared to the Deluxe stock I have for it.

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[GQshayne]

Here are a few photos of the completed job. Cerakote is Cobalt on the barrel and action and Gloss Black on everything else. Just a subtle contrast between the two, which works well.

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[GQshayne]

What started this project was the thought that I would get a matching rifle for my old LSA55, in .243. So here they are side by side. I decided to make them slightly different, so Cerakote is different colours, and stock finish is different too. Scopes are both Meopta Meostars, but the .243 has a 2-12x50, and the .17 has a 2.5-15x56. And a fancy hand made bolt knob.

Stock colour is not as pronounced as it seems in the photo, as the LSA55 is in less light.

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[marksman]

what a top job

[Potatoes]

Too bad those rifles cant make babies hey

[Stix]

What a nice pair of rifles GQshane...
And i love the timber on the latest ine...
You've done such a great job-- -well done...!!!

It must feel great to shoot them...

[Oldbloke]

great job

[Am88]

Looks beautiful, nice job

[GQshayne]

Thanks fellas. They are very nice rifles, so I can see why others like them, as I do. And they are nice to use for sure.

The photo does not do the .243 any favours, as it is behind, and in less light. It was a dull afternoon when I took the photo. The different finish between the two makes a difference, as does looking at the other side, where there is more grain in it. Turn them both around, and the.243 has the most grain. I guess that is part of the character of a niece piece of walnut.

So, apart from making up some handloads and sighting it in again when the next opportunity allows, I guess it is finished.

[Stix]

Well maybe the rifle is, but not yet for the thread......

You could put a couple of other pics of the 243 up, & then a few posts as you develop a load for it...

Its not really fair to share a good bit of porn then switch us off right before the money shot...

[GQshayne]

Well maybe the rifle is, but not yet for the thread......

You could put a couple of other pics of the 243 up, & then a few posts as you develop a load for it...

Its not really fair to share a good bit of porn then switch us off right before the money shot...

LOL

I have a couple of things left to do, so when I have them out on the weekend I will take a better shot or two of the .243 for you.

As for load development, I think that is a done deal already. The W760 load I used to shoot the sub moa group will be the one I use.

[GQshayne]

Handloading done today, so now I have 50 rounds of 25gn V Max behind 26gn of W760. So a few to sight it in again and check grouping and then the rest will be left for when a hunting opportunity presents itself. Given I have nowhere good to go at the moment, who knows when that will be. But I will be ready!

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[GQshayne]

Oh, and I need a dedicated loading bench, which I will set up on my next property!!

[GQshayne]

A couple more photos of the .243 for you Stix. I remember when I got the stock for the .17 I decided it was nice, but not as good as the one I already had on the .243. It just goes to show you the finish the stock makes a difference to the end result. The different method I used on the new stock for the .17 has really brought it up nicely. The old one is still pretty nice though.

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