Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    
    Cowboy, I've never done anything like this but I don't see why
    it could'nt be done. If you have the tools give it a try. Since it
    is a .22 (no recoil)you could probably use a blank piece of pine. The tools
    you'll need will be a hammer, files, saw, chisel, vice, drill, 
    maybe a few other things plus lots of time. Why not give it a go
    and let us know how it turned out. 
    
                                      Walt

 I would never use pine. It's too soft, it warps, it's too knotty, and it
cracks very easily. If you dropped your gun forget it. If you really want
to make one from scratch (must be nice to have lots of free time) try using
a piece of well seasoned hardwood. Better yet, get a blank stock from a vendor
and just finish it.

 The Doctah

    
    Black-Walnut or if you want to try something local use Maple.
    
    Maple was used in the 1800's on many, not all, muzzle-loaders.
    
    Rick
    

    
    Oh yeah, don't forget it must be kilin dried
    

    
    I'm not so sure about the kiln dried - most top grade stocks are made
    from naturally dried wood (it sometimes takes 20 years to mature a
    blank).
    
    Commercially blanks are rough cut by means of a machine called a
    duplicating router. I borrowed one a while back with a view to buying
    one to make stocks, but decided I was over committed to get into that
    work. Anyway you start with a fitted stock (the one you take off the
    rifle) and use the duplicator to cut the blank so that it rough fits
    the gun. You then duplicate as much of the outside of the new stock as
    you want from the old one, which can be built up with modeling clay as
    necesary. 
    
    Then you carefully finish the stock to your tastes...
    
    Anyway you might do better asking in DELNI::WOODWORKING_AND_TOOLS as
    it is more of a woodwork question than a guns question.
    
    /. Ian .\

    Thanks for all the responses. Ian, I'll do that, I don't know why I
    didn't think of the woodworking file first.
    
    
    Cowboy

     My father did this for his side by side and it turned out great he
    wrote to a dealer and they talked for awile he wound up giving my
    father a nice piece of wood for half price. Remember if your going to
    put alot of time in it get a good piece of wood not pine. after you do
    it you can have your name or somthing meaningfull carved into it once 
    you cut the stock have a good gun dealer put it on the gun itself. You
    can use the gun the hole time your sanding and filing it down ( time 
    consuming).It is something you can show poeple every time you go
    shooting with it.
     
     Kev

      Another type of wood to consider using would be Birch, or Walnut.
    
    Most of the medium to high quality stocks are typically Walnut,
    and your lower priced guns often are Birch. For example in shotguns
    a Remington Express-870 the stock is birch, and a Remington Wingmaster
    sports a walnut stock.
    
      Using kiln dried wood is a must, and must be kept and worked in
    a reasonably dry, low humidity enviorment until it is done and a
    sealer is put onto the stock.
    
          Good Luck and Good Hunting, 
       
                                   << Jeff >>

    Thanks for all the replies. I think for now I'm going to try the
    "extended" butt plate (recoil pad) idea. Making my own stock seems to
    be more involved than I really want to get into for now. I may try it
    later though.
    
    Thanks again.
    
    Happy shooting and good luck to everyone still hunting.
    
    Cowboy