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Finishing a Blank McMillan Stock

Jackalope

OI! Boys not Soy Boys
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 8, 2017
467
915
Boise, ID
I was on Gunstox looking for a stock for my model 70 hunting rifle and found a McMillan Varmint that looked like it would fit the bill. The action and bottom metal inlets were right so I took a chance on it.



I was really happy with the shape of it when it arrived so I set about getting it finished up. The stock was raw fiberglass and didn’t have a recoil pad so I began there. I used a hacksaw to cut the stock at the correct angle and length of pull:



I sanded the stock even with 80 grit paper on a block and fine tuned the length of pull. I also flattened the recoil pad and cut some grooves in the butt for some extra grip:





After the epoxy dried, I sanded the pad to the proper contour using a disk sander for the rough work and finishing with a block by hand:



I’m running a proof sendero barrel so had to open up the sporter barrel channel. I used a series of deep sockets wrapped in 80 grit to open it to the right diameter.





With the channel complete, it was time to move on to a TacOps style texture job. I wet sanded the stock with 400 grit and went over it with a red Scotch Brite pad to give the epoxy some tooth. I masked off the areas I wanted textured with 1/8” 3M 471 tape. This tape is really flexible and leaves nice crisp lines.







I mixed up some Devcon 10110 and applied it to the masked areas. I used a gloved finger to raise the texture of the epoxy while wet. I removed the tape about 30 minutes later.





I knocked the texture down with a file, 220 grit paper and a Red Scotch Brite.



With that done, it was time for paint. I decided on a woodland camo duracoat scheme. I used a black base coat followed by tan, brown and green with vinyl stencils in between each coat. I masked off the texturing as I wanted to keep it black.









The edges of the texturing were a little rough so I ended up using the 3M tape to mask a really fine line around the texturing and hit it with another coat of black to clean it up. Finished product:








I’m happy with the way it turned out and it has the vintage style I was after. Im into the stock for about $370 after paint and supplies and I think it’s a pretty good way to save some money if you’re willing to do some work. Will update with finished photos of the rifle after I cerakote the metal.
 
Nice job. I wondered about some of those stocks on Gunstox.com. I'll keep a closer eye on them from now on, maybe I'll find one for my Rem700 LH LA.
 
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I think you did an awesome job on that! The paint is cool too! The grip texture looks a little rough for me but it probably feels more comfortable in person than it looks in the picture. I’m sure it gives fantastic grip though!
 
I think you did an awesome job on that! The paint is cool too! The grip texture looks a little rough for me but it probably feels more comfortable in person than it looks in the picture. I’m sure it gives fantastic grip though!

Thanks! It definitely looks more aggressive than it feels. Once you knock all the “peaks” off with a file it mellows it out a bunch.
 
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I like your rifle even better now that I know you did the work your self!
 
Thanks for sharing that. I've been pondering picking up one of those stocks for my old Model 70. The wood stock busted years ago when my dad dropped it climbing out of a stand. Right now it's in a cheap Ram-Line stock and I just cant bear it anymore.

Appreciate the detailed photos and instructions. That stock looks amazing and I have everything I need to do one. Thanks for the inspiration sir.
 
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Great job! I, for one, appreciate work that is hand made by the end user. It shows dedication
 
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Nice work!!! I’m not sure I have the skill or nerve to attempt this but I would like to get there one day!

I get you. I just finished doing two brand new edge fill stocks. Those are a little hairy at over $600 each. Learned on the first one that there isn’t much on these stock that can’t be fixed with a little marine Tex. Give it a shot!

This one I filled the barrel channel to a featherweight contour, cut the LOP, bedded it, filled the checkering and repainted:








This one was a LOP trim, pad fit, install/mold in flush cups and paint:



 
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All of these turned out really well... I might have to start playing around with some stocks...might have to buy a cheapo just to do some work to it
 
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What are your thoughts about maybe starting out with modifications on wood stocks before attempting mods on fiberglass?
 
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saw these on ebay and was tempted. Not sure I could have tackled it and made it look like this. Awesome
 
7061553
 
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