What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

[Jig Stick]

I have this beautiful walnut stock blank that I have been sitting on for a while. I kind of want to use it now, and build a classic hunting rifle that I can use for any animal in the lower 48 states. A friend of my gunsmith carves these stocks by hand. It takes him a few months to complete, but they are beautiful. My friends have had a few made. But what I am stuck on is caliber.

Im going with a Bat Action, Krieger barrel, and Jewell trigger. I was leaning heavily towards a 30.06, but my smith said I should look into the 7mm family. There are a lot of choices with the 7mm, and honestly I get lost when trying to decipher which one to choose. The 30.06 is a classic piece of Americana. And I want to pass this gun down to my kids. I also want to be able to walk into any mom and pop shop and have ammo available, even 30years down the road. Any advice?

 

[JWV]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

I have a black walnut blank that looks just like that and am in the same predicament. A 30-06 would be a fine choice for pretty much any North American game or you could do a 7mm Win mag, I can't imagine not being able to find that ammo. I personally would go 30-06, excellent performance and you would be very hard pressed to find a place that didn't have multiple varieties of ammo.

 

[Jig Stick]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

Thats what I am thinking. I have a few rifles chambered in 300winmag, and that is what I shoot mostly. I do however love the 7WSM and the 7mmWinmag. But barrel life is short. And if my kids dont ever reload ammo like I do, I still want them to be able to use this gun. I guess I could also consider a 270rem, but dont you think thats a little to small, say, for moose or elk?

 

[santee116]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

280 or 280AI would make a nice "classic" with that stock and many stores carry 280 ammo on the shelf.

 

[flyrodder]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

Pretty hard to beat the versatility and availability of the .30-06. I really like the .270 Winchester, too, and it has some history and is easy to find ammo for, so I suggest you think through what kind of hunting you really think you'll do with it before you settle on a cartridge. I would rather have something ideal for most of what I do if I can't do it all with one.

For the recoil sensitive, .30-06 seems to be a threshold cartridge - at it or above they flinch, but below it they are ok. Food for thought, and looks like a nice piece of wood. Good luck!

 

[jbell]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

I would go with a 30-06 in a 10 twist throated for a heavy bullet and hunt anything in North America with it.

 

[former naval person]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

.30-06. No question.

 

[el gordo2]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

I went through the same dilema. Had a blank that was collecting dust for years and decided to go with 6.5x284. The 30-06 and 270 Win will definately get you through the " I can get ammo anywhere" concern.

 

[Joel989]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

There are rifle stocks, and then “There Are Rifle Stocks”

Beautiful!!! Thanks.

 

[Bluejazz]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: el gordo2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I went through the same dilema. Had a blank that was collecting dust for years and decided to go with 6.5x284. The 30-06 and 270 Win will definately get you through the " I can get ammo anywhere" concern.

</div></div>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Who did the stock work for you, and what style stock is that?
Ver nice!</span>

 

[Tomg]

Re: What to do with this Walnut Stock Blank

I was in the same situation a few ago with two blanks, I finally made one into the 30-06 and the other is a 6.5-284 and love them both, I will definitely pass these on to my son.

I'd go with the 30-06 it is on of the best all around calibers.