Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats considering building a full stock pre-64

Got one in the works...will be a 7x57

Utah, you must be a mind reader!
I've had the Brownells catalog out looking at options, just got to make sure the barrel shoots decent first. I'm also checking out swivel options may try to do something nicer than just studs. Not sure about scope mounts yet I've been using Conetrols on a couple of my pre 64s and may use those on this rifle.

Look forward to the pics!

Whatever you do, don't be afraid to remove a lot of wood, then remove some more. Full-stocked rifles made by smiths here in America tend to resemble baseball bats. On a large action such as the 70, Mauser, Springfield, etc. one must keep only a splinter's width of wood around the action. An open pistol grip is almost mandatory for the sleek look of a full-stocked rifle- note the grips on Mannlicher-Schoenauers and BRNO's, and also note how thin the butt stocks and grips are on those rifles too. The last, and perhaps most important, thing is the profile of the fore end- from the front guard screw forward to the tip it needs to have a very subtle reverse camber (concavity) in the profile. That is the main area where our stockmakers screw up, leaving most examples I've seen, including some posted here over the years, look like expensive 2x4's. Taken as a whole, these parameters will yield a stock as graceful as a ballerina. Ignore one or more and it ends up just another also-ran.

Look at a Sako Bavarian Carbine before you spend your money.

My personal projects don't move too fast...I have a few years to wait on the wood to dry....
I milled some walnut from the farm and have some beautiful fetcher crotch..

Pics of the full stock pre 64 after having a front sight and swivel bases installed.
I guess I should have specified to the smith I would have preferred the sight closer to end of the barrel and I think he put the rear swivel base too far back. I bought some used Conetrol mounts and plan on using VX2 2x7 on it. I don't know how it will handle with a scope yet but it feels lively in the hands and points steady as is.