Few days ago I decided it was once again time to do a full body check on my trusty .22cal. This time was different from the other cleaning sessions as I started to look at the actual build of the stock with carpenters eye. The gun is an old Soviet build, stained birch tree stock, bolt action, single shot, no magazine. After few minutes of study I decided that I can do better than that. And so I started doing plans. The stock is a bit short for me, so I added length. For comfort and aesthetics I decided to go for a more modern look on the stock. The most difficult part would be the bedding of the barrel, though knowing Soviet style, it wasn't too complex.
It took me few hours to go thorough the wood we got around drying to find a suitable birch blank for this project. It had low enough moisture level and good grain features. There was a one little split at where the butt would be, so I took it apart from there and epoxied it back in. It is now the sturdiest piece of the butt.
The only power tool I used was our schools bandsaw for cutting out the profile of the gun. Otherwise this is all hand tools project. Chisels and planes ftw!
I didn't take pictures from the early stages of this project, cause I'm stupid, but here are those I did take.
Carving the insides.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_Z...2/IMAG0929.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_Z...2/IMAG0926.jpg
Before the insides...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_Z...2/IMAG0927.jpg
They fit! I couldn't take the barrel to the school with me, so I had to go just by measurements... It worked!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_Z...2/IMAG0932.jpg
Before the bolt was fitted.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_Z...2/IMAG0931.jpg
Shaping, note the epoxied split .
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_Z...2/IMAG0934.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_Z...2/IMAG0933.jpg
Still so much to do.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_Z...0/IMAG0935.jpg
Comparing with the original stock.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_Z...0/IMAG0937.jpg
Some more rounding done.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_Z...2/IMAG0938.jpg
The grip is getting there.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_Z...2/IMAG0939.jpg
I shot five test rounds yesterday, first two with the gun attached to a bench and fired with a piece of cordage, Checked for any movement with the barrel. Nothing alarming found. I did how ever change one screw attaching the barrel to the stock for a new one just to be safe. It is a good gun to shoot.
There is still lot of filing, sanding and polishing to do. And staining and varnishing, but it is getting there.
