Fancy Rifle?

Question

Im currently refinishing my 308 rifle stock but i want to make it look more 'fancy'. Any hints

Answer 1

I'm kinda old-fashioned, so I disagree with these guys and their suggestions for funky camo paint and high-gloss varnish.

In my opinion, to make a rifle truly elegant, the finish should be simple and understated, not glaring like a hooker in church.

If you are re-finishing a wood stock, it depends on the quality of the wood. If it has lots of figure, you could add some checkering to wrist and forearm. Not only would it improve the looks, it will help you hold the rifle when your hands are sweating profusely as you sight in on a Boone and Crockett Record buck. If you are not experienced at stock checkering, practice on some scrap wood before tackling your gunstock, or have a competent gunsmith do the checkering for you. If the stock is just an ordinary garden variety stock with straight grain and no figure, checker it yourself, after some practice

As for finish, IMNSHO, nothing tops a nice handrubbed oil finish. It has a very dull sheen, and it protects the wood from moisture as well as the shiny stuff, and the reflection won't spook the game.

If you really want to gussy things up, have the all the metal re-blued. You can do it yourself, but in my experience, cold blue does not hold up as well as hot bluing.

If you don't have Quick Detach Sling Swivels, this would be a good time to add them. And a good shooting sling will also be helpful. My personal preference is for good leather, but Browning markets a really useful webbing sling that quickly adjust from a carry strap to a shooting sling.

One more thing, If you don't know how to use a shooting sling, learn! It is the next best thing to carrying around a portable shooting bench, and lots more handy.

Doc

Answer 2

If you are you are simply refinishing the stock, a deep stain with high gloss varnish looks nice. As long long as the steel and wood are separated you might as well touch-up the bluing as well.
For myself, I like personalizing my guns. I refinished the stock on a sporterized Springfield 03A3 and had my family crest inlaid in gold on the side of the stock. It was my grandfather's. I don't think that I would have spent that much money if it was not an heirloom.
-rj

Answer 3

If it is a wooden stock. A very nice stain, And then treat it and clear coat it with a product called Varathane, It is a marine clearcoat that will protect it from moisture and is made to wear very good. If it is a synthetic stock either a paint or some kind of Dura-Coat type product. Make sure what ever you use will hold up to the oil and solvents you use to clean your gun.

Answer 4

There's the Krylon camo treatment, checkering, brass inlays, and other stuff you can do, depending on what it's made from. Brass studs in a tactical rifle would be silly, as would a spray job on a wooden stock.