Big bore build, grouse to Cape buffalo

[Robobiss]

Wow, what a beauty of a rifle you have there. Excited to see all that you do with this.

 

[Sinistram]

Outstanding! Sub'd for sure.

You've got quite the project in front of you, and it sounds like you have ample time to work on it. Winter is coming, and there's nothing that passes the time better than carving away on a wood stock in the shop. You can kill hours down there without realizing it. If you weren't already aware, you might want to read up on some of the experts of stock making, D'Arcy Echols, Curt Crum, et al. They've published enough articles on stocking big bore rifles to give you some pointers so you can avoid any issues down the road. The highlights are - bed the crap out of it, leave some room at the tang (~1/16") and put a few crossbolts in so it doesn't move. Speaking from experience, a split rifle stock is an absolute heartbreaker (and really expensive to fix!). The grain flow on your blank looks textbook perfect, flows almost the whole way from tip to tail! gonna be a beaut when it's finished.

Also, the "grouse loads" olde tyme guys used were usually some type of fast pistol powder in a small quantity. I can't recommend doing that, but others have mentioned H4895 and Trail Boss, and they work great at giving everyday shootable loads. I have some for my 416 Rem. that approximate moderate 45/70 ballistics, and you could blast all day. Plus, it means you can take it for deer, black bear, or whatever and get the rifle some extra time in the field - and confidently explode fruits and veggies.

 

[Decker9]

Outstanding! Sub'd for sure.

You've got quite the project in front of you, and it sounds like you have ample time to work on it. Winter is coming, and there's nothing that passes the time better than carving away on a wood stock in the shop. You can kill hours down there without realizing it. If you weren't already aware, you might want to read up on some of the experts of stock making, D'Arcy Echols, Curt Crum, et al. They've published enough articles on stocking big bore rifles to give you some pointers so you can avoid any issues down the road. The highlights are - bed the crap out of it, leave some room at the tang (~1/16") and put a few crossbolts in so it doesn't move. Speaking from experience, a split rifle stock is an absolute heartbreaker (and really expensive to fix!). The grain flow on your blank looks textbook perfect, flows almost the whole way from tip to tail! gonna be a beaut when it's finished.

Also, the "grouse loads" olde tyme guys used were usually some type of fast pistol powder in a small quantity. I can't recommend doing that, but others have mentioned H4895 and Trail Boss, and they work great at giving everyday shootable loads. I have some for my 416 Rem. that approximate moderate 45/70 ballistics, and you could blast all day. Plus, it means you can take it for deer, black bear, or whatever and get the rifle some extra time in the field - and confidently explode fruits and veggies.

Thanks a bunch for the book recommendations! I will look into them. The big bore recoil and stock cracking is on my radar. So far I’ve inletted the trigger mortise’s with lots of room for the trigger assembly. Looking at the couple stocks here for this .458, the wood is taken “just enough” to get the metal into the wood and function. I’ll be taking more attention to detail in leaving ample wood for superior strength… is my goal anyway lol.

I have a couple external cross bolts here, I’ve never installed them but have read up on it a bunch. I did add internal cross bolts to a .375 h&h I restocked,so far so good with the cracking, knock on wood! Lol

I use H4895 in a few 375’s, I like the stuff. I still get decent velocity’s but I think I can notice a lighter push vs a couple other powders I’ve used.

The freezers pretty empty so I plan to hit up the rest of the season here, come mid November’ish I’ll be starting to get things figured out on the blank. I’m excited to tie into it!

 

[Rotnguns]

Say, that is going to be a beautiful rifle! Congrats on your attention to detail and your fine workmanship. Thanks for sharing your story with us!

 

[dneaster3]

As I read and saw the first few photos I was thinking "Nooo! That grain is all wrong and you're missing too much burl at the end!" Then in your next few posts you fixed it and made great choices. Whew!

And the best part is the family connection to the rifle's history. There is something very special when you're carrying the previous owners with you in the field.

Can't wait to see how this one comes out!

 

[gentleman4561]

Awesome project! Excited to see the final result.

 

[eLightfoot]

I dig following your builds! I just got the work my barreled action is shipping back to me. I’ll be able to finish my first stock.
Just pick up this screamin piece of English for the future

 

[Decker9]

As I read and saw the first few photos I was thinking "Nooo! That grain is all wrong and you're missing too much burl at the end!" Then in your next few posts you fixed it and made great choices. Whew!

And the best part is the family connection to the rifle's history. There is something very special when you're carrying the previous owners with you in the field.

Can't wait to see how this one comes out!

Hahaha! When the blank arrived to me, it had a stock outline in the opposite direction, made me scratch my head a bit .

I dig following your builds! I just got the work my barreled action is shipping back to me. I’ll be able to finish my first stock.
Just pick up this screamin piece of English for the future

Wow this is a gorgeous blank!! That will make a stunning pics for sure. What will you be building??

Iv run into a dilemma. Over the summer my right elbows been getting a pain, last week after a doc appointment I got put on disability for a month. I figured a perfect time to get going on this stock… until I tried hand planing the top, that was a no go with my elbow.

So, I cheated,

Headed to the hardware store and bought an electric hand plane, a lot easier on the elbow lol.

Just eyeballing this knot I have here today, luckily my cheek piece will be on the right side, I think it’ll end up in the magazine mortise.



This build may be getting put on hold though for another build. A friend has a pre 64 barrelled up with a nicely figured blank that I’ll be doing a build for. I should have his stuff in the next couple weeks here. If I start on that build first, I’ll start a separate thread if it’s alright with him. It’s a pretty cool stock design we have planned for it.

 

[eLightfoot]

Hahaha! When the blank arrived to me, it had a stock outline in the opposite direction, made me scratch my head a bit .



Wow this is a gorgeous blank!! That will make a stunning pics for sure. What will you be building??

Iv run into a dilemma. Over the summer my right elbows been getting a pain, last week after a doc appointment I got put on disability for a month. I figured a perfect time to get going on this stock… until I tried hand planing the top, that was a no go with my elbow.

So, I cheated,

Headed to the hardware store and bought an electric hand plane, a lot easier on the elbow lol.

Just eyeballing this knot I have here today, luckily my cheek piece will be on the right side, I think it’ll end up in the magazine mortise.

View attachment 787443

This build may be getting put on hold though for another build. A friend has a pre 64 barrelled up with a nicely figured blank that I’ll be doing a build for. I should have his stuff in the next couple weeks here. If I start on that build first, I’ll start a separate thread if it’s alright with him. It’s a pretty cool stock design we have planned for it.

Not sure what to make with it yet. I’ve seen similar blanks online listed for over $1k so I figured I could do no wrong grabbing this for $250. My end all be all dream rifle is a Sako 90 so ill likely wait til I get one and then make stock from this blank for it. I’m already sitting on 5 other nice blanks, so I basically hoarding at this point lol. Also just got some 3/4” thick curly walnut from the same supplier. Plan to make some 3 piece laminate rokstocks for my tikkas next.

 

[Decker9]

Not sure what to make with it yet. I’ve seen similar blanks online listed for over $1k so I figured I could do no wrong grabbing this for $250. My end all be all dream rifle is a Sako 90 so ill likely wait til I get one and then make stock from this blank for it. I’m already sitting on 5 other nice blanks, so I basically hoarding at this point lol. Also just got some 3/4” thick curly walnut from the same supplier. Plan to make some 3 piece laminate rokstocks for my tikkas next.

Well if any more of those cost friendly blanks come up, keep me in mind!! lol. That’s a steal!

If I had to take a guess by the photos, I’d say easily over a $1000 blank you have there.

Will you be building by hand? Iv been eyeballing milling machines, always wanted one for just odd projects. The stock maker who’s helped me a ton lives in Australia, and uses a mill for his inletting, so much quicker…. But does take the “hand made” out of it kinda.

 

[eLightfoot]

Well if any more of those cost friendly blanks come up, keep me in mind!! lol. That’s a steal!

If I had to take a guess by the photos, I’d say easily over a $1000 blank you have there.

Will you be building by hand? Iv been eyeballing milling machines, always wanted one for just odd projects. The stock maker who’s helped me a ton lives in Australia, and uses a mill for his inletting, so much quicker…. But does take the “hand made” out of it kinda.

All by hand with the aid of a trim router. The last one I used the trim router free hand to remove the bulk of the inlet. Then chisels and a gouge.

 

[Mojave]

I am shooting a 10,3x68 for everything. It is kind of like a 416 Taylor, but with a .413 bullet instead of a .416 bullet.

 

[Decker9]

Got everything on the top square to the right side of the blank ( remember, this will be tailored for us southpaws lol). Can’t believe how lucky I got with that knot. Hidden in the centre of the blank, it turned up right in the magazine mortise. An inch further back, it would have been a youth stock lol. It gives me about 13 1/2” to the butt of the blank, which already has 3-4 inches trimmed off of it (incase of cracks / checks ), so I should get my 13 3/4” or so lop with a pad easy enough.



After I had the action screws laid out it was out to the garage to the drill press. -6c this morning it was a little squeaky.




Of course I’d end up about 1/32 off my centreline, luckily it’s easy to correct since I haven’t cut into the top yet.



Everything recorrected with a new centreline. Think next I’ll saw out the thumb notch to close to right to save on the chisel work. Speaking of chisels, I best get them sharpened up.