Richards Microfit Hardwood?

J

jmad_81

Handloader
Feb 14, 2007
2,945
27
I've been looking a few of these for a while to put on my 375R. I was going to go the McMillan route, but for some reason I just can't get past that rifle not having a good looking piece of wood on it. I was checking out some of their wood types, and now I'm all confused :? .

I really like a dark piece of wood on a matte blued rifle. But they have so many different kinds of wood I don't know what to do. I'm leaning towards the black walnut right now, but I don't know what is different over any of the other hardwoods. I have not decided on any particular type of figure yet, but I want it to have a bit of class. I'm not sure about the rosewood tip either.

I know that I would have to finish it and would be able to shape it to any shape I wanted. Would a guy stain it, them do the oil treatment to it, or do you just use oil?

Any help/thoughts would be welcomed here. I'm out of my league on this one.
 
Dark walnut would be a great choice if you prefer a dark colored stock.

As for finishing it yourself. The best way to go about it would be to get a piece of wlanut of similar grain and appearance. You will probably want to stain it to give it that dark, rich look. take your sample piece and buy a stain that you think you'll like and stain a small area. that will give you the basic color. If you think you're on the right track, try a top coat over the stain. That is what the final product should look like. If you're not happy, you can try a different top coat over the stain or a new stain color, but make sure you apply at least one coat of your chosen top coat before deciding.
 
Get a Double or Triple A grade Black Walnut. It will cost a little bit more but it will look good.
Here's Frank's 257 Weatherby Yugo Mauser in Richard Microfit Double A grade Black Walnut.

Noslerdata006.jpg

Noslerdata008.jpg

Noslerdata009.jpg
 
Well, DF gave you a good idea of what it would look like. Ive bought a stock or two. In the end it always seems to be worth it to spend a little more for a nice grade of wood. But then, I like sit a and wax a rifle stoclk while I watch a game etc. 8) There are good resources out there for how to finish a stock so I wont give you my .02 on that. The the ammount of inletting and fitting can vary from stock to stock in my experience. If you start glass or pillar bedding that adds to the "new skills" you'll aquire (unless you are already there). you already know it, but patience and good materials are the main thing. Short cuts rarely work out. However it can be very rewarding in the end. Not the best picture but if you like darkwood and mat blue.....

Leuygrp101708.jpg
 
DF, That is a fine looking stock. What style of stock is that one? I was looking at the Modern classic style. Did you use their finishing kit or something else?

Cloverleaf, that is a fine looking rifle as well. Thanks for the reply. I would be interested in how you finished yours as well.

Thanks.
 
Old Nodak7mm, the Prince of the Prairie from out in the wilds of North Dakota sent me a method that a stock builder uses on his rifles. I tried it on my old Remington pump 22 that my father gave me and it turned out very nicely. I'll see if I can find it.
David
 
Claro walnut will be the darkest. American walnut will be lightest generally, the europeean walnut they sell will be in-between. I'm rather fond of their dual grip thumhole design. Would be especially nice in a heavy recoiling rifle. Really aids in offhand accuracy, moving targets and controlling the rifle walking through heavy cover or taking naps on the deerstand.

You can get as complicated or simple as you want. I put one on my working rifle, a K98 280rem rebarrel. I got the DG thumbhole in semi fancy claro walnut as one came up in their overstock list as a cancelled order (I'm cheap and proud of it). Wasn't looking for a professional finish, just a good low-glare functional finish. Mine required some minor fitting around the recoil lug and floorplate easily accomplished with a dremel engraving ball and some inlet black. Rasped in the bolt handle slot and bolt lug raceway with a rat-tail chainsaw file, cut the tip cap to a racy 45 degrees, sanded 150 grit, 220 grit, steam lightly over a boiling kettle, repeat 220 grit and rubbed in several coats of 75% boiled linseed 25% turpentine while watching TV. Makes a very functional finish, similar to WWII vintage military rifles, really brings out the grain in the wood but sheds off water even in extended rains. Just needs a refresh light coat of oil each year to keep it fresh. In retrospect the only thing I would do differently is apply a commercial oil based stock filler prior to final sanding (claro walnut is more porous than american).
 
Cloverleaf, that is a fine looking rifle as well. Thanks for the reply. I would be interested in how you finished yours as well.

Actually, this one I did not finish per se. Whatever it had on it Im not real impressed with (gun oil will stain it) Not knowing what it was finished with, I used birchwood Casey Gun Stock Wax, and do so on a regular basis. The ones Ive tried to redo usually get the Tru Oil treatment. This one has gotten darker over the years. Dont know if thats from the wax or just age.
I posted the pick because you said you liked the matte blue and dark walnut. It qualifies on that front. CL
 
It has been my experience with TruOil, at least over the past 30 years, is that it does tend to darken out with age a little. Now, I have only done maybe 4 new stocks and stripped maybe 6 or 8 old ones with TruOil and they all were American black, Claro or French walnut ranging from fairly light to medium dark wood. These ranged from the usual factory wood to hand made custom stocks.

I also have done a couple of flat urethane with some stain added, rubbed with steel wool to look like French Oil finish. This is a tricky process when done tacky and is not recommended unless you are a control freak and are willing to rub until it is under control. I normally do not stain walnut, preferring to work the finish in and darken it that way. I have only stained one porous stock before finishing and did not like it (too dark).

I average about 8-10 (or more) coats of TruOil per stock, all steel wooled and pumiced padded, then waxed. I am an amateur at this and take my advice that way. My biggest problem is going slow enough.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I'lll keep you posted as things come together.
 
if ya like the mickey's, joel russo makes any model of the mcmillians in hardwood
an A-5 in laminate
100_0284.jpg

an A3-5 in walnut
20tac001.jpg

RR
 
got home to late to take a picture again. Will try to get one tomorrow. If you like dark walnut/matte metal, you'll love the "Death Ray".
 
You guys... I have been thinking hard about getting a nice walnut stock to dress up my .30-06, and this isn't helping!

jmad, good luck on your project. I for one will be keenly interested in how it turns out for you.
 
Ridge_Runner":25i4ruqu said:
if ya like the mickey's, joel russo makes any model of the mcmillians in hardwood
an A-5 in laminate
100_0284.jpg

an A3-5 in walnut
20tac001.jpg

RR
Click to expand...

RR, not sure if you noticed, but your bolts are on the wrong side! :mrgreen:

Very nice stocks! Those are very slick looking. I love the laminates a bunch. Weather resistant like plastic and warm like good ole wood.
 
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