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Airforce Texan -The Making of a Custom Wood Stock
Forums › Big Bores & Arrow Shooters › Big Bores & Arrow Shooters – Discussion › Airforce Texan -The Making of a Custom Wood Stock
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November 14, 2018 at 11:48 pm Link
See some of my latest stock builds at http://www.DiamondGunStocks.com
This is where it all started.
I picked up a new Texan .257 for longer range target shooting. So far I am very impressed with the platform and quality, but the thing is just flat NAKED. I looked at what is available on the market for stocks and there was just not quite the design / look I wanted for the rifle. The current offerings have the action and barrel almost perched on top of the stock and not inlet down in the stock. That is just not pleasing to my eye, so to speak.
So I figured I would just build one myself , so the work has begun. π
I first did half dozen or more sketches on top of photos of a Texan. ( Ole School Photo Shop)
Then a full size layout on poster board.
Glueing up 4 pieces of 1 x 8 hard maple. At this point I think the Texan may look out of place in a walnut stock and leaning towards a textured paint finish from Rust-Oleum in Autumn Brown…the can lid looks cool at least. There is also lighter FDE sort of color too that I am considering.
This is one heavy slab of wood!!
Barrel/chassis channel cut
Roughing out the lower side to lose some of the weight and make it easier to do more inletting from the top. Leaving the top still in one plane for inletting from the top.
More inletting completed
The barrel/ chassis will be sitting halfway into the stock. Still needs some hand work on the barrel channel, but the router got it real close.
The action will be sitting down in the stock, and the stock relieved for the bolt action.
Inletting roughed out and shape profile somewhat roughed out.
See some of my latest stock builds at www.DiamondGunStocks.com
This is where it all started.
I picked up a new Texan .257 for longer range target shooting. So far I am very impressed with the platform and quality, but the thing is just flat NAKED. I looked at what is available on the market for stocks and there was just not quite the design / look I wanted for the rifle. The current offerings have the action and barrel almost perched on top of the stock and not inlet down in the stock. That is just not pleasing to my eye, so to speak.
So I figured I would just build one myself , so the work has begun. :-)
I first did half dozen or more sketches on top of photos of a Texan. ( Ole School Photo Shop)
Then a full size layout on poster board.
Glueing up 4 pieces of 1 x 8 hard maple. At this point I think the Texan may look out of place in a walnut stock and leaning towards a textured paint finish from Rust-Oleum in Autumn Brown...the can lid looks cool at least. There is also lighter FDE sort of color too that I am considering.
This is one heavy slab of wood!!
Barrel/chassis channel cut
Roughing out the lower side to lose some of the weight and make it easier to do more inletting from the top. Leaving the top still in one plane for inletting from the top.
More inletting completed
The barrel/ chassis will be sitting halfway into the stock. Still needs some hand work on the barrel channel, but the router got it real close.
The action will be sitting down in the stock, and the stock relieved for the bolt action.
Inletting roughed out and shape profile somewhat roughed out.
November 15, 2018 at 12:47 am LinkLove it! Really cool project and like the results so far, keep us updated.
π
Love it! Really cool project and like the results so far, keep us updated.
π
November 15, 2018 at 4:24 am LinkCan't wait until I can see the completed results!
Can't wait until I can see the completed results!
November 15, 2018 at 7:13 am LinkYou are very talented!
You are very talented!
November 15, 2018 at 8:21 am LinkLooks like it going to turn out awesome, very nice work will be the only one like itπ
Looks like it going to turn out awesome, very nice work will be the only one like itπ
November 15, 2018 at 8:23 am LinkThanks for showing all the stages to this point, makes me appreciate the vision you must have before you even start! Great job so far!
Thanks for showing all the stages to this point, makes me appreciate the vision you must have before you even start! Great job so far!
November 15, 2018 at 8:31 am LinkI Have been thinking about a homemade stock for my Texan. Looks like you beat me to it. I plan on learning a LOT from your trailblazing. Thanks for all the pics.
I Have been thinking about a homemade stock for my Texan. Looks like you beat me to it. I plan on learning a LOT from your trailblazing. Thanks for all the pics.
November 15, 2018 at 9:29 am LinkYES!!! Great stuff (+) for you!
YES!!! Great stuff (+) for you!
November 15, 2018 at 10:48 am LinkLooking good, can’t wait to see more photos of the ongoing project plus the finished product. Might have to dust off my wood working tools this winter.
Looking good, can’t wait to see more photos of the ongoing project plus the finished product. Might have to dust off my wood working tools this winter.
November 15, 2018 at 4:02 pm LinkThat's so awesome! I kept scrolling down hoping to see the finished product! Please post lots of pictures when you're done! Absolutely an incredibly cool project! I'll keep my eye out for it with great anticipation!
Stoti
That's so awesome! I kept scrolling down hoping to see the finished product! Please post lots of pictures when you're done! Absolutely an incredibly cool project! I'll keep my eye out for it with great anticipation!
Stoti
November 17, 2018 at 5:15 pm LinkHere are some photos from today and more work on inletting the stock. A lot of slow chisel work today…fit, chisel, fit, chisel….rinse repeat. It is getting closer, but have a little rocking fore and aft, so need to set back up on the router table and make some skim cuts on the chassis / barrel channel and go a little deeper also maybe .125 to .188.
Here are some photos from today and more work on inletting the stock. A lot of slow chisel work today...fit, chisel, fit, chisel....rinse repeat. It is getting closer, but have a little rocking fore and aft, so need to set back up on the router table and make some skim cuts on the chassis / barrel channel and go a little deeper also maybe .125 to .188.
November 18, 2018 at 8:28 am LinkThat's a cool design and some awesome work your doing there buddy, keep us informed on your progress.
That's a cool design and some awesome work your doing there buddy, keep us informed on your progress.
November 18, 2018 at 5:32 pm LinkThanks!!
Here is where it is at after another day in the shop. I have the inletting completed except the mounting holes, but that can wait. I did sink the action/barrel deeper into the stock than I had it yesterday. Maybe another 3/16" I was able to eliminate the rocking fore and aft I was having yesterday. I think there was just a high spot in the barrel channel.
Next will be to tackle the butt and pistol grip, which I think will probably be the hardest part because of the organic shape needing to be carved.
Thanks!!
Here is where it is at after another day in the shop. I have the inletting completed except the mounting holes, but that can wait. I did sink the action/barrel deeper into the stock than I had it yesterday. Maybe another 3/16" I was able to eliminate the rocking fore and aft I was having yesterday. I think there was just a high spot in the barrel channel.
Next will be to tackle the butt and pistol grip, which I think will probably be the hardest part because of the organic shape needing to be carved.
November 19, 2018 at 7:06 pm LinkI got some more time on the stock today.
Some layout for shaping the butt of the stock.
Layout for the pistol grip
Shaping fo the pistol grip.
Some what I would call "hot spots" Need some more material removed.
Right side taking shape.
Have removed about a 1/4" of material on the left side of the grip and have marked where my thumb wrappeds around. The area needs relieved.
Just a look down the stock showing some of the detail work involved.
Here is the end of day results.
Next will be be drilling holes for mounting the action to the stock, cutting down the butt end about 1/4" to fit the bottle length better, LOTS of sanding, then staining, glass bedding the actions, then final finish.
Believe it our not this is my first gun stock fabrication. π
I got some more time on the stock today.
Some layout for shaping the butt of the stock.
Layout for the pistol grip
Shaping fo the pistol grip.
Some what I would call "hot spots" Need some more material removed.
Right side taking shape.
Have removed about a 1/4" of material on the left side of the grip and have marked where my thumb wrappeds around. The area needs relieved.
Just a look down the stock showing some of the detail work involved.
Here is the end of day results.
Next will be be drilling holes for mounting the action to the stock, cutting down the butt end about 1/4" to fit the bottle length better, LOTS of sanding, then staining, glass bedding the actions, then final finish.
Believe it our not this is my first gun stock fabrication. ;-)
November 19, 2018 at 7:50 pm LinkLooking great Loren, you better watch out, other AirForce owners are going to be putting you to work. It'll sure make a AF gun more appealing at least to me it wood, haha. Have you thought about going black with bed liner or something similar?
Jimmy
Looking great Loren, you better watch out, other AirForce owners are going to be putting you to work. It'll sure make a AF gun more appealing at least to me it wood, haha. Have you thought about going black with bed liner or something similar?
Jimmy
November 19, 2018 at 8:06 pm LinkLooking mighty nice for your 1st attempt at it, can’t wait to see the finished product, think I know what I’ll be trying to do this winter.
Looking mighty nice for your 1st attempt at it, can’t wait to see the finished product, think I know what I’ll be trying to do this winter.
November 19, 2018 at 9:10 pm Linkjking
Looking great Loren, you better watch out, other AirForce owners are going to be putting you to work. It'll sure make a AF gun more appealing at least to me it wood, haha. Have you thought about going black with bed liner or something similar?
Jimmy
Thanks Guys!
The black bed liner look is not really want I am after, especially with the "store bought stock" doing that. First attempt with me to see how the hard maple laminate I made up looks when stained with a dark walnut stain. If that doesn't work out I will be going with this from Rust-Oleum. The bed liner, I know is tough, but just a little to industrial for the look I want for the rifle.
jking
Looking great Loren, you better watch out, other AirForce owners are going to be putting you to work. It'll sure make a AF gun more appealing at least to me it wood, haha. Have you thought about going black with bed liner or something similar?
Jimmy
Thanks Guys!
The black bed liner look is not really want I am after, especially with the "store bought stock" doing that. First attempt with me to see how the hard maple laminate I made up looks when stained with a dark walnut stain. If that doesn't work out I will be going with this from Rust-Oleum. The bed liner, I know is tough, but just a little to industrial for the look I want for the rifle.
November 20, 2018 at 11:12 pm LinkOh Scheisse !!!!! Freaking Cracks!!!
The Bad…The top of the pistol grip has two cracks in and along the grain. The good the cracks are only halfway through stopping at the laminate line left to right so it is still together. I get to practice stock repair now. Ugh!!!
November 22, 2018 at 8:43 am LinkThe stock crack repair turned into a complete bust and then a major fail with a repair. I'm tossing it into the scrap bin and starting over. I'm pretty bummed about it, but not much to do about it at this point. :'(
This next stock fab I will insert a 1" oak dowel rod into the complete length of the pistol grip to reinforce before shaping it.
The stock crack repair turned into a complete bust and then a major fail with a repair. I'm tossing it into the scrap bin and starting over. I'm pretty bummed about it, but not much to do about it at this point. :'(
This next stock fab I will insert a 1" oak dowel rod into the complete length of the pistol grip to reinforce before shaping it.
November 22, 2018 at 1:00 pm LinkI was wondering about that being the thumbhole area wasn’t a complete hole, I was looking at it a few days ago wondering if there was a way to design it so the front of the butt/bottle area connected to the back of the breach area and adjusting the grip a bit so you had a true hole where the thumb goes. What would happen if instead of drilling and fitting a Oak Dowel in that area you drilled it out and poured in a type of fiberglass resin and inserting a metal rod into the resin and letting that cure, it might do a better job at reinforcing that area. Just getting the top of the thumbhole connected in your design would also be nice, you would just need to redesign the grip a bit.
Just a Thought I had.
I was wondering about that being the thumbhole area wasn’t a complete hole, I was looking at it a few days ago wondering if there was a way to design it so the front of the butt/bottle area connected to the back of the breach area and adjusting the grip a bit so you had a true hole where the thumb goes. What would happen if instead of drilling and fitting a Oak Dowel in that area you drilled it out and poured in a type of fiberglass resin and inserting a metal rod into the resin and letting that cure, it might do a better job at reinforcing that area. Just getting the top of the thumbhole connected in your design would also be nice, you would just need to redesign the grip a bit.
Just a Thought I had.
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