I've been working on re-stocking my 03A3 with a Minelli C Stock for the past month or so.
My old stock started to show it's age, specifically the rear tang area became too compressed which resulted in decreased accuracy. I had shimmed it once during last season, but the shim isn't "CMP Legal", so it was time for a new stock.
I had to perform a considerable amount of work to get the stock where it is. Normal items like in letting the trigger guard, ensuring the rear tang is properly relieved and that no areas of the receiver were touching any wood they shouldn't be were performed.
The forestock had to be extensively re-sized because out of the box, the middle band / sling swivel would only slide down about halfway. I also appropriately shaped the larger area behind the middle band. On the minelli, there was no taper - on my USGi stock, there was a slight taper. Also, there was a "bead" of wood left on the tip of the forestock where the barrel should make contact. I had to relieve this (very carefully) or else the barrel would sit crooked.
The handguard is NOS USGI which needed some minor fitting. The end that sat in the receiver ring was too tall, so I relieved it very carefully on a large sheet of sandpaper until it fit.
All said and done I probably have 12-15 hours of work into the stock. Most of the time was spent during that last snowstorm we had.
Out of the box the stock came with a brown finish. After having to relieve and sand parts of the stock down, I chemically stripped the rest. What you see here is 4 coats of RLO rubbed in over the course of 2 weeks. First coat, I waited a day; second coat; 2 days; 3rd coat 3 days; 4th coat 4. I will continue to add more RLO over the next few months.
If you have a good eye you'll notice the rear sight components are missing. My windage screw was crooked and I am waiting for a replacement.
I also installed a new Ron Brown tan sling. The other RB sling I was using is a dark burgandy color, and while it's nice and worn in, doesn't look as nice with the lighter wood.
The rifle will be shooting it's first match down in Camp Butner in April.... Unless Pembroke has a 1903 match before that.
Album : http://imgur.com/gallery/420V4
My old stock started to show it's age, specifically the rear tang area became too compressed which resulted in decreased accuracy. I had shimmed it once during last season, but the shim isn't "CMP Legal", so it was time for a new stock.
I had to perform a considerable amount of work to get the stock where it is. Normal items like in letting the trigger guard, ensuring the rear tang is properly relieved and that no areas of the receiver were touching any wood they shouldn't be were performed.
The forestock had to be extensively re-sized because out of the box, the middle band / sling swivel would only slide down about halfway. I also appropriately shaped the larger area behind the middle band. On the minelli, there was no taper - on my USGi stock, there was a slight taper. Also, there was a "bead" of wood left on the tip of the forestock where the barrel should make contact. I had to relieve this (very carefully) or else the barrel would sit crooked.
The handguard is NOS USGI which needed some minor fitting. The end that sat in the receiver ring was too tall, so I relieved it very carefully on a large sheet of sandpaper until it fit.
All said and done I probably have 12-15 hours of work into the stock. Most of the time was spent during that last snowstorm we had.
Out of the box the stock came with a brown finish. After having to relieve and sand parts of the stock down, I chemically stripped the rest. What you see here is 4 coats of RLO rubbed in over the course of 2 weeks. First coat, I waited a day; second coat; 2 days; 3rd coat 3 days; 4th coat 4. I will continue to add more RLO over the next few months.
If you have a good eye you'll notice the rear sight components are missing. My windage screw was crooked and I am waiting for a replacement.
I also installed a new Ron Brown tan sling. The other RB sling I was using is a dark burgandy color, and while it's nice and worn in, doesn't look as nice with the lighter wood.
The rifle will be shooting it's first match down in Camp Butner in April.... Unless Pembroke has a 1903 match before that.
Album : http://imgur.com/gallery/420V4