Refinishing my 10/22, sort of.

My 10/22 was the first gun I bought with my own cash.

I started modifying it like I seem to do with everything.

I went the tactical route, which was fun for a while. After building my 5th AR15, I found myself leaving it home when I went to the range. It just wasn't fun to shoot anymore.



The tapco stock was shaky, the 25 round magazines weren't very reliable, and the gun just wasn't accurate enough to have fun with. After all, I enjoy hitting what I aim at.

I sold everything but the factory stock, receiver, and trigger group, which I had lightened to 3lbs 3oz.

I got a 20" .920 barrel, and ordered a Rhineland Leopard stock in walnut.

While I am waiting on the stock, I decided to modify the factory stock to fit my barrel. That was the original plan, anyways.

I was using a Dremel to sand out the barrel channel when the sand disc came apart and nicked the outside of the stock. . .

So, I sanded down the entire stock from 80 to 800 grit.

I figured I could use this experience in case I want to refinish another more expensive stock in the future.




I applied some Red Mahogany stain and was very happy with how well the grain came out. Much more defined that whatever was applied at the factory.



I have some Miniwax urethane to give it a deep gloss when the stain dries.

Hopefully, it will end up a good match for my 1100 12 gauge.

I will update when I start the urethane.

Looks much better than that "tapco'd" version you had. lol.

Getting old is great, isn't it?

and thanks, I hope it comes out like I imagine.

I have to agree here even though that blonde color looks a little weird even that is sooo much better than that tapco stock.

I like the wood version a LOT more than the previous - and nice job on it! If you ever do go 'tactical' on a 10-22, this Troy is the only way to fly.

Thats just as ugly as his Tapco'd one. The only 10/22s that I liked "souped" up were the race guns with thumb hole stock.

here are some pictures after I finished.

Now that it's done, I am wishing I went darker with the stain.

I used Miniwax spray acrylic. Not real impressed with the stuff. very runny and light coats are very "spattered."

A proper spray gun would have made a huge difference. It's just a little too think to spray even from an aerosol can.

I didnt get the bowling pin shine I was going for, but I know what I would need to do next time to get it there.

As a contrast here is a 70's era 10/22 true walnut stock I got off of ebay several years ago. I went old school with the finish and used nothing but Fairtrimmers with a bit of red (basically an oil based finish close to Danish Oil). I wet sanded the finish in starting with 400 grit and worked my way up to 2000 grit. I stopped there as I wanted a grip-able stock, not a see your face in it gun queen. You can see in the daylight pictures the red really comes out and it looks like an old milsurp stock. Inside the fluorescent lights really kill the color. This took about a month to finish, a coat every few days.

Too the Op you do nice work.

If you have enough coats on it you can rub the finish out and make it look like glass if that's the look you're going for.
ain't easy but it can be done.



Also look up French polishing techniques.

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