Replacing sporter .303 stock with original style?

mag627

mag627

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Hi,
Have a remarkably accurate (hence keeping it) sporterized LE .303 that I got for 60 bucks but would like to re-wood back to original design (full wood).
Is stuff for this available and do-able? or should I just cough up the 275-500 that people want for an original good-excellent original - That may or may not be as accurate (I mean, without a scope I (novice am getting 1-2" grouping at 100 yards.)
Anyone have advice or experience with this?
 
There are plenty of parts websites in the U.S. and some in Canada. Failing that, you can always try a gunshow. There are always guys selling wood there.

Numrich.

Popperts.

Seeing as your just ordering a wood stock set, export from the US shouldn't be a problem at all.

It also depends on what kind of LE you have. No4 parts are generaly easier to come by than No1 MkIII parts. If you're unsure just post pics.

I hope your barrel hasn't been cut, or else full wood would look goofy.
 
Last edited:
Should have mentioned its a No 1 Mk III

Thanks for the info,
Can I do it or would I need a gunsmith?
Cheers
 
If all you're doing is putting the wood back on the only tools you'll need are a large, medium, and small flat head screw driver.

If you're taking off the buttstock to match the rest of the wood, a 1/2in ratchet with a long extender and a flathead attachment should do.
 
Mag,
If you find a source for stocks let me know also please. I'm in the same situation - I've got a sporterized one that shoots nice. I'd like to restore it to close to original as possible.
 
I know I'm thread jacking just a tad, but anyone considered making their own? I kindof find the cost of the wood a tad ludicrous, combined with the fact that it's near impossible to find the exact right wood.
 
H Wally said:
I know I'm thread jacking just a tad, but anyone considered making their own? I kindof find the cost of the wood a tad ludicrous, combined with the fact that it's near impossible to find the exact right wood.
Click to expand...

That might work out if you were a wood-worker, but I'd rather just buy a stock. They aren't that expensive, and for the time you'd put into making one you could be doing more productive things.
 
It would not be impossible to make a forend from scratch. It would not be easy. To make a forend that would pass as an original would be a challenge.
 
I got no1 MkIII wood from numrich and am extremely dissatisfied with it, appears to be original wood patched and chemically stripped, with raised grain and stain, some wiped off and some not. :mad: The metal parts appear to be ok.

Mike
 
www.ssporters.com. study the exploded parts diagram carefuly. You want to get ALL the bits in one go. Otherwise you could be paying "handling and shipping charges for a lousy screw.

If it's a No4, remember that there is a ring that secures the arse end of the rear handguard.
 
Making replacement wood

I have been looking into making replacement wood sets and it is possible.

Commercial stock makers use a machine called a 'duplicator'. Basicly it is a router bit that is ganged mechanicaly to a stylus. The blank and the pattern sit on a table beside each other. The stylus is passed over the surface of the pattern and the router bit follows the same path of travel cutting the blank as it goes.

There are many different kinds of machine on the market. Some fancy, some automatic, some can do three stocks at a time, some are very simple.

This is a machine that caught my interest. www.copycarver.com

I have built one and it does work, and works quite well.

There are some limitations when working on a stock, so I have ripped mine apart and am rebuilding it with with a few modifications.

The biggest challenge believe it or not, is to find wood blanks.

You can pay a lot of money for english walnut. I'm talking $100 for a dirty chunk of wood. Buy something fancy and the sky is the limit. You can easily pay $1500 for a chunk of fancy stuff, but if it is going on a $10,000 custom action, you probably can afford it.

Wood sets for No.1 and No.4 rifles are still available if you shop around. Ishapore was still making No.1 rifles as late as 1988.

My interest is in older Lee Enfield and Martini rifles. Wood sets are just not available, so I am going to make my own. I have several Bubba'd rifles that have complete metal but the wood has been cut back.

So far my test results have been good, but as yet I have to find decent walnut. I have been practicing with pine blanks which are really easy to cut.
My focus is duplicating the inletting acurately, with the least amount of hand fitting. My MK.II duplicator will hopefully allow me to do this.

So when will I be spitting out woodsets for Sht LE Mk.Is and Mk.Vs? These things take time, but I should be producing something by the spring.

Makes a good project, a simple concept but one has to be inventive to put it into practice.
 
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