I decided to restock my #4 weight Ballard .22 for bench use.  I made a 2" flat bottom forend and found a shotgun butt stock which came from a member here.  The old butt stock has a large piece missing where it joins the tang and a 6' long crack on both sides that I just glued up after it opened more after my last session.    The new stock was for a pistol grip so I removed some wood to get it to fit my straight grip.  A few more coats of finish and it the rifle will be ready for the range.  It is going to have to beat the 6 shot .66" 100 yd group fro my low wall to earn a trip to Spokane.  Hew are before and after shots.  

Jack

Think I have to go along with the Chinese lady...



JMH

jhm  You are welcome to her!!

Jack, you can always use the stocks for the steak fry, if it doesn't shoot And maybe throw that Chinese lady a piece of meat. She might cheer up 

calledflyer wrote on May 27^th, 2024 at 10:59am:


I sent her Jacks pictures.   

At coffee this morning, the guys said Jack did it just to bug the rest or us Ballard lovers.

I don't know what British rifles Jack is talking about but I'll be using a Ballard or Stevens.

Jack, like a 1200.00 rifle rest, those ugly stocks will not make your Ballard group any better. 

At least a 1200.00 dollar rifle makes you look cool.

Queen, it's a nanny thing...

.

How about this Wes?  Just need to stain the forend a bit darker.

It was really a straight buttstock for a PG action.  The stock had no PG.  all I did was remove about 1/2” at the action and taper it.   Maybe Wes will feel sorry for me and bring a nice piece of forend wood to Spokane for me. Here is the stock before I shaped it

Maybe a matching forearm will make it pass the snarky Chinese lady test. 

Jack

Here is the original version.  Don't tell Wes Turner I posted it uncensored.  The butt plate spacer has been blackened.

Thanks Bob,

The proof will be in the groups!  I have just started looking to repair the butt stock that came with it and it may just end up as a display piece.  It has a couple of what I think are pewter inserts that match one on the forend, but there are bad cracks both vertical and horizontal that need repair and a large chunk missing.  I think there was considerable flexing when I was shooting it the last few times.  I do have this stock I could fit to it, but not my idea of a bench one.

I shot it yesterday.  You were right about the forend.  The original shot as well as the flat bottom one.  The butt stock helped even though there was a Chinese lady yelling in my ear the whole time.  It did have the odd flyer though.  I think I will bring the Low Wall to Tommy’s.  I am going to  possibly put a set trigger in it.   
I will do some carving on the Ballard stock to set the comb back like it should be. No cracks like the one that came with it

I am using the butt stock because it is not cracked and cost $35.  I haven’t tried testing it that far out.   

Before I began repairs on the stock you could see the 2 8” long cracks open up at the action by almost 1/16” just from resting it on the rear bag. There is a pewter bow tie shaped insert on top of the wrist that was loose. When I removed it it revealed a vertical split as well.  I epoxied that in place.  No markings on the relined barrel and the cast frame # does not match the innards.  The frame has the 2 little holes like a Pacific.  Groups with Tenex are close to 1”  without the single flyer  opening up the group to 1.5”. 
The Stevens Pope low wall put 7 shots into .6” with the same ammo so it is coming to Tommy’s 

Don't quit your day job Wes.

I have never been accused of keeping my mouth shut.  I have had my share of awkward moments.

That's a good looking stock Jack. 

Don't personally know either of you but you guys are a hoot!!





JMH

Yep

went to the store and saw Jack standing outside. I didn't stop to talk since I was hurrying, but I got this picture.