I’m ordering a CPA rifle for silhouette. I’m thinking of ordering it ready to sand and finish. Has anyone else tried that? Any thoughts on doing that?

Thanks,
Rich

If you are careful its pretty easy to finish the CPA stock. Where you need to be really careful is around the upper and lower tangs and the metal is finished and you don't want to hit that with abrasive paper. Other than that its a pretty straight forward job. 
Sam

These were unfinished wood from CPA. I sent them a blank of Colorado walnut to go on the CPA they were building for me; I sent a blank for them to cut for the Stevens 414; I ordered the wood for the Ballard from them to cut (just select from standard). It just takes time for you to prepare for the finish but since I use British red root oil the preparation time was minor compared to the finish time.

My first CPA was bought unfinished, no special selection still some nice walnut.

Sanded and finished using methods I have used on furniture and lathe work for years.  “ going through the grits” sanding not skipping any 120 to 2000 grit paper from Klingspor”  after initial shape at about 180 grit applied a thin wood filler “Mylands” and worked up to 220 then first coat of Watco wet sanded. At some point shifted to dry sanding, wood tells me when, probably 1200 or 1500 grit. After the finish really starts to shine. Last and after the oil is good and dry light coat of wax. I’m using mostly “Williamsville” it’s thin and rubs on with the palm of your hand easily.

Several years later sent it to a stock man who checkered it and at my request re oiled after with Watco and Wax. 30 years later it still shows well and the occasional Nick and bump blends in, adds character to the gun.

My 2nd CPA Pope style high comb stock went for upgraded wood, nice figure and finish. After about 20 years sold the Pope stock and had CPA fit finish and checker a Sporter stye stock to suit local match rules. They did a very good job either one and well worth the cost vs time and effort to finish my self.

3rd CPA ordered unfinished and very plain receiver blued not color cased. Stocked and sighted for longer range. Loaned it to Ken Burklow “line cutter” on this forum for the Quigley. He liked the gun and bought it from me. Transforming the gun into a real showpiece. Engraving and stock finish.

All my original Rifles and Shotguns  have original finish, most cleaned with soap and water then rubbed with oil and wax. Lately have shifted to simple boiled linseed oil and wax mixed and hand rubbed. It’s a good solution and preserves original appearance. I wax those guns metal to preserves and protect without a strip and refinish. Like the results better than most reblues or color case jobs.

Have a few shotguns bought already professionally refinished by real craftsmen, those jobs are worth the cost, particularly bringing out Damascus figure on barrels and not harming originals action engraving 

That’s all I know about it 

Boats 

I liked the fact that I could save costs by ordering it unfinished from CPA, so I used my savings to purchase upgraded wood quality. Then I had the pleasure of finishing the beautiful wood to my liking. After many many coats of tung and walnut oil, I like how it finished. 

There’s something to be said about spending a couple months of time watching a roughed out set of lumber turn into an exquisite piece of art. Not all will, but I enjoyed the investment of time and appreciate that I had a hand in creating an exceptional rifle.

Tom, tell us more about what you've been loading that won't shoot.

While you are waiting you might try making a shorter plugged case so you can use the action to seat it. I made an adjustable plugged case.

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BEAUTIFUL WORK..oneatatime wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2025 at 12:00pm:

Beauteous, Mike.

I saw that quality issue in another forum and commented on the CPA duplicator being a homemade contraption Paul built in the days of the rotary phone. It obviously did great work if great care was taken.
I was planning to get a handful of CPA stocks for winter projects soon but now am concerned on what the quality will be. If anyone has current good/bad experiences please let me/us know.
Thank you,
Charles

To add to the last few comments here, my experience of stock blanks from CPA was horrendous. I've done plenty of stocks before and I certainly don't expect drop in fit, but these had some major dimensional issues with the inlet.

I got a set for a pistol grip low wall. The inletting and shaping was that horrendous I just put them aside until I could pluck up the courage to take it on and try and address the issues - which the severity of wouldn't have been apparent fully until the work was started. The inletting was terrible and the lower tang is off centre in the pistol grip (which I "may" be able to correct with careful work but I'll be lucky if there is enough wood on one side) and the lower tang is cut far too deeply that I will have to add wood or bedding compound in order for there to be something for the lower tang to rest on and screw into. When I say cut too deeply, I mean 3/8-1/2"+ lower than what it should have been. I will HAVE to put wood back to rectify as the tang floats in air.

I didn't know just how bad it was or was going to be until I started inletting as there was a lot of work to get the tangs inlet.

In hindsight I should have tried to return them when they first arrived (which I didn't realise was an option at the time), but with international shipping I would have been taking a big hit anyway. I was too mad with the quality that I just put them away so I didn't have to look at them. That was now about 3 years ago so not a current experience, so hopefully things have improved, but I am now slowly troubleshooting my way through the mess. 

I would have been better off with just straight unprofiled blanks. I paid a lot of money to essentially do all the work myself anyway.

It is very interesting to see others had a shared experience around the same time. Fingers crossed that is all sorted now.