Long story.
My first gun was a Remington Model 581 22 rifle purchased new early in 1968. It cost $49.95. In 1986 it was stolen along with all my other guns. It had no serial (not required by law until later that year) so there is zero chance I will get it back.
Maybe two years later I saw a 581 in a gun shop. It was from an estate and it had been owned by a gun smith who had done some custom work on it. He cut the barrel from 24” to 20” and shortened the stock. To keep the same balance he drilled holes under the barrel channel and filled them with lead. He drilled it for a second action screw.
I never liked the shortened stock. Cut too far back IMO. So last week I saw a semi-inletted walnut stock offered on Gunbroker for a $70 buy it now price. I had never seen anyone make a stock for this rifle.
I tried to find a smith to fit it for ma as I hate stock working. Hate it, I say. But I discovered there are no gun smiths operating Little Rock at this time. The last two I knew about retired and the other was shut down by the ATF. So I resorted to doing iy myself.
Went faster than I anticipated and I have about 10 hours in it at this point. I’m waiting for the butt plate to arrive so I still need to install it.
I think it turned out OK. Need to shoot it, of course. Here are before and after (crappy cell phone shot).
My first gun was a Remington Model 581 22 rifle purchased new early in 1968. It cost $49.95. In 1986 it was stolen along with all my other guns. It had no serial (not required by law until later that year) so there is zero chance I will get it back.
Maybe two years later I saw a 581 in a gun shop. It was from an estate and it had been owned by a gun smith who had done some custom work on it. He cut the barrel from 24” to 20” and shortened the stock. To keep the same balance he drilled holes under the barrel channel and filled them with lead. He drilled it for a second action screw.
I never liked the shortened stock. Cut too far back IMO. So last week I saw a semi-inletted walnut stock offered on Gunbroker for a $70 buy it now price. I had never seen anyone make a stock for this rifle.
I tried to find a smith to fit it for ma as I hate stock working. Hate it, I say. But I discovered there are no gun smiths operating Little Rock at this time. The last two I knew about retired and the other was shut down by the ATF. So I resorted to doing iy myself.
Went faster than I anticipated and I have about 10 hours in it at this point. I’m waiting for the butt plate to arrive so I still need to install it.
I think it turned out OK. Need to shoot it, of course. Here are before and after (crappy cell phone shot).