My new Russo rifle stock

[McKinneyMike]

I just received my newest rifle stock from Joel Russo Rifle Stocks. It is a copy of Manners MCS-T2 stock. I laminated the blank for Joel and he crafted the stock for me. The woods are African Bubinga (the darker red colored wood) and figured Anigre (the lighter colored wood). I own my own figured hardwood lumber business, so the wood was my own materials.

Joel installed the Alex Sitman adjustable cheek piece hardware also. All that is left is to final sand and shoot lacquer on it.

Joel Russo, owner of Russo Rifle Stocks is one of the finest stock makers, IMO and his prices are extremely attractive, given the quality and custom nature of each stock he makes. The inletting is meticulously done with the best fit I have ever experienced for the barreled action. He and I have become great friends over the years. If you need or want a high quality rifle stock, give Joel a call. He is one of the nicest folks and his quality is well known.

 

[pdog06]

turned out really good Mike. Cant wait to see it finished.

I met Joel this summer and saw a bunch of his work. His craftsmanship was outstanding to say the least, on both his stock work and his complete gun builds.. And he only lives about 1.5 hrs from me too, so that is pretty scary.

I am really wanting a benchrest stock made out of an exotic wood, but just havent bit the bullet yet...LOL Would love for him to duplicate my SSS HBR stock as the design.

 

[McKinneyMike]

You know that he can do it. Glad that I don't live that close to him

 

[nfhjr62]

I wounder if he can do one for my 03 Springfield like the one above

 

[McKinneyMike]

Contact him. I would imagine that he could. He would probably not laminate it like I have done though, but he might. He is a great fellow.

 

[GermanS1]

Beautiful stock Mike! I've been planning a thick slab laminate for some time and your stock really has my brain cells ticking over!

 

[McKinneyMike]

It is addicting to say the least Creating something one of a kind is pretty satisfying.

 

[butchlambert]

Very Very nice work.
Butch

 

[jo191145]

Beautiful Wood!! Don't forget to post some pics after the clear goes on.

I used to dabble in woodworking before I discovered small groups. Very nice job all around.
Someday I hope to have an inspiration good enough to require joels work ;D

Looks to me like its inletted for the Evo 2 trigger on a Sav TA?
Just gotta ask. Bedding makes pillars moot IMO but have you considered Escutcheons?

She's gonna be a beaut!!!!

 

[NorCalMikie]

I would suggest Automotive Clear Coat for a finish. Tough as nails and really brings out the colors. You would be surprised how much brighter it would be. And the cleaners won't touch the finish.

 

[McKinneyMike]

You would be correct sir It will have pillars and escutcheons and Devcon bedding after it is finished. Maybe the pillars are moot, but I just have to do it anyway. I probably will not get to finish it until the temps begin to drop a little bit.

 

[McKinneyMike]

I have considered the auto clear coat, but I am a woodworker so lacquer is my first choice as it is easily repaired in the event of scratches, nicks, etc. I know that Joel uses the auto clears sometimes, but I have never sprayed these types of finishes before.
I always like to use an oil finish first to pop the grain and then top coat for protection. The oil will "yellow" the Anigre though, so I will need to experiment with some mock-ups first, to determine if that will work with the contrasting woods.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Being that you know "wood finishing" you shouldn't have any problems.
This was one of Joel's first A5L stocks. It was kinda dull till it got finished with the Automotive Clear. The colors "jumped out" after it got sprayed.

 

[jo191145]

Mike

I once built a 48" laminated wood mason level. 200 strips of Birch Veneer through died alternating red and white. 10pcs red,10pcs white, etc etc.
Epoxied them all together with red and white pigmented West System epoxy. 24" ran straight and the last 24" wavy. Inlet a blue marquetry panel with white stars at the top.
An American flag waving in the wind.

Finished it with West System Barrier Coat epoxy. Toughest clear finish you can put on wood.
No UV protection though. You'd need to topcoat it with auto clear to prevent UV patina.

Not recommending it unless you want to make finishing this stock as hard on yourself as possible ;D ;D ;D

 

[McKinneyMike]

Sounds beautiful, but I am a lazy woodworker I guess

 

[NorCalMikie]

And one advantage of the Auto Clear is it won't yellow over time. But a nice hand rubbed Oil finish really looks nice. Shoot it with Lacquer if you must.
Get a sealer coat on it before your finger prints show up under the top coat. You know you've been playing with it a bunch. ;D
I had masking tape "all over" mine before it got finished. Just couldn't keep my hands off of it.

 

[Nodak7mm]

You guys bring up a great point with using the auto clear coat. Joel did my benchgun stock with the NAPA Crossfire system, its awesome clear and tough as nails.
The absolute worst thing I see many guys do to save a dime, is to get a beautiful laminate or exotic and take it home and finish it themselves with a can of POLY from Home Depot.
DO NOT USE POLY! In a very short amount of time the stock looks like somone pee'd on it..
Just something that bugs me..... ;D
Rod

 

[McKinneyMike]

I never use POLY on anything that I build. Looks like plastic to me. I normally only shoot nitrocellulose lacquer or pre-catalyzed lacquer. Very clear, hard and does not yellow like varnishes do with age and are easily repaired (the pre-cat lacquers are more work to redo, but are extremely tough).
The issue with nitrocellulose lacquer is that it is extremely volatile and most people do not have paint booths with adequate and proper ventilation that offers explosion proof fans. It is not something that a novice should be spraying for sure.

 

[Nodak7mm]

Mike,

Meant to add that is a very gorgeous stick you layed up there. Cant wait to see it all purty!!!

Rod

 

[McKinneyMike]

Thanks for the kind words.