Wood Work - 94 44Mag before and after

[O.S.O.K.]

I decided that I needed to trim down the handguard on my new to me Marlin 44 Mag so last night and this morning, I did.

Before:


After:


Not as slim as some others that I've seen here (which look really sharp), but I like it. The "beavertail" is gone but there's still plenty to hold on to.

Now, I just need my brownells order to arrive with the new sights and its off to the range!

[TedH]

Looking good!

[Lobo]

O.S.O.K.

What'd you use to remove the wood?

[Pete44ru]

I like it O.S.O.K. - especially the fact that you remembered to do before/after pics !

Are ya gonna replace the rubber bumper with a regular Marlin BP ?

.

[pokey]

much nicer!

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks guys.

Lobo - I used an orbital sander with an agressive pad, then finished with some 220 grit paper. I did the parts that meet up against the metal completely by hand with the 220 paper on the buttstock and finshed the ends on the handguard by hand as well.

Pete44ru - I thought about doing just that - but since the 44 Mag does recoil some, I decided the rubber pad would stay - besides, it does keep the butt on your shoulder...

Back when I was shooting CAS with my boys, I replaced the rubber pad with a Marlin hard rubber plate on my CS which was their levergun for that. It does look better to me...

[Pete44ru]

A BP with the correct pattern on it's face - like checkered steel or hard rubber, will also stay on the shoulder.

JMO, it would add to the custom look you've given the rifle.

.

[Grizz]

How much wood is left? Do you think there's enough extra wood to cut it down flush to a straight line between the bottom of the receiver and the bottom of the cap? Or would I sand through it somewhere along the length of it? I'd like to make mine flush with the metal if it's possible.

Regards,

Grizz

[O.S.O.K.]

Yeah, I agree on the hard rubber buttplates - I do like too.

Grizz- there's plenty of wood. You can take it right straight in line between the two fittings and still have a very sturdy piece of wood. If I was to do that, I'd tape the metal ends and sand it on the rifle - carefully.

[O.S.O.K.]

Wow! Brownell's is very fast - you gotta love em. My order came in today's mail - USP Priority.

So, I ducked out to the shop for some quick installs....



I had a dovetail blank and an XS front sight in my "war chest" and as it turned out, I needed the higher front sight (I installed the rear sight, adjusted all the way down and compared to the sight on the rifle... yep, needs a higher front sight).

So, after screwing on the XS rear sight and checking, the front sight was switched out - but it couldn't be just that easy - there was gunk in the screw holes which prevented the screws from seating all of the way - so cleaned those out - still too shallow, so had to take a little off of the screws - done. Then, removed the existing mid-barrel sight, cleaned and installed the sight blank - was smart this time and applied a little of the Glock copper lube before tapping it over - I highly recommend this... and finally, the Montana sling was popped on - viola' completed rifle.

Now, there's just the range...


WECSOG Temporarily Closed for business....

[mescalero1]

That's more better.

[86er]

Nice job and more useful and appealing.

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks - I just hope it shoots good now that I've fiddled with it

Patient, I am not...

[Buck Elliott]

What did you do with the 1/2 cord of wood you took out of the forearm? There's enough extra lumber on the front-end of a Marlin to shingle a porch...

Looks much better now, and will FEEL much better too, as you start shooting it again.

[RKrodle]

O.S.O.K., WOW that is looking really good. Can't wait for a range report.

[Pete44ru]

O.S.O.K., I have a hard rubber BP you can have - if you want.
Two to pick from, actually - a new Marlin BP, and an unmarked used one that only need the edges cleaned a bit.
The unmarked BP is the same width & profile as the Marlin BP - but is about 1/4" shorter.
You would be on your own, for screws, though.

If you decide you'd like one, take off your rubber bumper and measure the bare butt.







If you're interested, please PM me your snailmail addy, so I can mail one off to you.
.

[RIHMFIRE]

very nice look....

[O.S.O.K.]

Wow Pete. Thanks man, but I am really happy with the rubber baby bumper for now. Truth be known, I don't want to have to resand and restain and refinish....

Thank you for the offer though!!

Gunsnet is the sh*tz guys, really

The best people hang here for sure. Like Pete for example

[Ysabel Kid]

Jac, that is just awesome! It looks so much better, and my bet is you are really going to like how it shoots. Congratulations on the fine work!!!

[dbateman]

wow O.S.O.K that looks much better now cant wait for a range report

[Pete44ru]

[Truth be known, I don't want to have to resand and restain and refinish.... ]

Not needed for a BP change, just redrilling for possible new screw holes locations - but, it's your call, Jac.

I use rubber bumpers, myself - on some rifles.

Just PM me, should you change your mind - the BP's aren't going anywhere soon.

.

[jlchucker]

What did you do with the 1/2 cord of wood you took out of the forearm? There's enough extra lumber on the front-end of a Marlin to shingle a porch...

Looks much better now, and will FEEL much better too, as you start shooting it again.

Looks much better is right. Too bad Marlin doesn't make forearms like this one on every levergun they produce. Think of the material costs they'd save if they used that additional half-cord of wood one other production forearms. Between that and the elimination of that checkering operation they could produce rifles with classic looks and feel, and pass some savings along to us consumers as well.

[O.S.O.K.]

[Truth be known, I don't want to have to resand and restain and refinish.... ]

Not needed for a BP change, just redrilling for possible new screw holes locations - but, it's your call, Jac.

I use rubber bumpers, myself - on some rifles.

Just PM me, should you change your mind - the BP's aren't going anywhere soon.

.

OK! You talked me into it - I PM'd you my addy. Thanks Pete!!

I'll post pics after I get it installed.

I'm heading to the range to see how it shoots today...

[O.S.O.K.]

What did you do with the 1/2 cord of wood you took out of the forearm? There's enough extra lumber on the front-end of a Marlin to shingle a porch...

Looks much better now, and will FEEL much better too, as you start shooting it again.

Looks much better is right. Too bad Marlin doesn't make forearms like this one on every levergun they produce. Think of the material costs they'd save if they used that additional half-cord of wood one other production forearms. Between that and the elimination of that checkering operation they could produce rifles with classic looks and feel, and pass some savings along to us consumers as well.

Yeah, its amazing to me how little the manufacturers seem to listen to their customers. They have to be getting feedback about this stuff. I know that I've written many letters and emails with product feedback.

I would bet if they did a customer survey or test that 80% of the respondants would favor the classic, slim stocks.

[Pete44ru]

I'll mail out the Marlin BP, ASAP my PO opens on Tues AM - after all, SOMEBODY'S gotta get my junk, before my wife throws it all away.

.

[2ndovc]

We'll I'm gonna go against the grain here.

I like the fat forearms. To me ( and this is entirely subjective) but they hold better.

Hope she shoots good anyway Jac!


jb

[mescalero1]

Yeah,
But you are a big guy, it is unhandy for us smaler stature guys.

[AJMD429]

Jac, that is just awesome! It looks so much better, and my bet is you are really going to like how it shoots. Congratulations on the fine work!!!

+1 and will anxiously await Range Report...

[O.S.O.K.]

I should've just replied to this thread... but I made a new thread - here you go! http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=19827