Brush Creek Rifles

Producing Fine Custom Laminated Rifle Stocks

	I'm using a Don Allen 5 axis duplicator that was produced by Dakota Arms. It's a precision machine that makes turning a block of wood into a stock a lot simpler than building a stock from scratch. Enjoy the photos and if you would like to turn your factory rifle into a fine custom firearm , give me a call @ 423-247-7007. If I don't answer, leave your name and number and I'll call you back. Machine noises and ear plugs don't help answer the phone on the first ring.
I can build you a stock with any combination of Walnut, Maple and-or Cherry. Look at the photographs below and let me know which you like best.
This beautiful stock is made from walnut and cherry. The center laminations are very thin, so the sides of the stock will show the grain of the walnut and look like a traditional rifle stock. The 40X style works for both right and left hand shooters.
	Here's a close up of the wood grain. Using figured wood to give the stock character is risky... This stock cracked inside the knot after I carved it. However, this stock has been repaired and while you can see the fixed crack, you can't feel it.
Here's the otherside of the stock. The wood on this rifle had been stored in a barn for 20 years to air dry. It shows the rich chocolate color of Black Walnut that's not been artifically steamd and kiln dried.
	Here's the same stock, pilar bedded, the action and floor plate glassed and the barrel floated. My rifle is a Remington 700 Varmint in 222 Remington with a factory Varmint barrel. The stock was cut for a heavy benchrest barrel and has about 1/16" clearance between the stock and the barrel.
Here's a closeup view of the barrel channel with a standard Varmint weight contour. If you've got a heavy barrel Remington 700 benchrest action, this stock is for you!
	The outside of this stock was one board that was split into two 1.5" boards to laminate between with 3, 1/8th inch boards. I built a 40 ton hydrolic press to keep the laminations solid and straight. To inclrease production, I'll have to build another press soon.
When you see the stock from either the bottom or top, the laminations are striking and give the stock a unique look. The cherry will darken to a darker color over time. The stock has been sanded to 400 grit and has a couple of coats of tung oil, but so far hasn't been finished. The buttplate isn't installed either.
	Rolls of hay are just the ticket for a quick steady rest in the chuck meadows.
Here's a closeup of the fault in this stock. The crack is filled and is very hard to see. The wood was so beautiful that I had to try to make a stock from it. So far this is the only stock I've been able to keep.
	The cheek area in this thumbhole stock also has a knot... I started using wood with knots in uncritical areas for my own stocks, but everybody that saw them liked the character they give the stock and I've only been able to keep the 40X one for myself.
Here's a detailed photo of the handgrip area. The area inside the thumbhole requires hand work because power tools just won't fit.
	Here's a view of the bottom of the stock. There is extra wood at the forward end of the stock so you can cut the stock at the angle you want. Not just what I like.
This stock is made of ambrosia maple, walnut and cherry. I love the camo type look the ambrosia maple gives it.
	Here's a closer look at the ambrosia maple. This stock has only been sanded with 60 grit paper and is very rough at this stage.
This maple stock is naturally dark, due to the stain from the ambrosia beatle. It compliments the walnut and cherry laminations.
	Here's 3 different combinations of walnut, maple and cherry on the same style of benchrest stock. My 222 Remington Varmint is in the walnut and cherry stock on the far left. You can see them from the side in this view.
The following photos were taken last Summer when I started building my first stocks.
For my first stock I built a replacement stock for my Remington 600 using a walnut and cherry laminate. At this point I've sanded on it for about an hour and rubbed in one coat of tung oil.
	I'm going to take this rifle deer hunting next fall. It will be only a short time till the final sanding is done, the action bedded and both the recoil pad and sling swivels are installed.
Well, how's it look? After all this is only the first stock I've carved. As I make more stocks, I'll update this page.
	The 3rd stock I've built is a benchrest stock for a Remington 700 Varmint in .222 Remington. I've built two more now and they can be seen here.
At this point, the stock is carved, inletted, and rough sanded. The recoil pad needs to be installed before I finish sanding the stock. Then I'll put on 5 coats of stock oil before I spray the final finish coat of high tech varnish.
	The stock started out as 1" walnut and cherry boards. I split the cherry into 1/2" slabs and planned them down into two 3/8" planks. Three 1" boards of walnut were also used to build the laminate.
Here's a close up of the right side of the stock. It's only rough sanded to 120 grit and one coat of stock oil rubbed in. I'll put on 5 more coats of oil using a pad of stainless steel wool. The microscopic fibers that are cut by the steel wool, are carried by the oil into the pores of the wood to fill the grain and waterproof the stock.
	I'll add 9/16" aluminum pillars to the stock bolts and glass bed the action. I'm only a few hours away from sighting in this rifle.
Here's a detailed view of the hand grip area. See how the curves flow together.
	How's this for my third stock? After I make a few more, I'll be ready to sell them.
Here's a close up shot of the left side of the stock. Just click any of the photos to show it full screen.
	If you take a close look at the stock, you can see where the cherry had a knot and a big split. Hey, I knew it when I glued up the laminate, but fine cherry and walnut are very expensive, so I wanted to use it to make a stock for myself. The crack laminated just like the rest of the wood, and it's a solid block that should be fine!
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