Refinishing Stock on a Ruger 10/22 carbine

[skier2480]

So I just bought a Ruger 10/22 carbine yesterday and am thinking about refinishing the stock. I want to darken the look of the stock and put a high gloss finish on it. Has anyone here refinished one of these stocks? If so, what worked the best?

Thanks!

[Skyvalhunter]

Ever think about going composite. The minute you reblue or refinish the stock the guns value goes down

[skier2480]

I'm not too concerned about the value of this gun going down. I don't ever plan on selling it and eventually hand it down to my son. I just don't like the original look.

[BlackRidge]

I was planning to do something similar and found THIS site had some good suggestions

[carpsniperg2]

I tried to work a little on mine The best thing to do is pick up the stock you want at a gun show. Mine went kinda wrong and not has a syn stock on it

[thinkingman]

Does it have checkering or not?
Easy way is to get lacquer thinner, 000 steel wool, some gloves and start rubbing it down with lacquer thinner and steel wool.
Finish with a dark walnut stain, then either boiled linseed oil or tung oil.
Sand with 0000 steel wool between coats, leave the last one glossy, if that's what you want.
I used tung oil and was going for a soft sheen, not gloss.

[FC]

Does it have checkering or not?
Easy way is to get lacquer thinner, 000 steel wool, some gloves and start rubbing it down with lacquer thinner and steel wool.
Finish with a dark walnut stain, then either boiled linseed oil or tung oil.
Sand with 0000 steel wool between coats, leave the last one glossy, if that's what you want.
I used tung oil and was going for a soft sheen, not gloss.

That^^^ I have also used Varathane over the top of a linseed oil finish, the finish looked like it was about a foot deep when I was done.

[skier2480]

Thank you everyone for the info. This is a big help. When I get around to it I'll post some before and after pics.