Quick Question for stock refinishing

[Ironhorse]

I just purchased a 1943 Mosin Nagant 91-30 non number matching shooter for 80 bucks. I love the rifle but I hate the wood hand guard and stock covering up most of the barrel. Is it alright to cut the stock right before the 2nd barrel band?

My stock has some scratches and scrapes but is not dinged up just coated in cosmuline, whats the best way to clean this off I'm guessing bleach? I plan to clean it out with bleach, cut the stock down, sand lightly and use antique tung oil.
Any thoughts?

 

[writerinmo]

I can't recommend chopping up the original stock for several reasons. First off, there are some really nice aftermarket stocks made by ATI for around 50 bucks that will pretty well set you up with what it sounds like you are looking for, so I would buy one of those and maybe sell yours to someone looking for a good stock. If it were cracked or broken, then I would vote go ahead and bubba it. I sometimes buy 'u-fix-em" Mosins and they often come with a bad stock, so I am kinda biased, lol. Check out cheaperthandirt.com for them I think they are about the cheapest you will find them other than maybe ebay.

Bleach for cosmoline? Other than the fact that the fumes are toxic, it's still not a recommended cleaner for it. Cosmoline melts off fairly easily, pouring boiling water over it will melt it right away. Some have put the stock in a black trash bag layered with newspapers and put it in the hot sun, the newspaper absorbs the cosmo as it melts off, but with the hot part of summer gone this probably won't work. Dont use mineral spirits, as it works great but will also dissolve the shellac finish.

Read this:
http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/mo...-time-cleaning-miltiary-surplus-firearms.html

 

[Ironhorse]

will post pics soon, I cut the forearm it looks great I still need to do a little sanding other than that it's great. I'm hoping by next weekend I can bed the action. I'm trying to save up money for a set of mojo sights