[Scorch]

As others have suggested, walnut is a great wood for gun stocks. It is just about perfect in many ways: it is hard but not too hard, it is light but not too light, it is flexible but not too flexible, and on and on. But gunstocks can be made out of almost any hard fruit tree wood or nut tree wood, and have been. Apple wood makes some spectacular stocks, as do quince, pecan, almond, hickory, butternut, mulberry, crabapple, and the list goes on. But walnut is easy to work with and the color is naturally pleasing without staining, so many people feel it is the best. But you can use whatever wood you want. For that matter, you could make a stock for a 22 out of balsa, if it pleases you. Read up on stockmaking and design, and maybe you'll be the next famous stockmaker.