Help me decide.

taylorce1 · May 11, 2025, 10:49 AM

I'm going to send my .375 Ruger stock off to be checkered. I keep thinking that I should keep the pattern simple, but I have several options to choose from. Right now I'm thinking the first pattern A with option #2 and I'd like 22-24 lpi checkering.

Here are the patterns and options.

Here is the price list.

Here are three stocks he did for my hunting buddy. The far right is just a recut of the original checkering.

Here is the stock I want checkered.

Here is a link to his GI advertisement. I'm just really undecided if I want to add ribbons or Fleur-de-lis, I like the stocks he's used on GI to showcase his work where he did both. I'm just not sure I'll like it on my stock.

stagpanther · May 12, 2025, 08:48 AM

I've never been a big fan of chequering--except maybe on the wrist/grip to aid trigger technique. Now from the point of view of artistic esthetics--I love the old Weatherby stocks with wood inlays.

taylorce1 · May 12, 2025, 11:32 AM

I just feel the rifle is unfinished without it. I haven't seen were it's entirely necessary either. However, a lot of my synthetic stocks have a form of checkering or textured finish to "improve grip".

Ricklin · May 12, 2025, 12:43 PM

I am a fan of functional checkering. Checkering the wrist and the fore end is preferable IE: put the checkering where it is useful for gripping the rifle.

gwpercle · May 12, 2025, 06:18 PM

Sorry ... I can't help you !
Every rifle I own is a re-stocked military action made into a sporter with Nice walnut .
I have three a 7x57 mauser , 8x57 mauser , 30-06 and 7.5 Swiss ...
I restocked and finished the rifles myself with the nicest walnut stock blanks I could afford .
I bought checkering tools and got good at checkering ...
But ... I could never decide what pattern or style I wanted .
Every one has no checkering ... just the beautiful wood as mother nature made it ...

But ... that is an option ... no law says you gots to have checkering on your stock !
Gary

bobn · May 12, 2025, 10:57 PM

the way the first one on the left is leaning (your buddys guns) looks nice to me....

taylorce1 · May 13, 2025, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobn

the way the first one on the left is leaning (your buddys guns) looks nice to me....

The first stock on the left is off of his Husqvarna M96 that's chambered in .257 Roberts. He's killed a bunch of mule deer with that rifle and it's distinctive schnable forend. He personally did all the shaping of that stock from a semi-inlet stock.

The far right is a Winchester Model 54 stock, he rebarreled that rifle to .250-3000 this last year. He bought it from a friend who couldn't get it to shoot. He couldn't either so he had it converted from a .30-06

I don't know what the stock in the middle is from. If I wad to hazzard a guess, it's probably off a Ruger rifle. He has a bunch of rifles that I haven't seen.

May 11, 2025, 10:49 AM	#1
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,494	Help me decide. I'm going to send my .375 Ruger stock off to be checkered. I keep thinking that I should keep the pattern simple, but I have several options to choose from. Right now I'm thinking the first pattern A with option #2 and I'd like 22-24 lpi checkering. Here are the patterns and options. Here is the price list. Here are three stocks he did for my hunting buddy. The far right is just a recut of the original checkering. Here is the stock I want checkered. Here is a link to his GI advertisement. I'm just really undecided if I want to add ribbons or Fleur-de-lis, I like the stocks he's used on GI to showcase his work where he did both. I'm just not sure I'll like it on my stock. __________________ NRA Life Member

May 12, 2025, 11:32 AM	#3
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,494	I just feel the rifle is unfinished without it. I haven't seen were it's entirely necessary either. However, a lot of my synthetic stocks have a form of checkering or textured finish to "improve grip". __________________ NRA Life Member

May 12, 2025, 12:43 PM	#4
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,371	I am a fan I am a fan of functional checkering. Checkering the wrist and the fore end is preferable IE: put the checkering where it is useful for gripping the rifle. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

May 12, 2025, 08:48 AM	#2
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 12,896	I've never been a big fan of chequering--except maybe on the wrist/grip to aid trigger technique. Now from the point of view of artistic esthetics--I love the old Weatherby stocks with wood inlays. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

May 12, 2025, 06:18 PM	#5
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,910	Sorry ... I can't help you ! Every rifle I own is a re-stocked military action made into a sporter with Nice walnut . I have three a 7x57 mauser , 8x57 mauser , 30-06 and 7.5 Swiss ... I restocked and finished the rifles myself with the nicest walnut stock blanks I could afford . I bought checkering tools and got good at checkering ... But ... I could never decide what pattern or style I wanted . Every one has no checkering ... just the beautiful wood as mother nature made it ... But ... that is an option ... no law says you gots to have checkering on your stock ! Gary

May 12, 2025, 10:57 PM	#6
bobn Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,120	the way the first one on the left is leaning (your buddys guns) looks nice to me....