Author Topic: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(  (Read 1325 times)

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Offline deerhunter1981

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One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« on: August 12, 2008, 01:39:58 PM »
Hey ya'll

I have a new Ranger 94AE which I have been looking forward to go hunting with for quite some time now. 10th of august was finally here and I got to bring it out. It was a wet day with frequent showers. When I got back home I noticed that the end of gun stock literarly had started dissolving!! Has anyone experienced anything similar? I knew the wood on these newer 94's weren't top notch, but this was IMO a bit extreme.

Is it only safe to hunt with the new 94AE in nice weather?

Dissapointed....

Offline Keith L

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2008, 01:44:36 PM »
I wonder what you have there.  Even crappy wood shouldn't melt in the rain.  Could it be some kind of filler or something used to patch a inferior blank?  I wouldn't think the factory would have time to do that.  Can you post a picture?
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Offline deerhunter1981

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2008, 01:50:24 PM »
I have the rifle at home, but right now I'm at work in a different city. I'll see if I can get some pics next time I'm home

Offline MGMorden

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2008, 07:31:07 AM »
Yep - that definately ain't right.  When I first read the subject line I figured it was the FINISH that was dissolving (I totally wiped out the finish around the grip areas on a new Remington 870 Express by hunting with mosquito repellant on my hands), but if it's the actual WOOD, then something isn't right.  No wood, regardless of cost or grade, should dissolve in the rain.

I'd contact Winchester (or whatever their parent company du jour is) and see if they'll replace it.

Offline woodchukhntr

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2008, 08:22:08 AM »
Are they using paper mache or particle board for stocks at Winchester?

Offline Keith L

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2008, 08:37:27 AM »
Who knows what went in towards the end.  I had a late model Ranger that the fit and such was so awful that I was going to dump it.  When they went out of production and folks thought they were gold plated I swapped it for a new Glock 19 and some clips.
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Benjamin Franklin

Offline STUMPJMPR

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2008, 09:41:50 AM »
I had a model 94 i bought new in 04....it went through a flood in 05 and the stock swelled up huge....these stock aren't sealed they were just stained.... I had to let it dry for weeks and finally sanded it back down so it would fit the butt plate.... so they were really cheaply made...

Offline Rangr44

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2008, 02:15:18 PM »
Count it as a lesson learned (the hard way): Always, ALWAYS, remove the wood from EVERY gun you buy, including taking off the buttplate and PG cap (if it has one) - and soak the uncoated interior surfaces of the inletting and under the buttplate with TruOil until it will accept no more oil.

Neglecting to do so invites the wood to absorb moisture through the unprotected grain & endgrain, and it will swell until it dries out - sometimes permanently wrinkling the stock's outer finish, especially if it has a polymer in it, as the polymer will stretch with the swelling, never to return to it's original size.

It will make no difference, at all, what specific type wood is used for the stock.  All wood is a natural product, and will react to moisture/water, period.

NO Manufacturer finishes/protects unseen/hidden wood surfaces.

Strip the stock with some Formby's Furniture Refinisher (from WallyWorld), lightly sand any remaining imperfections, stain it, then TruOil the wood, inside and out.

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Offline deerhunter1981

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2008, 01:39:04 AM »
rangr44:

yup I think that was what happened.

Offline yooper77

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2008, 02:58:02 AM »
Winchester Ranger stocks are hardwood with a walnut finish.  These of course shouldn't dissolve, but they are most certainly not the top of the line wood grade.

I would give Winchester a call, but don't be surprised if they don't do anything about it.

Brownells has replacement real walnut stocks, but they require fitting and finishing.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/productdetail.aspx?p=16643

yooper77

Offline stuffit

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2008, 05:39:35 AM »
Has anyone experience with using the old Johnson's Glocoat as a final finish on wooden stocks?  There's a gunsmith in a nearby town who swears by it as a weather  guard and final finish.
I doubt it's available anymore anyway though?

 ;)
stuffit
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2008, 01:46:35 PM »
Quote
NO Manufacturer finishes/protects unseen/hidden wood surfaces.

You must not own many Remington rifles. They do.


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Offline deerhunter1981

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #12 on: September 08, 2008, 10:16:59 AM »
I think I'll order some new stocks from brownells. thanks for the link. do you know if anyone has stocks for a 94AE in .444?

Offline Rangr44

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Re: One rainy hunt and the stock on my 94 is dissolving :-(
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2008, 04:50:44 AM »
[NO Manufacturer finishes/protects unseen/hidden wood surfaces.]
[You must not own many Remington rifles. They do.]


The gun I learned about this on was a new Remington 1100, bought back in the early 70's.

They didn't, then - as the waffle-finished RKW stock on that one, two days after a deluge, can attest.

deerhunter198: - any late Winchester 94 straight-gripped stock should fit your .444 BB94, unless you want a canoe-paddle (monte carlo) stock.



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There's a Place for All God's Creatures - Right Next to the Potatoes & Gravy ! !