The Stock
Remove the stock from the barreled action and check closely for any crack, split, or other damage to not only its exterior but throughout its inletting as well. If all surfaces of the inletting are not adequately sealed, finish the job with several coats of stock finish. If the exterior has a hard, synthetic finish, any good household wax developed for protecting wood works equally well on a stock. Years ago, I used Johnson's Wax in paste form, whereas most products I see today are liquids in aerosol cans. Try to find the unscented kind unless whatever you are hunting is attracted to lemons or vanilla beans. Special waxes formulated specifically for use in gunstocks are also available.

A tip I recently picked up is to use Bore Butter from Thompson/Center for weather-proofing a wood stock with an oil finish. With ambient temperature at 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, rub a light coat on the stock with your fingers, and after it has dried for a couple of hours, wipe with a soft cloth. It will also keep metal from rusting but only for a couple days. Its odor will eventually fade if applied several weeks before opening day of deer season.

The great thing about a good synthetic stock is it requires very little tender loving care. If its paint job gets chipped or worn through in spots, simply spray on another coat of ugly--I am only kidding--and it's like new. Seriously, about the only thing required of a synthetic stock is to occasionally remove it from the barreled action and take a look inside to see if anything unpleasant is going on there. Some are stronger than others, but none is indestructible. For example, not long back, I examined an inexpensive stock removed from a rifle in .338 Winchester Magnum, and it was beginning to split just behind the recoil lug.

Like I said at the beginning of this report, now is the time to make sure your rifle is ready for its next hunt.