I have a 1942 Savage No.4 MK1 303 that a previous owner had sporterized, complete with scope and hacked stock. I purchased an unissued stock set for it. The upper guards are walnut and the butt/forend are beechwood I believe. It will take a little work to make all the pieces match somewhat, but that's a whole other issue.

When I mated the forend to the action it didn't fit, which didn't really surprise me given it was an unissued and unfitted stock. There is a lug underneath where the magazine release attaches and the corresponding wood had to be shaved a little for it to drop in. Not a lot, I probably didn't take 1/16" off the inside of the stock in that one little area.

Before I quit for the night I went to put the butt stock on, just a dry fit. It wouldn't go into the socket, which again was no surprise. I supected there would be more final fitting.

One thing that surprised me was the ill fit of the butt plate. The butt plate is clearly 1/16" smaller than the mating area of the butt stock. I assume they left the back end of the butt stock a little large but never having fit a new stock I'd like to hear you guys' opinion.

At first I thought it might have been a Savage thing so I set aside the pot metal butt plate and tried the NOS steel one that came with the stock, still in cosmolineicon. it was the same fit.

I can do the shaping on the butt stock but I'd like to hear what you have to say regardless; any similar experiences etc. I can post pics tonight if that would help.

Thanks all.
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