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wet shotgun

Pistollero1050
I dropped my remington shotgun in the lake today. I took it apart and lubed and dried it out. problem; the stock swoll up so now the but plate doesn't fit. what to do?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • CapnMidnight
    Let it dry for a couple of days, it should fit. If your in a hurry try using a hair dryer, from the butt end.
    W.D.
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  • tsr1965
    Pistollero1050,

    After you get your shotgun dried out, get yourself a set of the synthetic stocks and forarm for it. They don't take on water, and will save your wood.

    Best
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  • beantownshootah
    It will eventually dry out, though depending on just how much water is in there and the nature of the gun finish, it may take more than a few days.

    Hairdryer can't hurt, but I suspect it will take longer to do it that way than you'd probably have patience for.

    I'd suggest leaving it in a warm dry place for a week.

    EG: next to baseboard heater (if you're using heat), outside in sun (rest a black piece of plastic on top to make it hotter), etc. You could try leaving it in your oven at the LOWEST possible heat setting for a few hours. That would probably dry it out.
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  • Mobuck
    I'd say all those methods of using heat to dry your stock will prove to be bad ideas. You can cause cracks in the wood doing it that way. Just give it some time to air dry.
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  • David Nunn
    If it were mine, I would buy a synthetic stock set and install it now.

    Then, I would set the wood stock set aside and let it dry SLOWLY, NATURALLY, maybe several weeks, even months, and see if it will fit back on the gun after that.

    I would not try to force dry the wood. I wouldn't use any artificial heat source at all. I wouldn't lay it in the sun.
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  • wpage
    Good advice on slow dry. Also put some tung oil or lemon oil on it to refresh the grain on the wood after its dry.
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  • GuvamintCheese
    Hang it a closet in a garbage bag with a damp rid bag inside. Check it every few weeks.

    If you live in a humid area or dont have an AC in your house, it may not dry naturally.

    Once its dry, get some boiled linseed oil and rub it everywhere inside the forearm, stock, behind the butt plate etc, let it soak in for 15 minutes or so and wipe off excess. Repeat once a year if you hunt in wet conditions.
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  • TRAP55
    Anytime one goes for a swim or has flood damage, strip the finish off ASAP and let it air dry. If you don't, the wood swells and stains under the finish. With the finish off it can dry evenly.
    If it's too late, go with the Rem synthetic stocks, same dimensions and weight of the wood stocks.
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  • Pistollero1050
    Thanx for the positive feed back guys. It was only in for a minute and I live in Arizona so I'll just leave the butt plate off and let it dry in the dry Az air. I thought it was screwed but at least there is hope.
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  • asphalt cowboy
    Once you get the wood dry seal the end grain on both ends of it with a good spar varnish.
    Mask off the factory finish with Painters tape, not masking tape, and coat it with the SV, let it soak a few minutes and scrub off the excess with a course rag. Then repeat twice more.
    Make sure it is good and dry first though. If the butt plate is still wood proud it may not be dry yet.
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