Cleaning a Mosin Stock

[Angus]

I just want to clean it up a bit, not strip it. I am trying to avoid totaling it out all together. I have been told to use Scott's liquid gold wood cleaner.

Anyone ever use it on their Mosin?

[TNRobocop]

Nope but I have heard murphy's wood soap seems to do okay.

For the most part though it is always easier and better looking in the long run to just redo it. It's not like a cartouche marked M1 Garand stock or anything like that.

[Garufa]

If Scott's is safe to use on Shellac it should work fine.

[Bigiron]

Over cleaner will work. But don't use it on a laminated stock. Very easy to get off the old shellac and re-shellac. Surplusrifles.com will have a wealth of info on your mosin.

[Garufa]

Unless the original finish is beyond repair do not refinish it. Regardless of how cheap Mosin's are (at least 91/30's) you screw it up, then whatever value it has, however little it may be, just got thrown out the window. Look at the prices of M44's now since the supply dried up.

Mosin stocks are finish in shellac. Denatured alcohol will strip it right off. Once again I do not recommend that unless it is beyond repair. Get your Scott's or Murphy's and clean it up. Or just leave it alone - you'll clean all the character out of it.

Mosins do have cartouches on the stock, what they all mean is anyone's guess, but you start stripping, sanding or whatnot, they're gone.

I speak from experience.

[Mike.357]

old battle rifles are not meant to look all pretty and like new. There are plenty of new guns available.

Leave it alone.

The thing I like best about the dinged and dented stocks on my milsurps is I never worry about adding another ding, dent or scratch. They are not noticable anwyay.

[Angus]

I am just trying to get the sticky crap off of the stock. I do not want to strip it, sand it, burn it or hose it down. I just want to fondle it the way it should be fondled and not get sticky gun goo on me or my clothes.....

Man I feel like I am 15 again.....sticky gun goo

[Mike.357]

just to get the residual cosmoline off I would try heat. Heat can be best applied by running 100 rounds through it. Keep a rag handy and wipe it down as it heats up.

Leaving it out in the sun will have the same effect, sort of.

[bubbiesdad]

just to get the residual cosmoline off I would try heat. Heat can be best applied by running 100 rounds through it. Keep a rag handy and wipe it down as it heats up.

Leaving it out in the sun will have the same effect, sort of.

Putting 100 rounds through it is a lot more fun.

[Guest Tusculum]

go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a long plastic tray(For soaking wallpaper) a couple of bucks and get about 10 lbs of kitty litter. Pour a bed of litter and lay the stock in the tray. Cover it with kitty litter and forget it for about a month. Kitty litter will pull the nasty stuff out of the stock. It Works! HTH Jack

[R1100R]

I use a portable steam(hand held) on mine and it tool all the cosmoline off.

[mousegunner]

Do NOT use alcohol! A little mineral spirits and gentle rubbing with very fine steel wool will do the trick.