Well after looking into it, my 1940 6.5mm is not a highly valuable gun. Top values in 100% perfect condition fetch around $200. So with that in mind, I completely tore it apart, sanded the stock down (and the barrel cover piece up front), did the whole ironing trick to raise the dents out of the wood, and am in the process of re-staining it. I'm keeping it very similar, staining it a Golden Oak color. After one coat the thing looks mint, and I'm going to do at least 3 coats. After the three coats of stain, I'm going to hit it up with our "Super Fish Gloss" we use to give fish that wet look. It not only seals what it goes on, but it provides that real high glossy look. I ordered 2 boxes of ammo for it the other day from Midway, only $14 a box but it can't be found anywhere around here. Then I will be doing some filing to the rear sight. Due to the fact it is a fixed sighting system set at 328 yards for military snipers, and I'm not that good with open sights, I'm going to file it down in the back so I can be closer to a 100 yard zero. I would prefer to raise the front sight but can't figure out how to do it. I'll get a pic of the stock in progress tomorrow.

Jake, why not take it to a gunsmith and have it tapped for scope rings?

Can't do it because of the design. The part that would be drilled/tapped is only 1.5" long and a base is longer than that. Even if it could be put there, it is a 6 shot, top fed internal clip magazine. I was reading last night and I can take the front sight off. I didn't know it before. All I need is a higher one to slide into the front sight slot and it'll be done, no grinding or anything now!

Ok here it is all back together. In total I ended up doing 2 coats of stain, and 4 coats of the gloss. It got a new sling, because the old sling (leather) was starting to tear, new butt plate, replaced 4 of the almost stripped out screws with new stainless ones, and the new truglo sight. Still haven't gotten the ammo cause I had to re-order it because Midway canceled it because they thought I was too young. It's hard to see the butt plate on there but it's there. The stock is a little lighter and much more glossy. The pictures do not do it any justice really. So here is a before picture:



After:

way to go. Hope it works for you.

It looks nice Jake. A little elbow grease goes a long way.
Did you put some anti corrosion paste on those stainless screws before you set them? Why? You ask.
When you mix dissimilar metals corrosion takes place. Stainless is high zinc, where as gun steel is usually high carbon steel. I know you like to keep your stuff in good shape, so just passing on some info to make sure it stays that way.

Looks great Jake!!! You really put some work into it!!!

Thanks everyone. I put probably 2 hours into it. Not too bad. I did not put the anti-corrosion stuff on Tony. I thought about it but just didn't for some reason. The metal they are holding to the wood is only cast, so it's not like its holding aluminum or anything that should be HIGHLY reactive. If I see any corrosion starting, I'll definitely pull them out, and put in some news ones with the paste on them. They're oiled and kept in a dehumidified gun cabinet so that should help prevent anything. Thanks for the tip though.

Tony, I just looked and the screws are not stainless. They just say they are coated, so they still may have something in the coating that could react over time. I'll just keep an eye on it all.

Jake, an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You might want to reconsider and use the advice Tony offered.

You know, you're right Herbie. Looks like I'll be tearing it apart tomorrow lol!

Jake do you have a FAT wrench? It is a torquing tool that Midway sells specifically for NOT tightening gun/scope screws too tight. You can set it at the proper weight, and it will click when you reach that torque. You know what a torque wrench is...you install tires!
Make the lugs too tight, you could warp the brake discs, make the gun screws too tight, you could make it not shoot right. That tool is a good investment.

And they say all the smart kids were born pre 1975. Jake has proven them wrong once again.

No I don't Tony. The only screws I put in it were the ones for the butt plate and the back end of the sling, so they only hold something to the stock, nothing to the barrel. I left the ones that hold the stock to the barrel alone, so it should shoot the same...way too high at any reasonable distance! How much is that tool cause it sounds good.

Well worth the dough and it comes with bits too.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=718023