Originally Posted by
Tentman
I'd say go for it. The biggest thing will be finding a bit with the correct grain flow through the wrist.
I've got a 22 target stock in totara, it is quite functional but did develop a Crack, and the gunsmith wasn't very keen on it as it didn't "carve" like walnut.
Now if I was looking to do a real NZ timber stock I'd look long and hard till I found the right bit of Kowhai, lightish, strong and wonderful grain. Paul Adam's (a West Coast bushman) told me his old people (Ngai Tahu) preferred it for walking and hill sticks if they could find the right bit. He gave my dad a bit to make a dog trails stick out of and it's fantastic.