dvogel:

Sorry no-one replied to your post. I also just bought a 981T. I called Marlin because I wanted a wood stock. They said all of the 980 series with tube magazine and bolt action are interchangeable. I ordered a wood stock for a 983 (22 mag version) from Marlin for $95 (could not find anywhere else that sold any of these stocks). I have not picked up the gun yet from Dick's Sporting goods, even though they had the best price ($169) they had to do a special order from their warehouse (takes 3 weeks). If you want to see what it looks like, I'll try to sent pics as soon as I get it put together. The wood stock I already have, and it does have checkering, butt pad, trigger guard, and studs. This should also improve the weight distribution a bit.

Hope this helps !

 

Barry, did you get the banner pattern checkering or the fleur-di-lis?

 

I am not sure what that is, or what the difference is between them, and I did not know there were choices on this. There is a design in the corners of the checkering that looks like the Boy Scouts emblem (has a 3-pointed head with the two outside members curved and pointing downward - does this help ?). The stock they sent says it is for the 983, if that helps. I'll post pics once I get it (all of the sport shops were out of the 981T since several weeks before the holidays).

Barry

 

Like this? It's the fleur-di-lis.

 

What little I know about putting walnut stocks on 981Ts. They are available from three places. Marlin, Midway and Numrich (e-gunparts). Numrich will have the older stocks. Translate older as cheaper.

I ordered from Numrich. Part # 1137290. It's a stock for a Marlin 781,783. It came with metal trigger guard, bullseye, butt pad and QD Swivels. $47.20, plus $9.50 shipping. I ordered my parts in June, 2009.

The stock had to be inletted for a horizontal pin, just ahead of the 900 trigger assembly. A dremel made short work of this. Some wood must be removed, where the 900 trigger block hits. I used the wifes lipstick for transferring a mark from the trigger block to the wood. The third thing is that the front trigger screw hole had to be drilled, so the rear action screw can be used.

If you call Marlin, they may send you the action screws? I got mine from Fastenal. Part nos. BHSCS 10-32 x 1 1/2 and BHSCS 1/4-28 x 5/8. I had to take a thread off of the 5/8 screw because it was touching the bolt. These screws have allen heads. They look good and you have less chance of slipping (slipping equals scratching).

A few pictures:

I hope this information is of some use to you.

Larry

 

Larry, seeing your 981 with the Numrich stock has convinced me it's the way to go. Nice job.
Dean

 

The Numrich stock is very nice if they still have them. Not sure if they do. (Edit: They do - here.) The one I received has a nice grain and is just fine as-is. Pretty much matches the walnut on my 1894P.

I'm using all the same part numbers as powwowell, including the screws from Fastenal. I didn't have to make any modifications to the hardware. The hole you have to drill is already there... the front trigger guard screw is in it. You just have to drill it out to fit the slightly larger action/triggerguard screw you'll be replacing it with. Aside from drilling that out, I just put a burr bit on the dremel and went to town relieving the areas that needed it. Had everything put together in about half an hour.

 

Any recommendations on a scope for the 981?

 

Picked up my 981T from the FFL today. I already had the stock from Numrich and the screws from Fastenal. (Thanks to Bulldawg and powwowell for providing all that great information.) The Numrich stock is very nice and required no work on the finish, although some Birchwood Casey Stock wax really set it off nicely. As previously mentioned, the Dremel makes short work of the wood that needs to be removed, and the stock really transforms the look and feel of the rifle. I added a Nikon Prostaff 4x32 rimfire scope and it's ready for sighting in. Thanks for the help guys, I think we have a winner here.