To answer Mr. Hosmer's questions, and share this sorted tale with the group:

A little over a year ago I shared some pictures of a sporterized '98 with a carved stock.  I bought it for $400 strictly because it had a '96 carbine rear sight.  At that time the group pointed out that the barrel length was very close to a BoOF rifle and might make a good project.  I started acquiring the metal pieces as all I got with the rifle was the trigger guard.

To Dick's question, I bough the reproduction  stock off eBay for about $100.  It had been shortened a few inches, but not to carbine length,  including the removal of the reduced area under the front barrel band.  When I laid the action in the wood it was immediately apparent that the blank had not been positioned correctly prior to machine carving.  It was off, not enough to be unusable, but enough to not seat correctly.  Knowing my woodworking skills I should have pitched it and started with a new stock.  But I decided to use it as a learning experience and started with files, dremel, sandpaper etc to make the action seat.  I got it as close as I could and left it at that.  I measured my rifles to determine how much farther the stock had to be shortened, cut it and started fashioning the area for the front barrel band.  Since the barrel is tapered I was trying to reduct that area slightly to compensate for the barrel.  In the process I took off more material than I should.  After I finished insulting myself I ordered a new forestock, cut off the end and grafted it onto my stock.  It is not perfect, but once I get it stained/oiled it should be fairly invisible.  Because of the barrel taper the front barrel band is a VERY tight fit.
I am not really North or South bay.  I live in Dublin.