Yeah it looked like it would be more difficult to me too. I didn't spend a whole lot of time looking it over when I had it apart but should have. It's raining so maybe today is a good day to do that. The mag area is what kinda concerned me because of the cheap design but I guess as long as I measured 100x's before I made a cut I would get there.
This place has two stocks that I really like, the Wildcat and Pistol Grip. The Wildcat in hardwood can be bought for $85 in economy grade, for a hunting gun that will get banged around I'd rather not buy a fancier grade. Although they do have them. I'll have to spend some time looking over the Axis fist.
http://www.rifle-stocks.com/sporter_hunting_styles.htm