While I suppose you could do it with wood tools, it's a lot easier to use a mill. It takes longer to setup in the mill than it does to make the cuts. The one I did yesterday, I indicated the stock in various points to find the best "average" of level and straightness, then went down .500" off the top of the original front pillar to make the base for the block. Then it's just rooting out the wood and making a little extra clearance around the block for the epoxy. Basically you just mill out a 3-sided rectangle from the front of the existing recoil lug pocket, on back a little past the rear action screw. Here's a pic:

[img width=600 height=450]http://www.hordpower.com/gallery/albums/guest/May2011_002.sized.jpg[/img]