I have managed to bring home two rifles that bubba has slathered polyurethane on the stocks. Both look terrible.
One is a TC Hawken that seems to have a great original finish under the poly. The applied finish is streaked and thin in spots. I am not thinking I want to strip this stock totally and start over. I would rather clean it it up and stay original.
Two is a Winchester 52 stock and who knows where it's been. It has a complete poly finish that is rough and bubbly, not applied well. This stock could be stripped or cleaned up doesn't matter.
My thoughts are sanding with 400 grit and 600 grit then completing the job with Brownells stock rubbing compound. It's going to take a lot of sanding to remove all the ridges and brush strokes on the TC stock.