Lurch,
Are you talking about wood carving?, or basic shaping of the stock???
If you're just getting started, architecture, and basic shaping should be the first things to worry about.
At the very least, you need a couple of books...
Either Peter Alexanders book, (can't remember then name right now), AND/OR Recreating the American longrifle, And/Or, The Art of Recreating the Pennsylvania Longrifle.
These books all cover the basics of order of build, methods, and workmanship.
It would be a BIG mistake to start any longrifle project without at least one of these to use as a guide.