Mr. Dudley is correct. Gouged out wood or torn wood fibers will not react much, if at all to steaming.
And while this process is most effective when a stock's finish is removed to bare wood, I have found that it is sometimes possible to steam "through" some of the early, basic finishes... but not to huge effect. This sometimes works on small, shallow dents to remove or minimize them. However, I don't recommend that the inexperienced try it.
Some, if not many, wounds should be left as part of the gun's character.
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