I either treat it as an all or nothing project. I got brave enough to pull my dent out. I then sanded it down to 400 grit and refinished it with boiled Lind seed oil. Not perfect by any means but looks a million times better IMO. I wanted to leave a few old scars in the wood to keeps its aged look.
Before...
After about a dozen coats of BLO...
Below photo is after about 2 coats of BLO along with a 32 rimfire R Murdock. Both looked like they were ready for the scrap barrel before I started with both of them.
The 10 gauge receiver was rusted solid and the hammers and pins frozen in place before I went to town on it.