They have the stock I want, at least at a reasonable price, but all I ever get is a recorded message. And I've called a LOT. They also don't seem to have anybody on e-mail duty. I really would like to speak to a HUMAN there. Are they really that busy?

Wymples...

I have done about 12 stocks thru Boyds and TWO thru Richards...

I do seem to be able to get thru to them...

they do a decent job if you have a little amount of skill at finishing something....

I figure If I can do it, it doesn't take a rocket scientist...to finish one...

they do have some nice choices available...

wish I could help you more than that...

good luck there buddy..

Wymple, I think you'll have better luck trying late in the day like about 4:00 PM Pacific time.

Rojelio

they make an OK product, but delivery is quite slow. they quote 8-12 weeks but usually take longer. almost impossible to get ahold of, i got an exhibition grade from them once, but I'd classify it on the lowest edge of exhibition. order a laminated one and got a walnut instead, so look for mistakes

Had 1 adventure with them, they shipped a much lower grade than I ordered, then billed me twice, I don't speak spanich so their customer service was of no help. Shipped the stock back and got the credit card company to reverse the charges. Be sure to use a credit card is my only advice.

I drive over and pick one up every now and then. For what I do, a stock is only a handle and they seem to satisfy that requirement. From what I see over there they don't cater to the high quality end of stock making, although every now and than they turn out something nice. Have some wood working tools on hand.

I've done 3 of their stocks and I'll agree with what others have said: They're hard to get ahold of, they're slow, and their grading doesn't always match the advertized pictures.

The first stock that I ordered from them was a "Fancy" walnut. What I got had totally straight grain and only a very faint hint of a ripple. Very dissappointing.

My second stock was a grey-grey-rose laminate for a Rem 700 in .375 Ultra Mag. It turned out good and has been to Africa twice.

The last stock that I got from them turned out good, but it was a long rocky road getting there. First their 8-12 week order time turned into 5 1/2 months, and the stock they shipped was several grades below what I had ordered and it had been cut off and had a recoil pad installed which I had not ordered. I shipped it back to them and 3 weeks later I got what I had originally ordered. I put a .300 Wby Vanguard on it and I just finished checkering it last week. I'm very satisfied with the finished product of this one.

I bought a laminated stock from them a couple of years ago. It was for an uncommon action, so I was not surprised that it took more than 3 months to get it. When it finally came, I was very pleased with their work.

It's been about two weeks since I sent them an e-mail, and at least 50 phone calls, (no joke), and have yet to get thru. I don't think I'm interested in them anymore. Damn, business must be hopping.

quote:

Originally posted by wymple:
It's been about two weeks since I sent them an e-mail, and at least 50 phone calls, (no joke), and have yet to get thru. I don't think I'm interested in them anymore. Damn, business must be hopping.

There are four bars in walking distance. roger

FWIW, I have bought a few stocks from Richard's which have worked out OK, but they have required a lot of hand and machine work to get them up to my expectations. I have only purchased laminated stocks and will warn you that the glue is hard on cutting tools and I finally got around to using carbide edged router bits in the vertical mill for trimming. The inletting seems to be better/closer for the commercial actions then for the military actions, but I would rather have to remove wood then try to fill gaps on over-sized inletting.

All in all, I prefer Boyd's, but they don't have nearly the number of options that Richard's does, so if you need a stock inletted for a Swiss K-31 or for a Winchester/USRA 70 Super Short Magnum, you're pretty much limited to factory or Richard's.

If you are doing a Remington 700, I think that the Remingon factory laminated stocks are better than either Boyd's or Richard's and I particularly like the 700 Mountain Rifle pattern.

Jeff

I went to Boyd's website, looked under thumbhole stocks and of the 22 they listed they had ONE in stock. Is this really how it's done in the business. One outfit won't reply, another hasn't got anything in their catalogue!