Are there any shooters that have used one of Richard's Microfit gunstocks that could chime in on whether they liked or disliked one, and why. I had my late dad's deer rifle rebarreled to a 22/250 heavy varminter recently and at first I was going to leave the original stock on it but I am now considering Cerakoteing the barreled action and restocking it. I first thought the beauty was in the accuracy but.....

I like them because they leave plenty of wood to work with. Gives me much more latitude in shaping the stock to my liking.

POS kast time i ordered from them i ordered a classic walnut and they sent a laminated thumbhole and refused their error

I got a stock from them- about ten years ago. It is pictured in the custom Rifle threads under "a tack driver". The stock is as advertised, with plenty of wood should I decide to trim it down. Since all that it gets used for is benchrest shooting- driving tacks, it was fine as is. It would take a lot of work to sporterize it, but then, I'd need to have a few pounds taken off of the barrel and get a different scope.

I got one for my short action M77 Mk ll Hawkeye 6.5 Creedmoor. . I Really like the shape. It's a finger grooved thumb hole . There Is ALOT of extra wood. Definitely not a drop in. I also got a Boyd's TactiCool laminate and that dropped right in , but I opened the barrel channel to free float it fully. . Since I don't have any scrapers , the Richard's is still hanging up. When I get another short action Ruger , I'll get some scrapers and go at the stock. I do think the stock would be great for predator calling . Being a thumb hole and combed/heeled for sitting in shooting sticks .
They do have some very good shapes in laminate.
If you like doing finish wood working they are a good stock I think.

I put Richard's Microfit stocks on two of my rifles. I pillar and glass bedded the actions of both rifles and I glass bedded both barrel channels, then free floated the barrels. I also hand checkered both stocks with my favorite multi-panel wrap around checkering pattern.

I am very satisfied with the final results of both stocks.

The first stock is laminated (maple?) that I put on a Rem 700 SS barreled action in .375 RUM.


The second stock is on a Weatherby Vanguard in .300 Wby. The stock that I ordered was AA Fancy Claro walnut with feathered crotch. They were VERY SLOW in sending me this stock, and when it arrived it was plain Jane wood, and it WAS NOT the quality of wood that I ordered.

They replaced that stock with the wood that I originally ordered, and I am very happy with that second stock.

Got a fully inlet stock from them for my 1909 Peruvian Mauser. good inlet, and, as most indicate, a lot of material to remove.

Took a bit longer than anticipated, but was as good as promised

I have exactly the same stock as Buffbr's 300 Weatherby, I mean exactly. Same wood for end cap and grip cap, except mine is a 1903 Springfield in 6.5-06 with a Pac-Nor barrel. The Richards stock was just fine, I asked them to install the recoil pad, and they did with no problem, and shipment time was reasonable. I also used them for a Sako action 243, results and time were fine on that one also.

Jerry

My take on this company; fit and finish is in the eye of the beholder. If you have lower standards, get one, if you are like me, don't. I think they are about the best second rate stock supplier out there! Let the buyer beware, you get what you pay for.

I guess I have low standards; Used many of them; first one in 1970 when I, and Roger Ferrell, was in WVU. (Yes we were both doing gunsmithing then) Fit and finish? They are like any other semi insetted stock; it is up to the buyer to fit and finish them. Never had a problem with them. Great American was the absolute worst, but they burned down.
Are they the "best" compared to some others? No. But they are good for the money.
Comparing them to Boyds is like comparing apples to tomatoes; Boyds are computer inletted to fit everything, and are not designed for a tight, custom fit.

I would much rather send a blank of my choosing to a stylist and have it turned to my patterns and request leaving a little more wood than usual as you can take wood off but you cant put it back and that's my problem with simi inlets.

If Im not in a hurry I just do the hard work on a mill, drill press and a bandsaw, but that's more work for sure, but its really the best way to go if you have the ability..

I think anyone with a little coaching could create a really nice stock from their own wood blank and sending it to a good stylist, its not rocket science, its patience. Then send it out for checkering..Good way to spend those cold days of winter in a warm shop.

I agree with dpcd. Fit and finish, up to the action installer. I have done quite a few different stocks over the last 40 odd years, and if they were worth a darn it was up to me. Just saying!

Jerry

The problem with simi turned stocks has nothing to do with capabilities, its about not being able to put wood back that's not there to start with..

For a hunting rifle for the average hunter who cares not so much, and doesn't want to spend the bucks for a custom rifle I see no problem with that cuz you can fix anything with some glass and make it look decent..but a true custom rifle should be built from scratch, just like biscuits its better..

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
I guess I have low standards; Used many of them; first one in 1970 when I, and Roger Ferrell, was in WVU. (Yes we were both doing gunsmithing then) Fit and finish? They are like any other semi insetted stock; it is up to the buyer to fit and finish them. Never had a problem with them. Great American was the absolute worst, but they burned down.
Are they the "best" compared to some others? No. But they are good for the money.
Comparing them to Boyds is like comparing apples to tomatoes; Boyds are computer inletted to fit everything, and are not designed for a tight, custom fit.

I agree with everything you've said. I put a Boyds in my el Cheapo (can I say that?) Stevens 200 .223, which proved to be very accuracy even with its flexible tupperware stock and crappy ex-mil brass.

The stock looks far better than it did and it shoots every bit as well if not better.

Parenthetically, I saw a totally gorgeous custom stock a few weeks ago and . . . well . . . a thrill ran up my leg.

But my problem with lovely things like uniquely beautiful stocks, fine engraving, custom rifles ( sensu lato ) and REALLY cool cars is that I fear damage.

It's totally my hang-up, a flaw in my character. I just wish I could get over it, but so far I cannot. (The upside is that my flaw saves me money.)

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
I agree with dpcd. Fit and finish, up to the action installer. I have done quite a few different stocks over the last 40 odd years, and if they were worth a darn it was up to me. Just saying!

Jerry

Unless like Jim Kobe said, there isn't enough wood to get a good fit. Their inletting runs all over the place. Some may come nice and tight, others give "drop in" a new meaning. I suppose if you just need a stock to DROP an action into, they will suffice. If you actually care what your rifle looks like, look elsewhere.

That said, people will do what they're gonna do.

Z1R no argument there, but I guess I have been very lucky, cause it seems I have always had to "hog" out the barrel channels, and fit the trigger guards/actions. Not that I am the best stock man, I am not. He is Bob Hisserich of Missouri.

Jerry

Richards has been around a long time. I used to go to the business and selected a few stocks over the years he had in inventory, except for two claro blanks I brought him. Mostly sm and lr mausers, one 17 Enfield and a tang safety Ruger 77. All in the "old classic" style and claro or english. Never tried the 99% pre-fit so can't comment on it but I think the stock design I always bought is very good as was the inletting, with a couple exceptions; too much wood removed on a Mauser stock at the rear mag box corners and one of the blanks I provided was supposed to be inletted without any wood removed for bottom metal but the profiler cut out everything. I have not bought from them for many years and now build from blanks but would say that Richards offers a good stock in many styles well suited to a DIY to learn on at a decent price.

The best stock people in the world for someone wanting to learn what not to do when restocking a rifle. Best have a shop size of glass bedding...let someone who will take the time to dup one up for you do it. Don't order two at the same time different actions...they cant even get that right. That was long time ago...and their still in business.

I tried a Boyds and a Richards. Both with the drop in ready fitting as I was looking for quick and easy.

The Boyds fit a heck of a lot better out of the box. Lots of extra work on the Richards to get it where I wanted and so much wood had been removed prior to me even starting the rear bolt area was floating high out of the wood. Rem 700 action.

I support this

quote:

Some may come nice and tight, others give "drop in" a new meaning.

been off the forum a long time, hope my comments are helpful.

I have one Richard's Macrofit and 7-8 Boyd's, if that tells ya anything. I believed
Richard's claim of 97% inlet finished at the time (10-11 years ago) and was not ready for
the work required to get the inletting correct and reshaping the stock. It finally got
there after three months, but that was not in the planning at all. They told me when
ordering that it would take two months, but turned out to be over four months to get it.
And people are whining that it's taking 3 weeks to get their Boyds stock!!

All the Boyds I've gotten were perfect drop-in except for a couple which needed a small
amount of Dremel work because of aftermarket triggers. They may not have the selection
that Richard's does, but they don't have the headache, either. I have bedded all these
stocks and when they fit well in the first place, it's a whole lot easier to hog out
the material needed for the mud and still keep the action in place.

Side note: It's no longer "TactiCool", but "ProVarmint". And they come in more colors
than black if one does the "custom" route.

I have a couple. That said, they were the first ones I did. One looks good the other OK. Lots of wood to remove on the outside, and one had the bolt notch cut too deep. When I called I got the excuse that "we thought you were going to glass bed it." I am hoping my skills have improved because my next one is from a blank. I think I will try to laminate a couple of pieces of home grown quarter cut English walnut and make a benchrest stock. DW

BL Oconner is right, custom beautiful stocks get damaged just like any other stock, it bothers me not to use one hard, and I tend to abuse them somewhat..That said I can fix them to new in a day or two...but to me each nick, scratch or gouge is a memory, so I just use'em and live with whatever damage gets done..don't like erasing memories..Honest wear on the best of custom rifles should be considered acceptable..I abhore hunting with some guy that carries his rifle in a case, usually unloaded and has a panic attack when that window of opertunity shows up and he couldn't get a shot off..Kinda like watch hunting shows on TV and the dumb SOB is looking thu his scope waiting for a B&C buck to turn sideways, when the buck does then he either loads the gun or takes it off safety, by then the buck is gone and Im cussing and sitting on top of the kitchen table yelling shoot you dumb SOB!!!

If you own a custom rifle then use it like any other rifle, its made for hunting..If you like art go buy a picture or a statue..

I have used them three times. Each time I was happy with what I got. They can be a little difficult to get a hold of and lead times are often incorrect. But I have found that to be true with all suppliers of semi-inlets.

Here is a thread where I document my last build, you can see exactly what I got in the thread

7mm-08 Project Link

Brad- Most helpful. Thank you.

There is no such thing as a "drop in stock" that fits everything; if you are ordering one of those from anyone, then you can't complain about the inletting being loose.

I've used a lot of Richards stocks in the past umpteen years...and Boyd's...and Bishops...and Fajens...and...and...

I second dpcd...Most of the Richards stocks fit very well, have plenty of fat to trim to how I like it, both on the inside and outside and barrel channel.

I like plenty of meat so I can add pillars or bedding blocks and recoil redirecting rods etc and I DON'T LIKE wood touching metal or even getting close...and not be so thin in the mag area as to flex under recoil, so I love loosey-goosy looseness...leaves less chance of soggy wood mucking about with pressure points I didn't intend.

I like highly accurate shooters using laminates, solid Walnut, Kevlar, fiberglass and metal to metal lockdown that dosen't wander around with weather changes...for the most part, argumentatively speaking.

The last 5 rifles I've build had 3 Richards SECONDS or on sale...two lams, one in Electric Blue and one multi-colored that look beautiful in the site picture but UGLY in reality for a XP-100 220 Swift 1-8 and Rem 700 6-284 1-8 and one solid Walnut for a Rem700 SA 260/7-08/308 switch barrel...and two Boyd's for a Sav LA 25-06/30-06 switch barrel and one for the Sav Axis 375 JDJ. I will probably order up a Boyd's solid walnut for my Sav 375 Ruger sometime closer to mid winter. I also have several other rifles that that have various handles that shoot excellent and are waiting for rejuvenation in the stock department.

It is sometimes easy to find the bad and hard to find the good no matter what the object is...and whine about winning the Lotto because is wasn't big enough.