Having lost the use of my right shooting eye due to a detached retina, I'm looking to recreate a rifle similar to the Tikka Master Sporter that slew many prairie dogs. A Norwegian company (GRS) makes a nice adjustable stock but apparently won't sell a LH stock for a right bolt action. They will however, sell an fully finished, but un-inletted left hand stock, if I can find someone to inlet and bed a Tikka M595 right hand action.

Anybody on the forum take on this sort of work or know someone who does? Thanks.

Fully finished....but un-inletted???? Do you mean the bolt handle has not been inletted? Fully finishing the outside of the project with out having the barreled action inletted is a job for a person with a great amount of exactness....or a lot of Acra Glass if it is synthetic stock.

It is a laminate stock. When I spoke with the importing dealer, he indicated that the finished stock was available with no action or barrel channel inletting. I'm assuming the manufacturer carves it out, put on the adjustable cheekpiece and recoil pad, applied the oil finish, and ships the laminate stock to some unsuspecting fellow to look for a gunsmith with a Tikka M595 inletting capability.

That is what I was afraid you meant. Making the gunstock to fit you is done all the time in this industry. Making a Left Handed gun with a right handed bolt requires knowledge of your specific needs.

I have both a left handed wife and a left handed brother. My brother shoots the eyes out of squirrels with our fathers right handed 30-06 from his left shoulder. He learned that way and does great. I have offered to alter the stock several times in the past but he refuses. He also has a right handed 270 Winchester Ranger that he shoots well. I was able to convince him to shot a left handed shotgun that I altered for him to fit.

Putting an Adjustable comb into a stock is not that hard. Shape, configuration, and hardware are your choice. A laminate stock blank is not hard to come by in the USA. There are two manufacturers in the Northeast USA and the blocks come in 32" or 36" lengths 3" thick. A good stockmaker can cut out a stock from that blank and make what you want.

Several gunsmiths specialize in Varmint hunting rifles and a copy of Varmint Hunter magazine will give you some ideas of who to look into as far as cost and timing of delivery. I can make the stock for you. I have the skills and the talent. The stock just must meet your needs and price point, so I try to give you good information to make good choices. Either way you are looking at a minimum of $2500 to get the stock you want. My price is higher FWIW.

DO NOT BE FOOLED....THE OFFER BY THE DEALER IS JUST A WAY TO PART YOU FROM YOUR MONEY. Getting the stock into a machining fixture for action, barrel, mag box, and trigger guard is NOT a simple machining operation. It takes knowledge, skill, and patience to do it so the comb, toe out, and left over available wood match. That is why manufacturers always carve the inside first and then do the outside last....to make sure it all looks right and functions properly.

Thanks for the insights. I thought this might not be as easy as "get your gunsmith to inlet the stock". Thinking over all the options seems to be the next step.

quote:

get your gunsmith to inlet the stock

A good smith can had inlet your stock. A builder that build from a blank by hand such as Les http://forums.accuratereloadin...9411043/m/4711078031

Does it all the time. It is not easy and you will pay for what you get.

Someone better than I am can probably set up his duplicator with your stock and a Tikka pattern and cut it. I have tried it a couple of times and have a couple pieces of scrap to show for it. I wouldn't attempt it.

quote:

A Norwegian company (GRS) makes a nice adjustable stock but apparently won't sell a LH stock for a right bolt action. They will however, sell an fully finished, but un-inletted left hand stock, if I can find someone to inlet and bed a Tikka M595 right hand action.

IMO they sell both RH and LH stock to TIKKA 595.

http://grsriflestocks.com/grodas/action-inlets

I always wondered why anyone would offer a shaped but uninletted piece, other than to get their hand in your pocket. There has to be thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of pre-inletted stocks, from companies like Richards and Fagen, sitting in the corner collecting dust and slowly warping.

Just curious as to the difference in the RH & LH actions above the stock line. Could you simply use a normal LH stock and do a touch of patch work to it? Bolt slot, feed port Safety? Anything below the line gets epoxy of some sort.

Another importer of the stock is Jim Kelbly, who is asking the company this same question on my behalf. Will let you know what he finds out.

Well, the news from GRS is favorable. I received an email that they will make the LH stock inletted for a RH action. Kelbly's says the wait will be about 8 weeks. Very enjoyable to deal with Kelbly's, BTW.