boyds stocks
- Thread starter JO JO
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In terms of mass produced stocks they are very good. Ive had two, a laminate thumbhole on my 110 .300wm, and a walnut on my 700 6x47. Both were some of the older ones, they were pretty well fitted and only needed a bit of bedding to make them perfect. The newer ones ive seen were actually better than my old ones....im planing on getting one for my A-bolt, and possibly my other 700 if i turn it into a heavy gun.
Overall I think the quality is good. I just don't like plywood stocks. The biggest complaint I have is excess weight. You're looking at anywhere from 1/2 lb up to well over a pound of extra weight depending on what came on your rifle and the exact laminated stock you go with.
And for the extra weight you gain very little over a solid wood stock in stability. They are still susceptible to atmospheric conditions affecting them. Unless you pay extra to get the stock checkered they are slick and a little more difficult to handle.
I like a nice walnut stock on a quality rifle as much as anyone. But synthetics simply do everything better. To my eye a plywood stock isn't an improvement in looks and is a downgrade in performance over the synthetic that came from the factory.
And for the extra weight you gain very little over a solid wood stock in stability. They are still susceptible to atmospheric conditions affecting them. Unless you pay extra to get the stock checkered they are slick and a little more difficult to handle.
I like a nice walnut stock on a quality rifle as much as anyone. But synthetics simply do everything better. To my eye a plywood stock isn't an improvement in looks and is a downgrade in performance over the synthetic that came from the factory.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
I got one of their stocks for a 721 Remington. Fit was fine and all the holes were in the right place. Being that it's a laminated stock it is kind of heavy though.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Good stuff. I have three aftermarket and two of my Savage rimfires came with Boyd's thumbholes. Nothing like having a custom stock whittled out of a fine walnut blank but at least on par with factory stocks. I'll take a laminate over a synthetic any day of the week. Walnut or maple over either.
Arizona_Mike
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- Feb 15, 2013
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Good stocks and well worth the money. You will likely wait a long time and if they keep making mistakes like not giving you a bull barrel channel (as they did with me) you will wait a very very long time and have to make lots or trips to Fed Ex. I think they got mine right the 4th or 5th time they made it. Slow/unresponsive customer service as well so you may spend a lot of time on the phone. They generally do not respond to email.
I'd do it again but not for anything time critical. I ended up hunting with another rifle that year
Mike
I'd do it again but not for anything time critical. I ended up hunting with another rifle that year
Mike
Arizona_Mike
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- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
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- 3,452
Orcon
Member
I have a Boyds pepper laminate that has never held an action, sold the rifle that it was intended for. It's for a bottom release savage short action. If you want it, I can make you a smoking deal on it.
GarySTL
Member
I have one on a 10/22 and I like it a great deal. Had no problem with the stock or it's fit.
Inebriated
Member
Depends entirely on what you do with your rifle.
The HH is heavy already. A laminate is going to probably just brick it. For a bench gun, that's good. For a hunting gun, that's not as good.
My take is this;
The laminate stocks are good budget upgrades for applications where over $150 is money wasted (such as a loaner bolt gun, a casual bench gun that you just mess with every few months, etc.) or if you just don't care about buying more features. I think Boyd's overall quality is outstanding for the cost.
If you're going to use it on a hunting rifle (not varmint), I would strongly suggest upgrading to the walnut for the weight savings, get the better recoil pad, have the checkering added, etc. All of those are very real upgrades to the basic. Problem is, that puts you within a few bucks of a quality fiberglass stock, which I will always, always go with over wood for a user rifle.
I hunted with a Boyd's laminate basic $99 stock, and the only functional complaints were weight and slipperiness. I honestly wouldn't do it again, having used nicer stocks since. But their upgraded walnut stocks are very nice, and worth consideration if wood is what you like.
The HH is heavy already. A laminate is going to probably just brick it. For a bench gun, that's good. For a hunting gun, that's not as good.
My take is this;
The laminate stocks are good budget upgrades for applications where over $150 is money wasted (such as a loaner bolt gun, a casual bench gun that you just mess with every few months, etc.) or if you just don't care about buying more features. I think Boyd's overall quality is outstanding for the cost.
If you're going to use it on a hunting rifle (not varmint), I would strongly suggest upgrading to the walnut for the weight savings, get the better recoil pad, have the checkering added, etc. All of those are very real upgrades to the basic. Problem is, that puts you within a few bucks of a quality fiberglass stock, which I will always, always go with over wood for a user rifle.
I hunted with a Boyd's laminate basic $99 stock, and the only functional complaints were weight and slipperiness. I honestly wouldn't do it again, having used nicer stocks since. But their upgraded walnut stocks are very nice, and worth consideration if wood is what you like.
Got one on a .22lr and very happy.
Guntransfer16
Member
I've used a Boyds stock on a savage axis and I have no complaints. I ended up opening up the barrel channel more to float it and bedding the stock, but it definitely helped in the accuracy department.
gulogulo1970
Member
I have a pepper thumbhole stock on my Savage Hog Hunter. It made it a bit heavier than I expected.
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