Experience with Boyd's laminate stocks.

[NorCalRifleman]

I've been eyeing the slick looking Howa varmint models with the laminate Boyd's stocks and was wondering if anyone had firsthand experience with either the combination or the stocks themselves on another make of rifle. Particularly I'm curious about durability in inclement weather and normal wear and tear, workability in case I wanted to do some mild reshaping and especially whether or not it's design makes glass bedding troublesome. Any firsthand experience, even a simple "thumbs up" is appreciated.

 

[dakotasin]

as delivered, they are passable stocks. not too hard to make into what you want. the inletting is off - but that's to be expected. sometimes the inletting is just too big, in which case you have your work cut out for you. overall, given the money, they are good stocks.

they are easy to glass bed, and handle weather just fine. they are a bit heavy, as any laminate is (spend the extra money for the lightweight option - unless you want the weight). the thumbhole cut-out is not to my liking at all - i find it shaped funny, and too small, but many seem to like them. i like most of their stocks, except the thumbhole models - i really dislike those ones.

 

[GreyMauser]

I have a Boyds JRS laminated on a custom 375 H&H. I wanted weight to pacify the recoil, and I got it. I think the narrow strips of wood that Boyds used on mine avoids the plywood look and in fact looks great. The narrow strips mean there is more epoxy (or whatever Boyds uses for glue) per cubic inch. That made inletting and checkering more difficult, but it got done. Mine took the bedding real well. The hard, slick finnish required checkering to give it a grip in the wet conditions it was designed for, but I like checkering.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Boyd's laminates

look great, fit right on (inletting was perfect), took the bedding compound just fine, in short, close to perfect.

Workability: the Boyd's stocks sand and/or Surform just like wood would.

I did get an unfinished one and varnished it myself after installing the glass beddding. That's always an option with Boyd's, and avoids their finish if you don't like it. The stock needed a LOT of sanding, as well as a number of coats of varnish, but that'd be true of any piece of wood to which you were applying a quality finish.

But as to bedding, you have to sand through ANY finish if you want the bedding to adhere to the stock material properly.

The Boyd's people were helpful and informative when I called with questions.

You can buy Boyd's varnish but I just used a cheap hardware-store spray can of satin spar varnish.

Anyhow, as to a Boyd's stock: 2 thumbs up. I'd do it again with no hesitation should the need arise.