Gun Stocks ?

[tobin2u]

I have been looking at different places that sell gun stocks and I wondered if anyone has done much buying online and what kind of experiences anyone has had with replacing stocks. I need to replace my gun stock on my Winchester 300 Mod 70 and would like to try and increase the value a bit by putting a nice looking stock on it. I do enjoy doing woodwork and would not mind finishing a nice looking stock myself, but for overall value I am not sure if just going with a good laminated stock might do just as well. I would love to hear anyone's thoughts on the matter and what my best options may just be.

Thanks

 

[Plink]

I've dealt with Richards Microfit a number of times. They do good stocks. The inlets are pretty close and need only a little fitting. The exterior is always quite rough and needs a lot of final shaping, but that's the easy part anyway. They aren't fast and always seem to be behind schedule. You'll probably be quoted an 8 week wait that will turn out to be more like 10-12, but for the price and quality of wood, it's worth it. They have the best prices on exhibition grade wood that I've found anywhere and I've been upgrading some of my guns with it as I can afford to.

 

[GreyMauser]

I had dealings with four stock machinist/wood sellers this year.

Agree re Richards workmanship and product generally. I paid up for good (but not exhibition) wood and was somewhat disapointed on the butt figure, but wood grades are pretty subjective. Ordered 4/06, rec'd 11/06, and impossible to deal with by phone.

Wenig is fast, very precise, and will even do things like cast off. They machined my own wood. They don't advertise much as to the design of their stocks, though.

Great American was pretty rough on one of their "bargain" stocks, but it was as represented. They are very helpful in their presentation of designs. They did a really great job on a finished stock they did for me. If you find a picture of a stock you like on their site, and it's machined for your Model 70, they can send it right away.

Boyds' often has some plain walnut stocks that can be ordered off the shelf. I ordered one of their JRS models for about $75 and had it in hand in 10 days. It was machined to their "Virtual Inlet Part" specs, and requires some work, about on par with Great American and Richards Microfit, not as clean as Wenig.

In the future, I will probably finish inlet and shape a Boyds' VIP stock for use as a pattern, then send it with my own wood to the machinest.

 

[tobin2u]

Hey thanks, I will look up all these places and see what I can find.