Experience is the best teacher.
Mine with Boyd's echoes most of the above posters. Put one of their laminated varmint stocks on a Yugo M-48 Mauser.
When this project was being done, Boyd's was just tooling up for the Yugo, so it seemed the wait was interminable. But when they finally shipped the stock, it was WELL worth it IMHO.
Bought the "Unfinished" version (means not varnished--the shaping was completely done!
) which I'd advise to anyone. These stocks almost always need a little tweaking with a Dremel tool, and anyhow, I wanted to glass-bed mine.
If you're lucky, and your rifle just drops into the stock, and you're not glass-bedding it (a strategic error IMHO) you can still pick the finish YOU want rather than going with the Boyd's finish, plus save a couple bucks. So go with the unfinished stock, always.
After glass-bedding, the stock got abt. 8 coats of cheap local hdwe-sto spray-can spar varnish, with LOTS of sanding before and between coats. Frankly the sanding is the most tedious part of the entire process.
The Boyd's people were VERY helpful over the 'phone and by e-mail, in getting me the exact right stock for my rifle and my wants. 'Phone is on your nickel, but you're the one wanting the advice.
My rifle looks better than I felt I had any right to expect. Nice 'n' accurate, too.
I'd go with a Boyd's stock again in a heartbeat. Contact info: Website:
www.boydsgunstocks.com Mail: Boyd's Gunstock Industries, Inc. 25376 403rd Ave. Mitchell, SD 57301 'Phone: (605)996-5011 Fax: (605)996-9878
They'll send you their catalogue for the asking.
Good luck on your project.