Richard's Microfit Stocks

[sign216]

What's your experience with Ricard's aftermarket replacement stocks?

I've got a CZ 527 in 7.62 Russian w a damaged stock. I'd like to put a Mannlicher style stock on it, and Richards seems like the only shop that'll do it for less than $1,500. Richards price is really cheap (approx $240) , but I hear occasional poor reports, like:

- finish or inletting isn't good
- didn't follow order (ex. right hand stock is given instead of left, as ordered)
- general poor execution (ex. barrel channel isn't straight).

 

[LoonWulf]

You CAN get all of the above, but usually they arnt bad.
In my experience you WILL have to do a bunch of finish work.

The ones ive used probably took 5-10hrs to finalize.

 

[sign216]

5 to 10 hrs of work is okay, given that price, but if it comes w the other issues (i.e. wrong order, offset barrel channel, etc) that's took much.
What are the odds?

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I've had two from Richards with crooked barrel channels. It probably depends on the action cut -- both of mine were for a Swiss K31. In the end, I had a stock with a very free-floated barrel but which I'm otherwise satisfied with.



Have you looked at the CZ USA store -- they still have one 527 factory stock available (plus another two lefties):

https://shop.cz-usa.com/stock-527-varmint-turkish-walnut-thin-barrel527319090207.html

If you can live with a factory CZ synthetic stock, I have one in my spares pile that I replaced with a MDT chassis. PM me if interested.

 

[mgmorden]

I have one of their stocks on a sporterized Mauser I had built a good couple years back.

They're definitely a project stock - you'll have to do final inletting, (a lot of) sanding, finishing, etc. That's just part of what they are, not really a shortcoming.

I will admit I also got a slightly different model of stock. I think I had asked for a modern sporter and they sent one of their rollover models, but it wasn't a big deal as I considered it "close enough".

I think part of the problem there is that they don't have an online ordering function to nail down the details perfectly - they take the orders over the phone, and that always has the potential to have something miscommunicated.

Compared to say, Boyds, I think you get a lot more stock for the money, but Boyds is certainly more "plug and play" with much less work required compared to the Richards.

 

[greyling22]

What's your experience with Ricard's aftermarket replacement stocks?

I've got a CZ 527 in 7.62 Russian w a damaged stock. I'd like to put a Mannlicher style stock on it, and Richards seems like the only shop that'll do it for less than $1,500. Richards price is really cheap (approx $240) , but I hear occasional poor reports, like:

- finish or inletting isn't good
- didn't follow order (ex. right hand stock is given instead of left, as ordered)
- general poor execution (ex. barrel channel isn't straight).

I had a VERY poor experince with richards microfit. now, it was an oddball action: a left hand mini-mauser, but their 95% inlet was more like 50% inlet and looks mostly like a stock. I bet I put 50+ hours into it. and the wood was not as nice as described.

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive had a couple, and did a few for other people....I wont do indepth stockwork for anyone else anymore lol....
Havent had any of the Major issues folks have talked about, but none of my actions were unusual, and my expectation for wood grain/grade is pretty low...hell I bought a 2nd for my savage that I thought looked really nice. Ill see if i can dig up a picture later.

 

[sign216]

Dave DL - thanks for the link. I really wanted to go w a full length Mannlicher stock, which CZ is out of, esp since the mini-action 527 is now discontinued. You've had Two w crooked barrel channels?!! It's kind of you, to be otherwise satisfied.

MgMorden - They've changed their ordering, now they've got all the details online, and a full online ordering. I understand that for the price it's a project stock. The issue is that other vendors (Boyds, etc) either won't do a Mannlicher, or won't do a CZ, or are charging $1,800+. I'd like a middle ground.

Greyling - I've heard too many stories like yours. 50+ hours is way too much, but I don't want to pay for a custom $1,800 stock on an otherwise $900 rifle.

Loonwulf - Glad your experiences are positive. My hesitancy is that I'm not much of a wood worker, so I'm not eager to jump into a project stock.


Anyone know of a stock shop that's better than Richard's, but less than the $$$ of custom places?

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I've had good luck with their stocks. They will require some work, but I never had any quality issues with them.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Dave DL - thanks for the link. I really wanted to go w a full length Mannlicher stock, which CZ is out of, esp since the mini-action 527 is now discontinued. <snip> Anyone know of a stock shop that's better than Richard's, but less than the $$$ of custom places?

If you aren't in a big hurry, try lurking a few minutes every day on Gunbroker, eBay, etc. and wait for someone to part out a factory rifle with a Lux stock. That's the method I used to get a laminated factory stock for my Ruger No.1

Might be a long wait since the Lux models weren't that common -- I had to special order mine. Also they didn't do a full stock on the 7.62x39, so even if you found one I doubt it would drop-in fit.



You missed your window with Fajen -- Richard's picked up where they left off. Too bad to, as I had better luck with semi-inlet Fajen stocks back in the day.

https://media.midwayusa.com/cms/larrys-stories/2017_8/189_the-fajen-years.pdf

 

[Slamfire]

I have purchased two Richard's microfit stocks, and they were just what I needed. Before belt sander to round the tip



After belt sander and a urethane coat



I am not worried about a perfectly inletted stock as I route the heck out of the wood, and try to have a 1/4 to 1/2 inch bed of epoxy around the action. This is a Remington stock where I "pillar bedded the front of the action by drilling a hole, filled it with Bisonite. Once I had a level action, I routed a huge amount of wood for the final pour.



I know many want pretty wood, but I decided that I wanted to shoot my rifles, not make love to them. I think in terms of function and cost effectiveness, laminated wood is the winner. Laminated wood is stronger, more resistant to water damage, etc. It is more stable all things considered. So I ordered laminated stocks from Richards. Something else I do, I leave the forend and grip areas rough as they came from Richards. I do not want super slick, except on the cheek piece. I want grippy surfaces.

Grippy is good on my Anschutz. The dark color is stippling in the wood, to make it grippy




Hard to see, but this stock, is grippy in the same areas. I like the Anschutz style stock for target shooting, puts my hand into proper position for the trigger pull



tupperware stocks are good and grippy.




I do like the fact I could order the stock to length. After many years of competition shooting, I have definite opinions about where my shooting elbow is in relation to the trigger, and where my face is in relation to the scope.

When I shot this across the course, it was always too short in the prone position.



When I dumped the irons, I added a big chunk of wood from a pallet, nail holes included, and it is far more comfortable with a scope




for me, a trigger pull around 14 inches to 14 1/4" is the most comfortable, and Richards cuts the stock to your preference. Ergonomics is extremely important to competitive shooters, just look at the rifles behind Joe Farmer, adjustable cheek pieces, length of pull, hand stop distance, grip distance, and grips were removable.




this was Joe's stock. He made it himself.



Joe said he purchased the blank at Camp Perry for some trivial amount in the 1960's, and had been offered $1000 for it prior to him fitting and finishing it for his Bleiker action. Joe was in his mid 80's and was the US Senior Smallbore Champion. Joe was right handed, but due to macular degeneration in his right eye, shot leftie!

 

[lysanderxiii]

For 200 bucks, you are going to get a 200 buck stock . . .

Richard's Microfit stocks are $200 stocks. You can make them look good and work well if you put in the effort.

 

[sign216]

Oldschool - Thanks, it's always good to hear a positive report.

Dave DL - I am lurking on the sites, but full-stock CZ factory guns are uncommon, and I don't want to wait the 18 mos to ...whenever for one to appear. Re Fajen stocks, it looks like https://manitoucustomguns.com/ has taken over their business, but it looks like they just do custom stocks and stock duplication.

Slamfire - Looks like Richard's has worked well for you, but also you're all-performance over appearance, leaving the stock rough, bedding the action too.

Lysander - That's the issue; for CZ Mannlicher style, my only options appear to be a $200 stock, or a $1,800 custom. I'm looking for the middle ground; a $800 stock that I can finish myself, that doesn't have issues.

Any stock shops that I might have missed?

 

[BigBlue 94]

Ive been told this is a Richard's MF stock. Was on the gun when i got it. Excuse the ultra high gloss... I plan to satinize it at some point.

 

[e rex]

Many years ago I sent a piece of walnut that came off of family property to Wenig at Lincoln, Mo. and they returned a semi fit stock for my 99 Savage. Price was very reasonable at the time. I have no idea what they would charge now.

 

[troy fairweather]

Last one I did from them,can't remember what grade Carlo it was. Think it wasn't much more then $100 because it was a blem. It had some sap wood on the left side but all came off when I finished it. Still not finished, next some small work like cleaning up the recoil pad and bedding the action.

I will order a stock some day for my 9.3x62 build, may try a laminate, but my mind wants maybe a lower grade English walnut.

 

[Slamfire]

Ive been told this is a Richard's MF stock. Was on the gun when i got it. Excuse the ultra high gloss... I plan to satinize it at some point.

You don't see that type of figuring till the stock is wet. That is very attractive. I can't have something like that, because it would get scratched. My target rifles stocks look like my face, all beat up, scratched and pock marked!

 

[troy fairweather]

Ive been told this is a Richard's MF stock. Was on the gun when i got it. Excuse the ultra high gloss... I plan to satinize it at some point.

Some nice feather crotch in the stock, great for the guys that like 1950s era stocks or weatherbys. I never much liked the look of stocks like that, maybe I need to own one to like it. I'm normally Function over form.

 

[Barnfixer]

I just fit a barreled action to a Richards stock and it needed “a lot of work” but the wood was nice and the finished product looked great when done. I’ve also used two boyds stocks recently. I think I could fit at least 6 to 10 boyds to one Richards.

 

[sign216]

B Blue - Nice stock. Not my style, but well done.

E Rex - Thanks for recommending Wenig of Missouri. Looks like they're still in business.

Troy - A nice rifle and stock. Richard's worked out for you.

Troy and Barnfixer - It looks like Richards just needs a ton of work. I'll keep looking for a more completed stock, but might use them if Wenig's doesn't pan out or I can't find an alternative.

If anyone has a stock-maker to recommend that has "working man prices" please forward it.

 

[BigBlue 94]

B Blue - Nice stock. Not my style, but well done.

E Rex - Thanks for recommending Wenig of Missouri. Looks like they're still in business.

Troy - A nice rifle and stock. Richard's worked out for you.

Troy and Barnfixer - It looks like Richards just needs a ton of work. I'll keep looking for a more completed stock, but might use them if Wenig's doesn't pan out or I can't find an alternative.

If anyone has a stock-maker to recommend that has "working man prices" please forward it.

Its tough to get a good pic of it due to the high gloss. I will eventually fix that... The butt is highly figured below that glare.

Kind of funny, but im mulling over starting a side/future business of making stocks and grips.

 

[sign216]

For the Mannlicher FS style stock for my CZ 527 rifle I went with US Gunstocks of Marysville, Ca ( http://gunstockinletting.com/index.html ). They did a great job inletting the action and barrel channel. Really tremendous on matching the factory stock, even doing some of the deeper, more intricate action holes. The exterior needs rough and fine sanding, then sealer and finish.

The charge for standard claro walnut w ebony tip, duplication of my stock, and shipping was $662. It'll be cheaper for the next guy, because now they have a CZ 527 duplication model to work from.