All these Ruger 77 threads have me wanting a wood stock for a change.. I need to stock up a couple of 700’s these days so
I’m going to go look at Boyd’s, but what other wood stocks should I be considering ?
50 years ago you could not get a semi stock any better than a Richards. Monte Kennedy and Jerry Fisher helped in a lot of their design. Richards rollover were a very sought after stock in their time and their thumbholes were very well designed. He would also do custom work for you like just inletting a blank etc. He also dealt in fine blanks especially one I liked called Yama Wood which was from Japan until the would not allow it to be exported any longer. It was the lightest most stable wood you could bet for a gunstock. I have one that is over 50 years old and it has never changed point of impact. A few years ago I called them but the reception I got was not like the old days and I do not know to be honest how their duplicating is these days
50 years ago you could not get a semi stock any better than a Richards. Monte Kennedy and Jerry Fisher helped in a lot of their design. Richards rollover were a very sought after stock in their time and their thumbholes were very well designed. He would also do custom work for you like just inletting a blank etc. He also dealt in fine blanks especially one I liked called Yama Wood which was from Japan until the would not allow it to be exported any longer. It was the lightest most stable wood you could bet for a gunstock. I have one that is over 50 years old and it has never changed point of impact. A few years ago I called them but the reception I got was not like the old days and I do not know to be honest how their duplicating is these days
I've heard nothing but horror stories lately about Richards.
This is who I would go with if I were looking for a wood stock.
https://russoriflestocks.com/home
Unless one sends them his barreled action for fitting, I'd never expect a good job. I once did a 90% complete from Richards, and did the final fitting/finish myself. Wood was better quality than I expected.
Trivial fact - the name of the guy who owned Richards' was Richard Peterson. It was originally known as "Peterson's Machine Carving", and was advertised as such in Gun Digest, among other places. Not sure when it went to Richards Micro Fit. Probably in the early '70's.
I've done quite a few Richards stocks, but none in the last ten years or so. Never had any issues with the stuff I got from them. Everybody does stocks for 700's, but if you're looking for a stock on an obscure or discontinued action, or left-handed, they're about the only game left in town.
Dakota Cliff gunstocks. He sells on eBay. I’ve bought some great wood from him for reasonable prices.
I miss Herters, but that's been a long time ago.
Bob White from Shooters Corner has made many a rifle for me. He has always mentioned to me that Boyds stocks required less work to fit an action in than any other brand he has used.