and if so, what did you buy?

We all have different tastes, shooting requirements and body sizes, so it is impossible to say, "Buy from SUCHANDSUCH Stocks!"

The last few years, despite the shipping charges and a so-so dollar exchange, I have been very pleased with Boyds Stocks in S.D.. I have three AT-ONE adjustable stocks, and recently bought a nice Boyds stock for my Encore. Two required fitting, but it was minor and easily done.

These are laminated. I have shimmed one AT-ONE stock using aluminum from Coke cans. Borrowing from old world gunsmiths, I shimmed a Savage action, and it shoots quite well. The trick with shims is to maintain parallelism with action, so that things like the recoil lug are not angled or canted. Years ago, when I was stationed in Germany, I chatted with a German gunsmith who told me about proper shimming. Apparently, the Swedes were very good at it, having received a lot of practice from reworking Russian made Mosin Nagants.

In fact, I have one rifle, a M91/24 Finnish Civil Guard capture rifle (Mosin Nagant) that has brass shims in a few places where the stock/action touch.

So, this long winded intro over, do you have a stock company that you prefer? I think we get most of our aftermarket stuff from the US. What do you have?

Steve;
Good evening to you sir, I hope the day has treated you acceptably and this finds you well.

Currently I've got two aftermarket stocks, one of them started as a blank from Richard's Microfit in California.

Honestly I'm not sure if they're even still in business however Steve as I put this together close to 30 years ago. It's a Ruger 77 Liberty Model action, a Parker Hale barrel blank reamed to .308 Norma, with the rust bluing and stock work done myself.



The other one started as a Wildcat Composites blank. They're out of Edmonton and I've done this one on a 98 action as well as a long action Model 70 for a customer with their stocks and was completely satisfied with the service and quality.



This one is a money pit project if there ever was one - started as a .30-06, then a .270 and is now a 6.5x55. It's a between the wars commercial roll marked Mauser action, FN commercial extractor, Timney trigger, Beuhler safety, Wolffe mainspring, some fancy 2 oz bottom metal and some other stuff. It's 7lbs 4oz loaded with 5 rounds in the magazine however Steve, so it's nice to pack up here in the hills.

That's mine anyways sir.

Thanks for the thread and all the best to you this fall.

Dwayne

Those are nice looking rifles, Dwayne. I think that most rifles are money pits!

Richard's Microfit is still in business. I was glad that they raised the exemption to $500 a few years back. It was really hard buying anything from the US. You had to go through an importer.

I guess there aren't many Canadians with aftermarket stocks. Just you and me.

McMillan Edge (1)
Brown Precision (2)
Bansner Sheep Hunter (1)
Grayboe Outlander Lightweight (1)
B&C TI take-offs (2)

Also have this English walnut from Dressel's.

That's a lovely kooking piece of wood!

At one time those B&C TI take-offs were quite plentiful and were one of the best buys out there for a lightweight rifle stock. I've bought them for as little as $200. I have one on my 700 LA 257Roberts. I had the bottom opened up to BDL and had to replace the factory squishy pad, but has been a fine stock otherwise.

Of all the synthetics I own, the Browns are my favourite but are hard to find here in Canada.

I have a hogue, 8 Ti bell and carlsons, and a couple of walnuts of unknown origin.

Very nice.

Most of my aftermarket stocks are McM Hunter's edge.

They seem to fit me well and I like the clean, simple lines.

DF

Others include a McWoody Mtn Rifle, which I like.

Have an earely B&C that I painted.

DF

You should send some of your rifles to your poor cousins up here.

Don't have nay .303's....



DF

I some McMillan, H-S Precision, Bell & Carlson in use.
I personally have no real complaints with any. And don’t hesitate to use any of them. I am pretty adaptable to stocks as long as I have the length of pull close. Wait times with McMillan nudged me to try other makers.
These are on Winchester and Ruger bolt action rifles.
The Wildcat stocks look like very good stocks.

Zing! ........ You don't see near as many 303s in the woods now as you would have 35yrs ago.

Too many cheap entry guns that are a way better choice.

Times change. I don't know if the cheap, entry level guns are a better choice, but they are inexpensive...and very plastic. 😄

Cheap and plastic, but for the cost, man do those things shoot....!

Just tweaked a T/C Conquest for a good bud. The trigger a lot like the older M-70's and it has the three position swing M-70 type safety. Whoever designed that gun must be a M-70 fan. Impressive gun for the cost. I adjusted it to a crisp 3#'s by working with the main spring. Some dude sells a $30 spring kit. Don't need all that. Watch his tutorial and fix it yourself. Tutorial is pretty good, spring kit a rip off, IMO.

Also working with a Mauser M-18. Now that's a really nice one, well done. Barrels on both guns look great thru the Hawkeye borescope. The Mauser trigger was a crisp 4#'s, now with a metric Allen wrench, a crisp, clean 3#'s. Mounting a scope this week It's a Creed, so it'll probably shoot about anything well. I have several factory loads to try, Winchester 140 match, Horn 140 and 147 ELD-M.

DF

I have in the past had stocks from:

Boyds: laminate, very happy with the product 3 in total I think and would gladly buy from them again.
Richards MF: laminate not happy with the product 1 and never again
McMillan; fibreglass very happy with the product, 2

At present I only have one of the McMillans.

I have not purchased a Wildcat stock but have looked at them and am very impressed. At present they don't list what I want. When the time comes to get serious I'll give him a call and see if its possible to get what I want.

I should soon have pictures of the after market stock on my grandfather's D. M. Lefever 12 gauge to share with y'all.

I hope you all are well and enjoying life.

GRF

Most do, but many of the people here would argue that beauty is more important. I am from the functional school. I do not have too many pretty rifles. It's probably my military background. Sometimes, you can marry functional and attractive, but it is always in the eyes of the beholder.



I think laminate stocks are a great idea. For the overwhelming majority, they are the perfect combination of ruggedness and good looks.

I have a bunch of aftermarket stocks and a few old home made stocks. I bought uninletted marksman blanks from Richards Microfit. They are big enough you can make anything out of them. For synthetic stocks I have only three hunting rifle stocks. They are a McMillan, a Bell &Carlson, a Wildcat and one from Steve Wooster who makes stocks for Silhouette rifles. On target and BR rifles I have stocks from MacMillan, Brown Precision, and Lee Six. Most of the laminated stocks are from Richards.
As far as semi-inlets are concerned, I really miss Fajen. Richards and Boyds are poor substitutes. I don't know how many stocks I got from Fajen, over the years, but it was a bunch. I liked Lee Six's stocks and miss him too. GD

Here's a laminate, a Boyd's Jon Sundra Sporter. Gun is a Pre-64 with 26" Krieger in 6.5-284 with Swaro Z5 and Jewell trigger.

Laminates tend to be heavier, but are good, solid stocks.

DF

That's a good looking rifle too!

If wood is the material, I prefer laminates. What I don't get is people saying that they want a super light rifle. Remember that ultralight phase we went through a number of years ago? Every magazine had pictures of companies drilling out holes in mag boxes, reducing the amount of metal and stock material, etc. Huh?!?

I absolutely know there are times when light is right, but like the magnum craze, camo underwear and a few other things, they went overboard with lightening up rifles. Who enjoys shooting a 6.5 lb 300 WM? Your average male hunter, of average fitness and average body size, cannot tell the difference between 8 lb and 7 lb, and wouldn't sweat carrying an extra pound or two. I'm in my mid 60s, and have no problem carrying 9 lb Lee Enfield rifle around.

With the Boyds laminates, I know they add weight because they are replacing a plastic stock. I don't think it's an inordinate amount though, or they wouldn't be selling.

Of course, that's just me. Everyone is different.

I agree with you on the ultra light craze. Those guns, IMO, are a lot harder to shoot.

My hunting bud loves his Sendero. I asked him one day, why he packed such a heavy rifle. His answer. "I know what it will do when I get it there".. And with his track record, killing critters, what could I say. His record speaks for itself.

I've shown this picture before, young man with a "mountain rifle", obviously hunting in the mountains....

Famous photos, but does make a statement. I wouldn't want to pack that thing up and down those mountains. But, I guess he knew what it would do when he got it there....

DF

I'd take one of those Savages any day over three 303s. The heavy 303 has to be cut down and re-worked and are not designed to take a scope. An Axis OTOH in 308 is a much better sporting rifle and is designed as such.

Naturally.

Just sold my McMillan. I have a couple MPI’s one of which is on one of those ultralights you mentioned. 5lbs in .308
It’s a joy to carry and shoots very well to 300yds with a 178gr. Solo hunting mountains, you notice every ounce.

Just put a $250 Howa barreled action into a $140 Weatherby Vanguard stock, if that counts.

Have used a Boyds, and still have a B&C. Just picked up a Heym 98 .308 on GB, and may need something for that, or not. From the pics, the buttstock resembles a 1970s Sako. Coming from Alaska of all places, arriving Thursday.

Sure it counts! Well done.

I guess the big question is, will it shoot right away, or will you have to coax small groups out of it by bedding?

I imagine it’ll shoot about like a Vanguard usually does, pretty good. It’s quite stiff. If not, I’ll float it to the chamber section, maybe skim that, or try JB’s bread bag tag trick first.

This is the second stock they sent. The first one fell off the tracking map for a month, so they sent another. Told me to keep the original if it re-appeared.

Presto!

Not my style at all, but they fit me very well, have a slim grip with a slight palm-swell. 37 ounces though, but this one is a range toy/varminter. 9 lbs 4.6 oz with a 6x42 SS in Burris Signature 6-screw rings on a rail. Trigger 2# 12oz out of the box. Could probably drop nearly a pound by mounting a light scope in Talleys, but I already have a couple featherweights.

I've had a McMillan (my brother now has it).

I currently have a Wildcat (Remington Model 7 pattern) which nicely fits my Kimber 84M Varmint.

I've had a Brown Precision (1 Pounder?) on a Ruger 77R 25-06 since 1991.

All of these stocks are good or even great.

In the last 10 years, I have used Kimber Montanas almost exclusively. IMO, those stocks are as good as any aftermarket stock I have ever owned.

I don't have the McMillan as I have moved on from Remington rifles, but my brother had the same rifle (different caliber), so he bought it.

The Wildcat, although a Model 7 pattern, fits my Kimber Varmint perfectly.

I would sell the Ruger with the Brown, but I can't get anywhere close to my money out. The rifle does have a sentimental meaning for me. This rifle, even before the Brown, enabled me to become successful as a hunter. It's just heavy for my crippledness and it isn't a Kimber.

I don't see another aftermarket stock in my future as I have switched to Montanas. The only exception is if I restock my Winchester Model 70 SS Synthetic with a McMillan. With our dollar, it would be cheaper for me to find a used Kimber Talkeetna and sell the Winchester. I have no real need for the rifle, so I have restrained myself so far.

Have a Wildcat on a Remington 700 in 35 Whelen AI, probably only because I use that SOB alot, and the wood was starting to look ugly and a small crack was starting. The stock ended up in the wood stove.

I've had a few from the USA, a Brown precision fibreglass stock for a Rem 700 .308, and a custom foreend from Bullberry Barrels to go on a TC contender carbine that I also sold. And a Boyd's laminate for a Brno ZKK 600 that I still have, even though I sold the rifle. Should sell the stock too.
A plastic aftermarket Remington tupperware style stock for my son's Rem 700 BDL 7mm08 is hiding in shame somewhere in my stash. I have had a couple custom hand made gunsmith stocks built for double shotguns. Both used American black walnut of indifferent quality. One was a Ithaca Flues 16 ga. with prince of wales grip and the other a Merkel 147AE 12 ga. with straight grip. Sold those two.
I currently own a completely reworked CZ 550 .375 H&H magnum from American Hunting Rifles, with the #3 upgrade including the beautiful hand-picked AAA fancy English Walnut with four-panel checkering, Ebony fore-end tip, Pachmayr Decellerator recoil pad, cross bolts, etc.
And another custom rifle created by Canadian master gunsmith Chris Griesbach with similar wood and workmanship to the AHR magnum, but with a slim Rigby style sporter stock fitted to a Brno ZKK 600 30-06.
I currently am working on the final fit and finish of a wonderful English style sporter stock on my Brno ZKK 601 in .222. It comes from Hatcher's stocks in Australia, and I'm sure it will soon become a favourite. It was easy to order and import the stock direct from the small shop that Cameron Hatcher operates. http://hatchersriflestocks.com.au

The Hatcher stocks look nice. What was the cost to mail?

I don't recall the postage but a reasonable guess is $50.

That's a good price coming from Oz. I will be looking for a replacement stock for a Savage Model 11 in 243. I will inquire.

I've owned B&Cs, Bansners, couple Brown's, Pacific Research, McMillan, Manners, MPI, and Wildcats.

Of them all I would own a Wildcat over any of them for sheer stiffness and weight. You cannot beat them. Brown's is a better stock in the pounder form than a McMillan Edge and would be my second choice. I do love the McMillan KS pattern though and still own one.

Honestly, for 95% of what folks do the old Ti B&Cs were pretty darn good for the money. I should've kept one or two.

Im a big fan of B&Cs...got four of them. Had one McMillan and would not buy another unless I was 25 years old and it was going on the only gun Id ever own. They are for sure durable but I havent managed to damage any of my B&Cs and just won't live long enough to get my moneys worth out of a McMillan.

I have re-stocked my 30-06 with a hogue.
Like the feel of a hogue, and that improved my shooting with that rifle.

I could never figure out why they got replaced as much as they did. They always worked fine for me and the price used to be quite good on them when they were available.

My Rem 700 in .308 is fitted with a B&C Ti stock. I reckon it's ideal..