Boyds Gunstocks Experience and Opinion
- Thread starter Bony
- Start date
Boyd’s make a ton of stocks and OFM has no problem using their product.
I’ve had several of their stocks, the most recent of which showed up about a month ago.
They all fit with minimal fitting, the latest one only due to an aftermarket, non OFM detachable bottom metal trigger guard.
That’s on me, not them and it was very minimal.
The stock looks, feels and fits great, as did the others.
No laminate stock is known for light weight…
Not all action design considers a materials robustness at critical points and some materials need more care than an injected molded plastic stock to function reliably.
Boyd’s website on every build I’ve ever done states clearly that bedding is recommended and that some fitment issues are to be expected so while they target the DIY crowd they do let the customer know that skills and knowledge are required of that customer.
I get the OP is upset, I would be too but I’m 23 posts in and I just don’t have sympathy for him or like minded complainers at this point.
We don’t know the gun, cartridge, if the action screws were actually torqued or if it was done in the correct sequence or loose, the load, how many shots fired or any other contributing factors (dropped, hit, etc) or the mechanical aptitude of the OP.
I can clearly see it isn’t bedded but that’s about it so someone decided to ignore the boiler plate Boyd’s is completely transparent with…if he was cognizant then he made his risk assessment to forgo the recommended installation procedure and is now complaining of the results of his actions…and some posters support his position and vilify Boyd’s….really…makes me wonder if they did the same…
We’re lucky that Boyd’s still deals with Canadians.
While no company is 100% perfect they have a quality product at affordable cost which is available and I’m good with that.
I’ve bought, installed and commissioned my fair share of aftermarket and custom stocks; most are now out of business or won’t ship to Canada, some exceed the import threshold and require import paperwork, some like Richard’s Microfit require considerable fitting and finishing and while full custom commissioned builds can be the bee’s knee’s the costs and wait times due to the massive amount of retiring skilled people doing this work is substantial and anyone who doesn’t understand this likely has never undertaken a project of this nature.
If I were to complain about Boyd’s it wouldn’t be directed at them but at the Canadian government’s $500 import permit threshold…I try to avoid border headaches so with our wonderful Liebral dollar devaluation I usually have to skip some options to save the headache of extra paperwork…
I’ve had several of their stocks, the most recent of which showed up about a month ago.
They all fit with minimal fitting, the latest one only due to an aftermarket, non OFM detachable bottom metal trigger guard.
That’s on me, not them and it was very minimal.
The stock looks, feels and fits great, as did the others.
No laminate stock is known for light weight…
Not all action design considers a materials robustness at critical points and some materials need more care than an injected molded plastic stock to function reliably.
Boyd’s website on every build I’ve ever done states clearly that bedding is recommended and that some fitment issues are to be expected so while they target the DIY crowd they do let the customer know that skills and knowledge are required of that customer.
I get the OP is upset, I would be too but I’m 23 posts in and I just don’t have sympathy for him or like minded complainers at this point.
We don’t know the gun, cartridge, if the action screws were actually torqued or if it was done in the correct sequence or loose, the load, how many shots fired or any other contributing factors (dropped, hit, etc) or the mechanical aptitude of the OP.
I can clearly see it isn’t bedded but that’s about it so someone decided to ignore the boiler plate Boyd’s is completely transparent with…if he was cognizant then he made his risk assessment to forgo the recommended installation procedure and is now complaining of the results of his actions…and some posters support his position and vilify Boyd’s….really…makes me wonder if they did the same…
We’re lucky that Boyd’s still deals with Canadians.
While no company is 100% perfect they have a quality product at affordable cost which is available and I’m good with that.
I’ve bought, installed and commissioned my fair share of aftermarket and custom stocks; most are now out of business or won’t ship to Canada, some exceed the import threshold and require import paperwork, some like Richard’s Microfit require considerable fitting and finishing and while full custom commissioned builds can be the bee’s knee’s the costs and wait times due to the massive amount of retiring skilled people doing this work is substantial and anyone who doesn’t understand this likely has never undertaken a project of this nature.
If I were to complain about Boyd’s it wouldn’t be directed at them but at the Canadian government’s $500 import permit threshold…I try to avoid border headaches so with our wonderful Liebral dollar devaluation I usually have to skip some options to save the headache of extra paperwork…
The only thing I don't like about Boyd's is the value of the Canadian Dollar..... but that's due to Justinflation.
It does look like that stock could be repaired if the owner wanted to and if the person is handy they could do it themselves with minimal tools and also learn how to do a bedding job.
It does look like that stock could be repaired if the owner wanted to and if the person is handy they could do it themselves with minimal tools and also learn how to do a bedding job.
Cracks in stocks are caused by the lack of proper bedding. Gun stock makers have no way to make a stock that will fit perfectly to every rifle out there so it's not fair to blame the stock maker. That is an easy fix and with proper glass bedding that will never crack again.
Glass bedding in the 1st place would have avoided all of that.
Thanks for all the responses. I'm trying to repair cracks and bed now.
FWIW, Boyds website clearly encourages beginners (like me) to just drop the action into their laminate stocks. They even have a video at the TOP of their resource section showing a beginner swapping stocks on a Savage Axis in 5 minutes.
Also- the design and fit/finish of this stock is garbage. IMHO it cracked because it dried out, a result of most of the internal compartments being poorly sealed when it left the factory. Way too much exposed end grain.
The whole front "pillar" (it's only a 1/2 pillar) and lug area is garbage. Engineered to fail. Check out their video on "why pillar bed" where they advertise that their pillars come pre-installed at the correct depth, to ensure consistancy. -NOPE!- "All you have to do is bolt your action down, torque it up..."
I would overlook all of this if they had any kind of reasonable customer service. All I got was: 90 day warranty- too bad so sad. I didn't expect anything for free, but some advice on how to repair would have been appreciated.
FWIW, Boyds website clearly encourages beginners (like me) to just drop the action into their laminate stocks. They even have a video at the TOP of their resource section showing a beginner swapping stocks on a Savage Axis in 5 minutes.
Also- the design and fit/finish of this stock is garbage. IMHO it cracked because it dried out, a result of most of the internal compartments being poorly sealed when it left the factory. Way too much exposed end grain.
The whole front "pillar" (it's only a 1/2 pillar) and lug area is garbage. Engineered to fail. Check out their video on "why pillar bed" where they advertise that their pillars come pre-installed at the correct depth, to ensure consistancy. -NOPE!- "All you have to do is bolt your action down, torque it up..."
I would overlook all of this if they had any kind of reasonable customer service. All I got was: 90 day warranty- too bad so sad. I didn't expect anything for free, but some advice on how to repair would have been appreciated.
One must keep in mind that there are only a couple of sources in the US that actually laminate the wood for making stock blanks; these are not made by Boyd's or the other stockmakers. They buy and mill the blanks to the various rifle makes and models. This means that any quality control of the laminated wood product is not that of the company you bought the stock from. One cannot expect them to warranty any defects that are beyond their direct control from the original manufacturer.
Laminate is very hard, and it chips easily. Many stock makers refuse to work with this material due to its challenges.
One must ensure that they handle this material properly and follow the stockmaker's recommendations to ensure the product will perform as expected.
I too love laminated stocks, and have several from various manufacturers, including Boyd's, as well as factory laminated stocks. I also have one of Boyd's walnut stocks. I have been very happy with their performance...but I have had them all glass and pillar bedded to ensure proper fit and performance, and I take care of them. And more than one bears the marks of past hunting adventures.
The only one I have had an issue with was a Ruger factory laminated stock that the gunsmith did not pin the action after rebarreling to a larger cartridge; so not a fault of the manufacturer. Learned a valuable lesson and the stock was repaired. (It has since been replaced with a custom Wenig mannlicher laminated stock that was properly pineed, glass and pillar bedded, and has given several years of good service,)
Laminate is very hard, and it chips easily. Many stock makers refuse to work with this material due to its challenges.
One must ensure that they handle this material properly and follow the stockmaker's recommendations to ensure the product will perform as expected.
I too love laminated stocks, and have several from various manufacturers, including Boyd's, as well as factory laminated stocks. I also have one of Boyd's walnut stocks. I have been very happy with their performance...but I have had them all glass and pillar bedded to ensure proper fit and performance, and I take care of them. And more than one bears the marks of past hunting adventures.
The only one I have had an issue with was a Ruger factory laminated stock that the gunsmith did not pin the action after rebarreling to a larger cartridge; so not a fault of the manufacturer. Learned a valuable lesson and the stock was repaired. (It has since been replaced with a custom Wenig mannlicher laminated stock that was properly pineed, glass and pillar bedded, and has given several years of good service,)
Ordered a laminate for my 270 T3 Tikka a couple years back. Ordered it with pillars as well. When it came in the pillars didn’t line up properly to the rifle. I called them on it and it took a bit of wrangling with them to rectify the problem. Plus their customer service people were condescending and surly; very difficult to talk to. First they wanted me to ‘bubba’ the pillars with a drill bit and files. They really didn’t want to come good for their mistake. But in the end they DID come good for it, they paid the freight both ways and the new stock fit perfectly. Alls well that ends well, I say, the stock looks great and functions great.
I have a Hogue on one of my stainless Vanguards, not sure about Rugers but I don’t think it would be any different in that there are two styles; one is pillar bedded and one has a full length aluminum bedding block.
The OFM stocks are all the cheaper pillar versions and seem to have mixed reviews.
I have the full length bedding block version and it’s one of my favourite stocks, definitely number one for inclement weather and would highly recommend this version.
It’s very accurate (I’ve had it on a 30/06 and a 270 with similar results), has a very rigid fore end and is grippy when wet.
Not always easy to keep clean in the field though, if that’s a thing.
Laminates typically are heavier than walnut stocks...although I haven't weighed mine to be able to say exactly how much more.
Hogue stocks are grippy and nice for wet r colder temps, but tend to flex more. Should not be a concern for a shorter range brush gun, where one isn't as demanding in utmost accuracy vs function. (And why Ruger used them on some of their Alaskan Guide models in the 300 and 338 RCM, and 375 and 416 Ruger for use in the inclement weather and alder tickets.)
I could see you using them on the North Island for sambar!
