Richards Microfit Stocks

[seriousshootin]

I wanted to customize a stock for my Weatherby 257 magnum so I started looking at stock designs from different makers, I wanted just a basic shape so I could finish it off myself, price aside, I liked a couple shapes from Richards and looked at some reviews, not many were good but it appeared most were from people who had mistaken the 99% inlet for 99% complete and they didn't know much if anything about woodworking, so I sent them a blank and had them cut it. Yes it took 17 weeks to get back and yes it was rough but the inlet was truly 99%. I didn't bug them during this time as I wanted to see just how long it would take and I didn't want to risk having them rushing and screwing something up. It took a minute for sure but I had other toys to play with in the mean time.

 

[seriousshootin]

I have never done any wood carving, checkering stippling or anything along those lines before but figured if others can do it then so can I. I took about 2 days looking at the flow of the stock and drawing and redrawing my design and when I finally had something that would work for me, next came about 40 minutes of youtube and then out came the dremel and bits (that is when the wife freaked out, but she knows my skill set so that was short lived) and off I went to work. First was getting the action set and after 30 min. we had a nice fit ready for bedding, a little JB weld some cooking spray and 24 hours later I had a perfectly bedded action. Next was cleaning up the file and machine marks, this took about 2 hours, next came the carving, stippling and finishing, this took about 25 hours total. These are the before pics right out of the box, I guess if I had the thought stuck in my mind that it was coming to me 99% finished and opened the box to find this I would freak out too, but since I did read and understand what they had on their website this was no surprise to me, in fact it was pretty much what I wanted and expected.

 

[seriousshootin]

These are the after pics, it was a fun little project all in all.
This is what I have in it.

Blank: curly claro walnut $60 ebay.

Rough shape and inlet: Richards $100

1" Decelerator pad: Richards $40

Curly maple tip and cap: Richards $20

1 bottle Truoil: Bass pro $8

Various grits of sand paper and polish already on hand: $0

Not a bad looking stock for $228, a friend of mine likes it so much just from the pics that he ordered one from them in the same wood combo as mine and wants me to finish it for him (I did let him know I won't do it the same as mine, it loses it's originality) and he agreed to allow me to do it any way I want without approval, he won't see anything until it's finished, now that's a trusting friend.

 

[seriousshootin]

Just some more pics.

 

[seriousshootin]

And some more pics. Would I recommend Richards, That's hard to say, depends on the person I guess and their skill set.

 

[Barrelnut]

That is impressive. Very good work.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Looks great. Post pics when you get the rifle in it.

Steve

 

[Bw34]

Nice work!!

 

[seriousshootin]

Thank you, can't wait to do some more.

 

[seriousshootin]

I will, giving it a little cure time.

 

[Varmtr]

I just got my Richards stock finally landed here in Australia for my Enfield P14 in 6.5 Epps. The inletting looks ok the barrel channel is a bit small will need to open up.
The only real issue I didn't like as I'm keeping mine with the belly mag and my stock is 2 3/4" wide forend. What they did instead contouring like a belly mag then machine flat for the rest of the forend, they machined it with a gradual taper from the rear action screw to the end of the stock. So the front action screw is about 1/2" below the timber line. Also the raised cheek piece fouls the bolt thus not allowing the bolt to the full rear position.
Nothing that can't be fixed with a belt sander, files and time but just a pain.

 

[Litehiker]

Very nice work and nice wood. Congrats. That is a stock that will give "pride of ownership" true meaning.

I'm putting a Boyd's laminated Classic stock on my 6.5 Creedmoor Ruger American Predator. It's the shape and comb drop I like and it's well made, especially for the price! It fits my RAP rifle's price range as well. I'll use a Savage 110 metal trigger guard in place of Boyd's plastic version. It fits perfectly - thankfully.

BUT... I'm cutting off the forend tip and putting on a rosewood or bubinga wood Schnabel tip of my own that I'll carve, file, sand and finish. Midway USA has a good video on the procedure. I'll make the templates and a pinewood trial tip.

Eric B.

 

[CapeEsperance]

was watching the comments on these stocks. after a less than satisfactory (poor QA) from another prominent vendor (finished stock) I bought a rosewood laminate from richard's microfit for my wife to replace factory plastic stock on a rem 700 vtr (.223). Agree the 99% finish was much rougher than expected, but it came together quite nicely. i don't have any before pictures as i went right to work. stock smoothed up quite nicely with 1/4 sheet sander and hand sanding. Had to expand the barrel channel and trigger area in milling machine. had to shorten the stock cue to small size of my better half. cheek piece reduction was significant! waiting on grind-to-fit limb saver to arrive this weekend, then will remove wood in action area (milling machine again) and bed rifle.

 

[Deviant]

Just some more pics.

Beautiful stock nice work.