Richards microfit gunstocks help

[anthonylapoint]

Has anybody every had the pleasure of buying and using a Richards Microfit Laminate stock?
Richards Microfit Gunstocks

Lots of good deals in the half off section and bargains list but the stocks aren't expensive to begin with. I was thinking of going with a marksmen or Monte Carlo in a laminate but am real nervous about buying a POS. it says 99% inleted and I know I have to pillar and bed it as well as sand and finish with maybe opening up the barrel channel but that's all okay, I want to do that part. I don't know how much extra inleting I can do. Easy stuff like opening up the trigger area that's okay but drilling holes and cutting my bolt lever slot, that's getting to much.

My questions are, are they good enough (for the $90) and do they require a lot of work to get them to fit?

pictures of people who used one?

Thanks guys

 

[Willys46]

The common response I hear with these stocks is that 99% inlett is more like 70% and requires a lot of work. They used to get shipped with a lot of sanding to do before you can finish them.

Sanding and finishing is not hard, just time. The inletting may be more challenging.

 

[anthonylapoint]

I have kinda heard the same. It sounds like it may be worth the purchase if you get them at a cheaper price, like off the bargain or half off list otherwise you're paying to much for the amount of work going into it.

Thanks and nice willy. I like it lol

 

[biffj]

I bought one for a small SAKO single shot action a couple years ago and it wasn't what I expected. They said they didn't have the programming to cut the trigger guard inlet but everything else was done. In reality I got a stock thats about 3/4" wider than it needs to be with only the barrel channel and basic action inletting done. I had to cut the slot for the trigger all the way through, inlet the trigger guard which I expected, open up the inletting for the action and I'm going to have to get the grinder or a huge rasp out to remove the extra width and height from the stock. It looks like an oversize stock. I will also have to put a buttpad on it as there is nothing there. It cost more than the $90 since it was "custom" but I think I got at least $50 worth of useable wood in it. I don't think I'll buy another stock from them though the quality of wood isn't bad...just the amount of work that is left after what they told me was 85% done.

Frank

 

[Desert Fox]

Good rifle stock. It take a lot more than sanding though. The barrel channel has to be opened up. But if you're handy enough, you can have a very good stock at a very reasonable price.

Here's a Richard on my 6.5-284 Hunting rifle.







Tool this Texas whitetail at 603 yards

 

[S12A]

customer service is pretty terrible, i couldn't even throw money at them and i always make sure i am polite etc...

 

[LRJammer]

I built a rifle on one of their stock blanks. The inletting was spot on as delivered. I ended up ordering a benchrest style stock with an unshaped butt section. This gave me a pre-inletted blank that was oversize in all dimenions that would allow me to shape it to the profile that I wanted (McMillan HTG). I knew it was going to be a lot of shaping and wood work going in but I have a pretty good bit of experience and background in woodworking so It wasnt that much of a stretch for me. Guess it just depends on your skill level and how much work you are willing to do yourself.

 

[Name Enough]

I have had very good experience with them. I bought a Browning A bolt 300 WSM from Gander Mountain that someone had dropped and split the stock. Due to dumb corporate policy they could not order a stock for it so it languished in the shop before the gunsmith offered it to me for $200 bucks. I bought a Richards Micro Stock Sporter and got handy with a dremel tool. I bedded the action with JB Weld and it shoots very nice 1/2 groups at 100 yards.
It worked so well I bought a thumb stock for my Weatherby 257 Magnum and they sent me the wrong stock. I called them and they said we will send you the right stock today and a shipping tag to send us the incorrect stock back. Can't complain about that.
You can buy a press fit stock from them but where's the fun in that? I left the chatter marks in the thumbhole of the Weatherby just to show folks how I got the stock and what was involved in getting it to where it is today.

 

[anthonylapoint]

Sounds like if I order for my 700, it should be better prefit stock than say, a sako and its a gamble whether or not it goes smoothly. I'm handy enough that I believe I can do the necessary work. Desert Fox, that's a nice looking stock. Is it a factory second with the free rose tip and cap?

Sounds like for $80, you get a $80 dollar stock and service but if I go into expecting that, all won't be lost.

 

[Archeratlrg]

I used them for years and had very good results even though there was considerable sanding and final inletting required. Fast forward a few years and I sent 16 pieces of AA to AAA and presentation grade wood to be turned. Each piece had specifications for rifle action, barrel channel etc. I also sent along wood for my tips and grip caps. I ended up getting one back that was done correctly. Every other piece was inletted wrong in one way or another. 2 were to be turned to Interarms Mark X Mauser specs but they turned 6 to that profile so the barrel channels were cut oversized for clients rifles. You can't put wood back once it's been cut out. Also every tip and grip cap were installed crooked so will have to remove them and try to redo cuts and install properly. One exhibition grade blank they kept. I had proof of delivery to them so eventually they supplied me with a new unturned piece but still wasn't my wood. They refused to comp me any for their mistakes and what wood hadn't been turned yet they sent back with a note to never send them any more of my wood or try to order anything from them, I was blacklisted. I would never recommend them to anyone wanting quality of any kind.