boyds thumbhole stocks

I bought one for my Wby Vanguard. It was a unfinished version. Easy prep work and it turned out nice. Did have to remove a little extra wood from the safety area. Dressed my rifle up nicely compared to the tupperware stock.
homestuff2001-1.jpg
 
I have 3 opinions on them. The first one is objective, and the second 2 subjective.

Boyd's stocks have shown some of the absolute worst inletting I have ever seen, on any stock, at any price.

I dislike thumbhole stocks of any flavor.

I dislike laminated stocks because of their weight, mostly. Also, though, because I feel that they are not the "best of both worlds", when compared to wooden and synthetic, but rather the best of neither.......
 
I would have to disagree with 2muchgun I personally love the feel of a thumbhole stock. I also like a heaveier gun/bow I have always shot better. I think that with a TH stock I personally can hold a gun a lot more steady.

I ordered a 22-250 Howa varminter supreme, it is suppose to be in at the end of the week. This rifle comes with a boyds thumbhole stock.
 
I also have 3 opinions on them. The first one is objective, and the second two are subjective.

Boyd's stocks have some of the absolute best aftermarket stocks, for their price. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

I like thumbhole stocks of any flavor. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I like laminated stocks because of their weight, mostly. Also, I feel that they are the "best of both worlds", when compared to wooden and synthetic, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

I also have a Richards Microfit Fit Thumbhole that I really like. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The laminates are supposed to be stiffer and not warp, that so far has held true for me. Shooting in a prone position my wrist and henceforce my shoulder is in a more comfortable position. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
If you are gonna disagree, at least be a little more original /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have seen a Boyd's stock warp, by the way. But it was rather extreme conditions that it would not normally endure. Basically, it was left in a Northern Michigan pole barn all winter, after being hunted with in November.

I'd love to know why Boyd's cannot just fully inlet some of their stocks. Certain ones, like for custom Mausers and such, are understandable. But why they require "some minor inletting" on other actions of known dimensions is beyond me. I have seen inletting done by them that looked like someone was wielding a chain saw. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Quote:
If you are gonna disagree, at least be a little more original /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have seen inletting done by them that looked like someone was wielding a chain saw. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif



2muchgun, I was making a point by point remark on your opinions and didn't want to confuse you. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

They do have 3 stages of inletting for purchase, maybe you saw a semi-inletted stock which can be quite rough, I have bought the middle ground stock which for the most part fits with the exception of needing to slightly sand where the metal meets the wood on the action and also the barrel channel since I have a non-factory barrel. I personnaly have not purchased the high tier inletted stock but IMO have no doubt that they fit well unless as you said it is a customized mauser.
 
I bought a Boyd's TVT (Target Varmint Tactical) stock, inletted for a Rem 700, and the stock dropped right in with a 1/4mm clearance all around.

I just had to inlet the barrel channel for the after market truck axle barrel.

Boyd's inletting was as good as Remingtons in their Varmint Laminated Stock... maybe a little better.

As some of the other guys have stated, I think there are varying levels of inletting... get the one you want.


.
 
Don't worry, I'm not easily confused. Was just messin' around. I've seen enough of boyd's inletting to form a pretty educated opinion. That, coupled with the facts that I hate laminated stocks, and thumbhole stocks, you can see my view.

Laminated stocks offer NO advantage over a quality synthetic stock whatsoever, and do not look nearly as nice as a stock crafted of fine hardwood. That's why I feel they are the best of "neither world".......
 
I to like the thumbhole stocks although I have never had a laminate of any sort I comment on them I do however see the laminate as a sort of camo
Boyds however I can comment on their customer service and sales people are for sheet can't find their donkey with both hands
another matter entirely
Later
 
You get different degrees of inletting from Boyds and several other stock makers depending on model, type, and degree of finish prefered. Boyds is no better than some, and no worse than most of the ones I've seen. They all should be glass and pillar bedded. The cheaper plastic stocks are not worth the trouble of bedding. A laminate is the most stable of the wood stocks. I like the thumbhole on heavy recoiling rifles where the added weight is a plus. They are a little slower getting to a second shot till you get used to them. I have a Boyds thumbhole laminate on a Howa 308 heavy target rifle. It was not that well inletted and needed a bedding job to get the most out of it. I've had several Royal Arms laminates that were much better but still needed the bedding job. The laminates are not as appealing as nicely figured solid wood stock but they are much stronger and more stable, if sealed properly inside and out.

If you prefer the look of a moulded hunk of plastic, with parting lines, air pockets, and no particular character, that's fine if you that like that sort of rifle. You don't have to look very far to see that the low end of the plastic stocks are junk. When you get into the better McMillans with aluminum bedding blocks, your talking more money than most laminates. It's only been in the last 15 years that anyone wanted a plastic or synthetic stock.
 
Quote:
It's only been in the last 15 years that anyone wanted a plastic or synthetic stock.



It's only bee in the last 15 years that anyone wanted a cell phone, but it sure beats trying to find a pay phone. I have not seen any of the modern military weapons with a lam. stock either.
 
I finished a ruger 77/17 I had to take it to a gun smith to fit the inletting and even he had some problems. But I love it now and its my around the farm gun, great off hand. I would check with boyds to see the cost to fit it for you then refinish it yourself. May save you some headaches if you get a bad one.
 
I have one in a Savage 22-250 and a Savage 17HMR in the evolution stock. I absolutely love them, I won't buy another rifle without either a thumbhole or pistol grip. I think that the wrist postion is more ergonomic, shoulder position is nice and tight, and I get a better cheek weld.

HPIM3807.jpg
 
I bought a Boyds JRS stock for a short action 700 and it fit perfectly. The finish was great. Boyd's makes a great product. All of my rifles that are wood stocked are laminates.

But rest assured that if whatever you buy doesn't cost a fortune, some blowhard will make an idiotic comment about it.
 
I bought a Boyds Thumbhole stock from Midway for my Howa, I'm still trying to get it to fit right, definately not a true drop in stock, but it is sure comfy to shoulder and hold now, and it's a Prairie Dog gun, not a calling gun so weight isn't an issue for it. I recently bought a new Remington Varmint 700 VLSS with the Thumbhole stock, and I'd swear the stocks are identical.
 
Quote:

But rest assured that if whatever you buy doesn't cost a fortune, some blowhard will make an idiotic comment about it.



Or just make one in general...
 
Back
Top