Microfit stocks

[js2013]

Hey Velocette - that walnut stock is gorgeous! Nice work.

 

[Tommie]

I bought one: my first and last. Lord only knows what they mean by "Microfit". Inletting was horrible. Barrel channel was crooked. My next piece of furniture will come from Stocky's.

 

[Texas10]

I can attest to the fact that those lovely, high gloss finishes require a LOT more sanding than most are willing to do. If you THINK you've sanded enough, dampen the stock and watch the water evaporate off. It'll show the sanding scratches that you otherwise won't see until you clear coat it.

The best advise I can offer is to buy a Makita dual action palm sander and 3M pro grade No-Slip Grip paper. This will turn hours of tedious hand sanding into minutes of creative joy as the stock takes shape before your eyes. Move slow and methodical and let the sander do the work. Richards are made of hardwood laminates, with emphasis on HARD wood.

 

[cardman5448]

I can attest to the fact that those lovely, high gloss finishes require a LOT more sanding than most are willing to do. If you THINK you've sanded enough, dampen the stock and watch the water evaporate off. It'll show the sanding scratches that you otherwise won't see until you clear coat it.

The best advise I can offer is to buy a Makita dual action palm sander and 3M pro grade No-Slip Grip paper. This will turn hours of tedious hand sanding into minutes of creative joy as the stock takes shape before your eyes. Move slow and methodical and let the sander do the work. Richards are made of hardwood laminates, with emphasis on HARD wood.

I gotta agree with Tommy. The stock I bought was inletted so bad that there was no way to have equal amounts of wood on each side of the barrel channel. Took hours of work and filling and re-milling to make the stock usable. Never again!

 

[DickE]

Buy a $30.00 random orbit sander, some sandpaper, and some Devcon for bedding and you are good to go. Finish as you like. Never had a problem, enjoy.

 

[Big Mc]

Morning all. Has onyone here recently bought a Microfit laminate stock ? I have a Boyd on my Remmi 700, which I bought about 12-15 years ago, but none of their current designs float my boat. I have looked at Micro's a few times over the years and really like their designs but am put off by the number of negative reviews of the quality of manufacture etc. The reviews are quite old and I'm wondering if in response to them, Micro may have sorted those issues.
This will be for a CZ 452 Varmint in .22lr
Many thanks in advance

If you are not happy with the stock they send you.. SEND IT BACK. for a full refund.. Some like em...Some don't..

 

[shortgrass]

I'm happy for the guys that love them, but I would prefer something different than one duplicated by Bucky Beaver.

I can agree with this ^^^^^ completely! There are much better pre-inletters out there than Richards. They've got lots of pretty pictures on their site though, which attracts many. I am a "school trained" gunsmith, graduated 25+ yrs ago. Extensive stockmaking was taught then (44 weeks of nothing but!). Like most shops experience, many bring their own components. I won't agree to work with a Mircrofit from Richards.

 

[Hal]

What a train wreck. My first and last Microfit had oversize inletting and the laminations are crooked in the fore end. I hated working on it knowing how it would turn out.
Gaps around the inletting cheapens the finished job.

Hal

 

[284winner]

I'm happy for the guys that love them, but I would prefer something different than one duplicated by Bucky Beaver.

Just like buying a gun barrel, either you buy it chambered and finished or you buy it as a blank and have it done. Some have the talent to finish them and some don't. No different. Nobody has the same opinion. That's why there's so many different options out there for people. I'm buying one with the full knowledge that I'll be doing alot off work to finish it as I want. That's the satisfaction of the finished product and at a very good price.

 

[butchlambert]

Just like buying a gun barrel, either you buy it chambered and finished or you buy it as a blank and have it done. Some have the talent to finish them and some don't. No different. Nobody has the same opinion. That's why there's so many different options out there for people. I'm buying one with the full knowledge that I'll be doing alot off work to finish it as I want. That's the satisfaction of the finished product and at a very good price.

You would be better off buying a blank and then have it duplicated. Talent is not the issue, working with inferior product is the issue.

 

[M-61]

I bought one from them (Richards). Laminate. It looked fine but at one glance I saw it far exceeded by skills and patience to finish it.
They gladly took it back and refunded my money with no hassle. It was an error on my part not theirs.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Never sent one of mine back. Got one that was a different color than it showed on their site. Not to my liking so I posted it for sale here and sold it the same day. Lost $2.00 on the deal but somebody got a stock without waiting a couple of months.
Had another one that was suppose to be a lefty action right hand thumb hole. Came both lefty. Happened to be for a Savage action. Inlet cut for a lefty action?? Figured out it was a mirror cut with the bolt release on the left side. Somebody snagged it the same day when I posted it for sale. Broke even on that deal.
It's a shame to send one back after waiting for a couple of months to get it. Part of the buying on line game. Know what to expect and you're way ahead of the game.

 

[Preacher]

They have never had a problem with sending a blank back if it didn't suit you..
I can deal with a few minor problems, so never had to send one back.
I just can not build one from scratch for the money they are asking...
They get there laminates from Cousineau for less than I pay for them, but I don't buy that kind of volume anymore..

 

[mikegaiz]

What a train wreck. My first and last Microfit had oversize inletting and the laminations are crooked in the fore end. I hated working on it knowing how it would turn out.
Gaps around the inletting cheapens the finished job.

Hal

The laminates are off set so you have a nice pattern when you finish the outside of the stock, If it was straight the stock would be one solid color on the sides. The oversize in-letting is for bedding. Send it back, you are not going to be happy.

 

[BertsMate]

I have 3 of them. Yes they need a little work. Mostly sanding. NOT a big deal .. I think they get a bad rap. A little sanding truoil and you are go to go.. DOES NOT take hours as posted in the past, by others.. Tommy MC..For the money they can not be beat !!!!!!!

Thanks for that Tommy. I'm in the UK so I'll not be in a position to return it . A bit of sanding etc I can handle. Cheers, Nick.

 

[Hal]

View attachment 1021235
The laminates are off set so you have a nice pattern when you finish the outside of the stock, If it was straight the stock would be one solid color on the sides. The oversize in-letting is for bedding. Send it back, you are not going to be happy.

Your saying the laminations in the butt stock run straight, but when they get to the fore end they make the laminations run off crooked.
I Have to say I find that hard to believe. The stock contours is what exposes the different color layers.
Poor quality control and poor inletting.(The poor inletting exposed more color also)
A friend ordered the blank and had me fit the action. He is happy and that is all that matters.

 

[BertsMate]

Here is a Royal Camo that started from Richards Microfit Target stock blank. Just a block of wood and about 40 hours worth of craftsmanship. I am very pleased with the outcome. Very rewarding project. I am planning another this winter. I like their Target blank, it allows me to create different features and experiment with unique design elements. I inletted and bedded for Kelblys Panda action, tapered the forehand to help make weight for F-tr. Created a channel rear of the action for added strength and allows for bore guide with protective mat for cleaning. Ergonomic pistol grip and correct length of pull for prone shooting.
View attachment 1021141

Very nice indded Sir.

 

[BertsMate]

Right then chaps, I'd just like to thank you all for your responses to my enquire about these Microfit stocks. As I'm in Blighty, I'm not really going to be able to ship back to the States if my purchase turns out to be a lemon. I can't say that I've been put off by these opinions, but now I at least am aware of what to expect.
Best wishes, Nick.

 

[284winner]

You would be better off buying a blank and then have it duplicated. Talent is not the issue, working with inferior product is the issue.

Talent turns trees into world class stocks. I would say microfit stocks are a little closer to the finished product than the tree. Just my opinion though. I understand where your coming from but there are some guys on here that would disagree and have turned out some very nice stocks from Richards. I will soon find out. I will also be the first to completely agree with you if what I start with is a horrible piece of lumber.

 

[Rich S]

Several have posted your better off looking elsewhere. What are other options for low cost bench rest stocks one can finish their self? I've bought Boyds stocks and been happy with their quality but they don't offer bench rest stocks.