Question about manners stocks

[NickB1075]

I bought a manners stock a while ago and just got fitting it to a rifle today. This is inletted for a rem 700 la. The first thing I noticed was the inlet for the bottom metal was off. I first tried a BDL floor plate but the opening was way bigger. Then I tried a PTG DBM base and It doesn't fit. Close but no good. Then I try a surgeon bottom metal again no good. It was supposed to be a BDL floor plate.

So I was going to stop there but the PTG bottom metal was so close I put the stock on the mill and made it work. So now I go to drop the barreled action in and the action sits way below the midline on the preinstalled pillars.

So now I am beyond frustrated. So I assemble the rifle to see what I need to do to correct the fit. Finally get it where I want it and it looks good. Set it aside for a few hours to get some other things done. I go back to work on it and I notice the bottom metal is not flush. After investigating I noticed the pillars pushed out of the stock.

This is my first Manners. So far i am not impressed. Is this a common thing or did I get the last stock made on Friday? But I kinda feel bad calling them I already milled on the stock to fit the bottom metal. And i got this stock over a year ago.

Any input is welcome.

Thanks
Nick

 

[Sniper338]

Every stock need a gunsmith to fit it all, they arent drop in ready. When you order it you tell them for what the stock is to be used with and they pre inlet everything for it, bottom metal and all. It will need bedded too.

 

[NickB1075]

Every stock need a gunsmith to fit it all, they arent drop in ready. When you order it you tell them for what the stock is to be used with and they pre inlet everything for it, bottom metal and all. It will need bedded too.

I did order it for the parts I wanted and I do all my own bedding and stock work so i am aware that they are not drop in. I have done many Mcmillans and none have ever had the issues that this stock did. Just wondering if this is the norm cause I do like the stock and was hoping to order another. But I am having second thoughts after this stock.

Nick

 

[Sniper338]

When I got mine in, and I have a few, they fit bottom metal perfectly. Actions fit well, but needed the bedding...

Im no pro though, I can only say the stock I got were pretty well done.

 

[boltfluter]

This is an everyday thing with Manners stocks and has been for years. I have ordered 6 Manners stocks for customers over the years. All but one had to go back for inletting issues. Sad, as I really like their T4 stock. I would order a flat top Manners and send it to McMillan for inletting. Lol

Paul

 

[clowdis]

I think they're a bit over rated.

 

[flatlander]

I've used both McMillan & Manners stocks; at first, only went with stocks I'd ordered to my specs - action, lug, bbl, & bottom metal inlet, as well as LOP & my choice of molded-in colors. No problems at all with stocks I'd spec'd, ordered, & waited 6+months for. Then I started buying stocks both companies had in inventory - the majority of them ordered by someone else, and then not purchased, for whatever reasons. Most often, I was able to find something very similar to what I'd have ordered, but was more than willing to accept small differences in return for getting one of these inventory stocks in a week or less as opposed to the long wait for something I'd ordered.

Even when ordered from their online inventory lists, I've had very few issues with inlet fit, certainly nothing I couldn't deal with. So if the OP got something from Stockys or another online stock company that orders dozens of stocks at a time, it's very possible someone overlooked the actual inlet - either the company that sold the stock to him, or considering it'd been a year since he bought it, perhaps the actual inlet was for something other than the BDL he thought it was. Again, in my experience with both these companies, their inlets have been consistently near perfect, good enough so that I've questioned whether there's any real advantage to bedding them.

 

[Jdne5b]

I would call and talk to Tom, it wont hurt. He did me very well when doing some warranty work. Super nice guy.

 

[284winner]

I bought a manners stock a while ago and just got fitting it to a rifle today. This is inletted for a rem 700 la. The first thing I noticed was the inlet for the bottom metal was off. I first tried a BDL floor plate but the opening was way bigger. Then I tried a PTG DBM base and It doesn't fit. Close but no good. Then I try a surgeon bottom metal again no good. It was supposed to be a BDL floor plate.

So I was going to stop there but the PTG bottom metal was so close I put the stock on the mill and made it work. So now I go to drop the barreled action in and the action sits way below the midline on the preinstalled pillars.

So now I am beyond frustrated. So I assemble the rifle to see what I need to do to correct the fit. Finally get it where I want it and it looks good. Set it aside for a few hours to get some other things done. I go back to work on it and I notice the bottom metal is not flush. After investigating I noticed the pillars pushed out of the stock.

This is my first Manners. So far i am not impressed. Is this a common thing or did I get the last stock made on Friday? But I kinda feel bad calling them I already milled on the stock to fit the bottom metal. And i got this stock over a year ago.

Any input is welcome.

Thanks
Nick

I have had good luck matching "factory" bottom metal to manners stocks. I've inletted HS Precision and PT&G and they DO require some work. Sounds like you got a bad stock meaning the inlet is off. I think I'd call manners and see what they can do for you.

 

[Kurz]

This is my first Manners. So far i am not impressed. Is this a common thing or did I get the last stock made on Friday? But I kinda feel bad calling them I already milled on the stock to fit the bottom metal. And i got this stock over a year ago.

I would call and talk to Tom, it wont hurt. He did me very well when doing some warranty work. Super nice guy.

This is what you should have done in the first place, call Tom Manners. Yes, I know perfectly well that he's busy but he also recognizes that customer service is what can make or break a company so he will take the time to speak with you. Explain your situation and he will help resolve your problem somehow.

I will also point out (like rubbing salt in a wound...) that you should have pre-fit tested your barreled action and bottom metal first which would have alleviated the inletting right away because you would have noticed both discrepancies.

Call Tom.

 

[284winner]

I did order it for the parts I wanted and I do all my own bedding and stock work so i am aware that they are not drop in. I have done many Mcmillans and none have ever had the issues that this stock did. Just wondering if this is the norm cause I do like the stock and was hoping to order another. But I am having second thoughts after this stock.

Nick

I think McMillan makes a better stock than manners both in fit and finish. You'll pay a bit more...maybe, but I believe it's worth the little extra to have confidence that everything will fit together. I had McMillan fit my barreled action to the stock I ordered and it was a pricy option but we'll worth it in the end. This is my opinion of Manners T vs McMillan A style stocks. I own three of each and I prefer the McMillan's.

 

[ricco1949]

I did order it for the parts I wanted and I do all my own bedding and stock work so i am aware that they are not drop in. I have done many Mcmillans and none have ever had the issues that this stock did. Just wondering if this is the norm cause I do like the stock and was hoping to order another. But I am having second thoughts after this stock.

Nick

I have built four rifles on customer ordered Manners stocks. All came with extra long pillars in separate packaging for gunsmith fitting.....a nice feature I think. All were ADL models so bottom metal fit was not an issue however trigger guard openings were too long for a standard trigger guard...I made custom guards to fit. I could have used the Brownell's guards but I am anal on fit. One stock had the incorrect port opening for the action length which Manners corrected and repainted. Barrel channels were very well aligned with the action bolt holes. They all appeared very light in weight for the stock type. Over all I thought they were very well done and would use them again.

Rick