I'm looking to purchase a stock for a precision project with a M700 or clone action and am considering a Boyd's stock. I always epoxy pillar bed my actions with homemade 1/2" or 7/16" diameter aluminum pillars. Boyd's offers installing pillars on an ordered stock for an additional $68. I can't find any info on their website with details of this service. If these pillars are well installed and functional, $68 would save a lot of work. Has anyone had this done that could provide an opinion and/or images of their pillar bedding job? Thanks.
Anyone familiar with the pillar bedding offered by Boyd's with their stocks?
- Thread starter Rider47
- Start date
I can't comment on the 700 style stocks but on the Mauser, Ruger, and other actions their "pillars" I think are a joke. They are small thin walled metal that almost looks like you took some cheap pen apart and glued the tube into the hole. But I think that's because the ones I've bedded for other actions don't have the space to run a standard 1/2" pillar. I haven't been impressed with Boyd's, but for some manufacturers they are the only option, so be it.
Save your money and do the job yourself. I bought a Boyd’s and opted for the pillar bedding on a Howa project. As delivered, the rear pillar only was installed, nothing in the front. I sent it back to have the front installed and it came back with the front pillar cut too short. I wound up glass bedding it to ensure a decent fit.
I would stear clear of Boyd's everything until they get their shit together. A co-worker ordered a stock from them for his Rem 700. Here's the list of issues I found when he brought it over to look at
Action inlet too shallow
Bottom metal inlet too shallow
Rear action screw hole off center
Pillar for rear action screw was about 1/8" too long
Front pillar had several voids that they tried to cover up with dyed epoxy that wasn't properly cured
Mag well looked like their inlet but was dull with the texture looking like it came from a 10 year old fence post
Barrel channel inlet off-center by 1/16 at the breach to 3/8 to the left at the forend.
Even if the screw holes were properly drilled, the bottom metal at the front wasn't inletted deep enough sitting noticably proud and on the action top half, the rear was inletted shallow. Going off of the ejection port rail, the back of the receiver was sitting higher than the front. Not only that, but the pillar they "installed" was protruding out the bottom.
When he tried contacting customer service they gave him the run around before finally asking for pictures. Then they didn't respond to him for three weeks. After that three weeks they finally contacted him saying he was outside of their return window.
His was not the first one I've seen from Boyd's that had issues but it's definitely top 2 and his go around with their customer service was the only bad incident from their CS I've heard of.
Action inlet too shallow
Bottom metal inlet too shallow
Rear action screw hole off center
Pillar for rear action screw was about 1/8" too long
Front pillar had several voids that they tried to cover up with dyed epoxy that wasn't properly cured
Mag well looked like their inlet but was dull with the texture looking like it came from a 10 year old fence post
Barrel channel inlet off-center by 1/16 at the breach to 3/8 to the left at the forend.
Even if the screw holes were properly drilled, the bottom metal at the front wasn't inletted deep enough sitting noticably proud and on the action top half, the rear was inletted shallow. Going off of the ejection port rail, the back of the receiver was sitting higher than the front. Not only that, but the pillar they "installed" was protruding out the bottom.
When he tried contacting customer service they gave him the run around before finally asking for pictures. Then they didn't respond to him for three weeks. After that three weeks they finally contacted him saying he was outside of their return window.
His was not the first one I've seen from Boyd's that had issues but it's definitely top 2 and his go around with their customer service was the only bad incident from their CS I've heard of.
I have gone Boyd’s route 3x. All were small ring Mauser “drop in” thumbhole stocks. All required extensive dremeling, replacement of pillars and quite a bit of AcraGel filling/bedding. Some areas had too much left and some too much taken off. Basically holes for triggerguards/bottom metal were indeed spaced right but everything else needed hours of fitting- at least for a SR Mauser - there is NOTHING drop in about those.
Once you clear all of the hurdles- it did come out decent.
You will be likely redoing/putting your own pillars anyways, so save yourself some $$ and aggravation.
Once you clear all of the hurdles- it did come out decent.
You will be likely redoing/putting your own pillars anyways, so save yourself some $$ and aggravation.
When pillar bedding its is better to attach the pillars to the action and install (bond) the entire assembly into
the stock. This way there is zero stress or misalignment on the action.
the stock. This way there is zero stress or misalignment on the action.
RIchard's Microfit is a solid alternative for walnut and laminate stocks if you don't mind doing the final fitting and finishing.
I'd rather do final fitting/bedding/pillars on a stock that hasn't had the exterior finish applied.
I'd rather do final fitting/bedding/pillars on a stock that hasn't had the exterior finish applied.
