What Would You Do?

[denton]

Ordered a Boyd's stock for a new 7x57 built on a Zastava commercial action. Order went in way last April, with a promised delivery in 4-6 weeks. Delivery actually took a lot longer... just got it. Spent the money to get a little nicer grade of wood. I knew that the trigger guard metal is shorter on commercial Mausers, and specifically checked to make sure that I got wood milled for the shorter metal. This is what I got.

Somehow, I don't think this rifle is going to be ready for this fall.

So what options do I have? Can this be filled so that it looks right? Or is my only good choice to send it back?

[denton]

Photo for above post....

[BILLY D.]

DENTON

NO MATTER WHAT YOU FILL IT IN WITH IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE PROVERBIAL DIAMOND IN A GOATS BUTT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS MILLED FOR A MILITARY MAUSER.

OPTIONS: SEND IT BACK ALONG WITH YOUR TRIGGER GAURD AND LET THEM HAND FIT IT. BEING THAT YOU PAID FOR A HIGHER GRADE OF WOOD MEANS YOU SHOULD GET SOMETHING THAT FITS CORRECTLY.

#2 FIT A MILITARY TRIGGER GUARD TO FIT IT.

IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A CUSTOM RIFLE AND THE STOCK IS UNFINISHED USE SOME WOOD FILLER, FINISH THE STOCK AND SAY TWEEDLE DEE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT.

GUNS ARE PERSONAL SO YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION.

[fabsroman]

If it were my gun, that stock would be going back. However, I am pretty anal about my guns.

[Tater]

You can polish a turd all day but, at the end of the day, you still have a turd. I'd say send it back. If you don't you'll never forgive yourself.

[Rapier]

Denton,
It is hard to get a good look at the stock with the small picture, but based on the picture, it looks like straigfht grain and no figure. Were I to guess, I would say that you have an inferior grade of wood, as well as an ill fitting inleting job. In short, you were shipped the wrong stock.

Contact Boyds and tell them you are unhappy with the wood and the fit. Explain that you ordered a higher grade for a commercial action and they sent you a utility grade with a military cut. I do not think you will have to ask anything, they will tell you to send it back.

Oh, yes, tell them you want to hunt this season and you are running out of time to finish the wood, how about an immediate turn around on the re-do. Be nice, but be firm.

[denton]

Boyds' was very decent about the whole thing, and the stock has gone back to them. They seem like decent enough people, but I gather that it's not the most organized shop on the planet.

The gun just isn't going to be ready to hunt this fall. It's not like I don't have alternatives, but I did have a particular hunt in mind for it.

In the original, I opted for semi-fancy wood, and it really is a grade up from straight grain. I sprung another $30 to move up to X grade, as long as we were doing a re-do.

[Rapier]

Glad it worked out for you.

While you are waiting for the stock to get back, you might get prepared for a quick start by getting your tools and finish needs in order. If you have done inletting and finishing before, you might be able to get the stock inletted and the action bedded in one day. You might be able to get the first fill coat on the second day. Perhaps all is not lost for that hunt, just yet.
Good luck,
Ed