I recently purchased a Richards Microfit stock, waited several months for it and it finally came. It's a AA fancy English walnut. Looks like they cut it out with a very dull cutter. Lots of places where the wood is chipped our and has several places that need filled. Called them and got the response I had expected, they said all their stocks are inspected before shipping and I now own it. It doesn't fit my Mauser all that well and there are places that need to be built up because they didn't leave enough wood. Anyone have any ideas how I can fill and build up some of these areas to make it look right. Possibly some filler that would except maybe a stain so it wouldn't look too bad. Thanks. Think I'll go outside and throwup.

Hey there Panhandlepr, I'm a carpenter and would suggest using Fammowood filler it comes in basic wood colors and is stainable . This stuff dries very quick so dont leave the lid off the can for a second , get out a dab to use and put the lid right back on . For the best results put a dab on a piece of paper and let dry and compare it to your raw wood , sometimes you have to mix a couple colors to get the best match . the closer the color the better it will look when stained . Good luck.

Ps for the areas to be built up they also make a stainable fiberglass filler that is similar to bondo you can put this on and file it to shape . You can get these things at most paint or hardware stores.

Sad to say I've been hearing more and more stories like this from Richards Micro-fit. I sent them an email on some of the problems folks were encountering and never got an answer back. In the past I've used a bunch of their stocks and never had a problem with quality, but I've read a dozen complaints in the past year very simular to yours.

I had planned on ordering a mannlicher stock for a Rem model 7 this spring from them. I'm going to try one more email with your problem also and see what they say. Best I can say is contact the better business bureau and make a complaint with them. Things like this shouldn't go on.

You can fill it, but it' will never be a double A stock with filler, even if you save your sanding dust and mix it with glue or epoxy to use as filler. It just makes me sick to tell you this. My suggestion is to call Richards and talk to the supervisor or the president and make a formal complaint. Also tell them your going to contact the state Better Business Bureau and make a complaint if they don't make it right. Letting folks get away with this just encourages them to continue the practice.

Sorry to hear that. I don't know what to tell you, boyds doesn't even sell inletted unfinished stocks anymore, you can probably buy the blank and inlet it yourself though

Put the action in the stock, do a photo shoot so to speak and post it on U Tube. See if Richards wants to help you out, before you post it. If not so be it. Nice bunch of free advertising goes a long way when your nice. This electronic age and that posting should cut their business in half, especially if you post the address at every gun forum you can get on. I'm an old guy and revenge is sweeter now.

Like faucettb I have used their stocks for many years and had no problems, as a matter of fact i have just got one in from them and it is fine, how many unfinished pre inleted stocks have you done in the past?
I would talk to them again, it seems to me they have a guarantee of some sort.

after re-reading your post, a couple of thoughts without seeing your problem, can the chips be sanded out? It would thin the stock a little, but it would keep it AA. also, you state that they didn't leave enough wood some places, would fully bedding the action fix it?

I've sent two Emails to Richards and have never received and answer back. It's a sad thing when a business goes down the drain, but it sure seems like customer service and a great product have gone by the wayside in this case.

There are still some pretty good stock makers out there and it looks like my business will go to some one else from now on. Such a shame, I really liked their stock selection and prices. They've been in business for a long time, perhaps it's just the sign of our modern economy.

Like JB says inletting can be cured by a good glassbed job. I like Brownell's accra-glass but there are several good bedding systems out there. Outside stock problems are much harder to cure and still have a good looking piece of wood. Have you contacted them again about your problems?

Hi Bob,
I've been sanding and filing on this thing now for several days. There are several places around the bedding area that have gaps that shouldn't be there. In the area where the side safety comes out beside the receiver, a large chip is missing so that area has to be built up and stained. If it isn't repaired, you'll beable to look right down into the trigger assembly. I think the stock is salvagable. I've put in alot of heavy file time trying to get it to look right and looking on alot of forums for pictures of stocks that folks have done. The butt side has a few small places that need to be filled because of chips in the dense grain area and I have taken alot of wood off and really don't want to go any deeper. Really looked like it was shaped out with a hachet. I've done two rifles many years ago and the wood was from Fajen and they were far, far better than this piece of crap. This thing looks like it came out of the scrape pile. Any words of wisdom on what product to use to repair the defects. As far as the bedding area, yes, it will be glass bedded and that will repair that area. As you can probably guess, I am not a very satisfied customer, more of a sick customer. When I talked to the woman on the phone, she was very cold and unconcerned and knew right away I wasn't going to get any satisfaction from Richards. Thanks Bob and also everyone else who have responded to my frustration.

I usually keep the sawdust from the filing and mix that with either glue or epoxy to make a filler that matches the stock. I've also used several fagen stocks and probably a dozen of Richards, but it's been better than ten years ago when I started driving truck and there wasn't time for anything but work. I like Brownell's acra-glass for bedding. I usually do it in steps. It's nice to have a set of bedding screws (long action screws with handles on the end when your inletting and glassbedding.

It just makes me sick to think of spending the money and getting something like you got. I'm sure going to order my new stock for the model 7 Remington I'm building for the grand daughter from someone else.

Richards wouldn't even answer my email about the problems you and several other folks have had with their stocks. Such unconcern by someone whom makes their bread and butter from hunters and shooters sure is a shame and seems to me to be a real detriment to their business.

Bob, Any idea of what I should use to build up the area by the safety. Don't know if the old Plastic Wood is what I should use. Although it does come in different colors now. Another member suggested using Fammowood to build up these areas. Something should work.