Boyd’s Stock for M70, go or no go?

Matt Corbell

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I have a new production Win M70 safari express in 375 H&H and the wood is ok but could be much better. I saw the owner of Boyd’s gun stocks on YouTube. He was on safari and carrying the same rifle but he had put a Boyd’s Claro XX stock on it and it really looked great. Does anyone have experience with the company or maybe done what I’m thinking about doing? Thoughts?
 
IMG_2200.jpeg
I don’t know about Boyd’s, but there are some nice wood options out there…
 
View attachment 746132I don’t know about Boyd’s, but there are some nice wood options out there…
My dad’s 30-06 had a cracked stock so I replaced it with a Boyds stock and was very pleased about everything. Shoots lights out. The only problem I had was it took a lot of work by my gunsmith to instal a Timney Trigger in it
 
My dad’s 30-06 had a cracked stock so I replaced it with a Boyds stock and was very pleased about everything. Shoots lights out. The only problem I had was it took a lot of work by my gunsmith to instal a Timney Trigger in it
That is to be expected. Boyd's cuts the stock for standard trigger and Timney are more bulky. Not a big deal. I wouldn't call it "a lot of work." I installed Timney triggers in both my 98 Mauser and 1903 Springfield. Dremel tool with a carving bit and some patience. Had never done it before and handled it no problem. Timney DeLuxe with trigger block safety are more complicated to fit into a stock. But a Model 70 would only use standard Timney trigger. Only an idiot would trade Model 70 three-position striker safety for a "Deluxe" 2-position trigger block safety.
 
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I have a laminate Boyd's for my Savage. Worked out great. Really liked the laser cut fish scale inlays instead of checkering. I did bed it myself and it shoots very well. But Walnut is a whole different deal. The pessimist in me says he's going to have the nicest blank they got for his video. So hope for the best. But do not expect mind-blowing walnut. If you get checkering/inlays they require it to be finished. If it looks so-so on arrival I'd strip it and refinish it with a good stain and oil. I did that with my Ruger #1 that had a matte finish and it made a big difference.
 
Apologies for the poor lighting, but here is a trio of M98-style sporters with Boyd stocks:

- Top: JC Higgins Model 50 in 30-06
- Middle: FN 1952 in 270 Winchester
- Bottom: DWM in 25-06

Point being - Boyds has some nice selections, and I think you'd be pleased with one.

View attachment 746184
I can't seem to find the video with the owner using a walnut stocked rifle. I will say the wood I see here is actually decent and a serious improvement over my experience with Boyd's walnut selection. I attempted to do exactly what you are thinking with my Ruger African in 375 Ruger, 10 or so years back. Back then Boyd's had a Circassian walnut option. I didn't expect amazing figure for cost, but I did expect some. Well, what I got back was, to put it politely, poor. And from the blotchy brown tinted finish they used on it, I'd say they knew it. I stripped the finish in hopes of salvaging it by giving it a good stain and oil finish. Uh, no. The wood on an average American walnut stock was just as good if not better. At that point I called it a loss and have stuck with their laminate stocks. No problems with those, will be ordering up one soon for a Thompson/Center Encore build I'm working on.

So, perhaps they have a supply of good Claro now. But after my experience I'd request pics of the wood before putting money down.

Just my two cents.
 
Agreed. My late father put the stocks on the three rifles in that picture; but were I to order one today, I would want to see the picture of my specific stock ahead of time.

PS - as an alternative option, the OP might also want to look at Richard's Microfit stocks.
 
Life is too short to shoot an ugly gun! IMO you should do everything possible to ensure that a Claro stock has no chance to crack. It is probably the weakest form of walnut, though beautiful. Not saying it is WEAK, just less strong than all the others.
+ you may be able to sell your old stocks to offset costs?
 
I am without question a nice grade of wood stick man. The exception was my dads Ruger M77 made in 1977 was a $300 gun and today about $800 so I just did not want to “put pearl earrings on a pig” with a high quality stock…Boyd’s fit nicely for me
 
I have a new production Win M70 safari express in 375 H&H and the wood is ok but could be much better. I saw the owner of Boyd’s gun stocks on YouTube. He was on safari and carrying the same rifle but he had put a Boyd’s Claro XX stock on it and it really looked great. Does anyone have experience with the company or maybe done what I’m thinking about doing? Thoughts?
@Matt Corbell
I can't comment on their higher grade stocks but I have three Boyd stocks.
I walnut with reasonable figure on my 25

A pepper laminate in my M17 Whelen AI

And a green laminate EVO thumbhole stock on my son's 60 year old Slazenger model 12 22lr. This rifle gets a lot of looks with people trying to figure out what brand of rifle it is. When we tell them it's an old Slazenger the laugh and say what a waste of money on an old useless rifle.
Well that rifle is set up with two scopes in QD rings. He unclips the 4x he uses for hunting and puts the 6-24 all the bells and whistles target scope on it, breaks out the old Winchester T target ammo and shoots a few groups.
The itty bitty groups this old rifle shoots soon wipes the smile off their faces
To me Boyd stocks are great value for money and can turn a plain Jane rifle into something real prurty.
Bob
 
My dad’s 30-06 had a cracked stock so I replaced it with a Boyds stock and was very pleased about everything. Shoots lights out. The only problem I had was it took a lot of work by my gunsmith to instal a Timney Trigger in it
@Rare Breed
That seems unusual.
The two stocks I got for my Enfields with Tinney triggers fitted only need five minutes of work with a chisel and file to get them to fit. With the irit military trigger they were a drop in fit.
Bob
 
I am without question a nice grade of wood stick man. The exception was my dads Ruger M77 made in 1977 was a $300 gun and today about $800 so I just did not want to “put pearl earrings on a pig” with a high quality stock…Boyd’s fit nicely for me
@Rare Breed
If'n y'all put pearl earrings and lipstick on a pig you still have a pig but it's a pretty pig at least.
Bob
 

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