I passed on the next option list, “Custom Tip”, where six choices were offered priced from $25 to $36.32, including rounded or angled walnut and bubinga hardwoods and black polymer. I also passed on the next category—“Custom Grip Cap”—where walnut, bubinga and black polymer were offered, priced from $25 to $34.16. Ditto for the $15 white line spacer option.
A new option on Boyd’s stocks is an adjustable comb. Even though the Prairie Hunter stock has a Monte Carlo-style raised comb, I invested $60 in the “Adjustable Comb” option—which provides up to 1/2 inch of additional height—just to be sure my sight line would be high enough. As it turns out, I’m using about 1/4 inch of vertical adjustment for a perfectly aligned, comfortable cheek position, so it was money well spent.
Since I’m frequently accused of acting like an old fart, I decided to jazz up the stock with some upscale laser engraving. Boyd’s offers eighteen “Basic” laser engraving patterns—like initials and animal heads—all priced at $20, plus thirty-one more extensive patterns specific to the Prairie Hunter, all priced at $55. I chose the “Skull Accent Panel” with stippling which is an upscale (read “young minded”) pattern with panels on both sides of the forearm and pistol grip that look cool and provide good grip traction.
With all the options I added the final sticker price of my stock was $289, but at checkout $15 was automatically added because the rifle was a Ruger American Rifle Predator. Boyd’s very smart website knew that on the factory stock the trigger guard is integrally molded, and that it includes Ruger’s Power Bedding integral bedding-block system that positively locates the receiver and free-floats the barrel for outstanding accuracy. The extra $15 was for a stand-alone polymer trigger guard and a set of steel Power Bedding blocks.
During test firing with the new Boyd’s stock, downrange precision did actually improve—about 20-percent on average near as we could tell—with most loads printing sub-1-MOA 3-shot groups. I’ve always been a fan of Boyd’s laminated hardwood stocks because they are so stiff, exhibiting zero accuracy-robbing flex. The my new laminated stock was no exception. It was “stiffer than a board,” and there no perceptible flex whatsoever. And it fit me like a glove. If you’re in need of a new, top-quality, hardwood stock, go online at Boyd’s and create exactly what you want, or call them to place your order. For more information, contact Boyd’s Gunstock Industries, Inc., Dept. OT; Tel.: (605) 996-5011; Web: www.boydsgunstocks.com
