FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

1. What materials is a stock made of? Each fiberglass stock is made of multi-layers of eight-ounce woven fiberglass cloth, laminated under pressure with epoxy resin. The stock is filled with solid fiberglass in the receiver area and epoxy and glass beads in the forend. Our EDGE ultralight stocks are made with 100% graphite cloth instead of fiberglass, for less weight and greater strength.

2. Are your stocks hollow? The only hollow part of the stock is the butt-stock from the rear of the pistol grip to two inches from the end. This area is filled with urethane foam to deaden the sound and absorb vibration.

3. Do your stocks have a foam core? No ours are completely solid and then machine inletted rather than having the receiver area molded.

4. What colors are available? We offer 4 painted solid colors, 7 molded in camo finishes and a wide variety of marble finishes.

5. Will the paint chip off? Though we use the most durable, catalyzed urethane enamel paint on the market, it is still a paint. As such, it is subject to dings and scratches due to rough conditions and handling. We do guarantee our finishes against adhesion problems but not against normal wear and tear. We will, however, repaint stocks at a reduced price for our customers.

6. Do you make Kevlar Stocks? From the testing we have done and the results of some independent testing, we have determined that Kevlar does not improve the quality or strength of our stocks.

7. Do you use graphite? Yes where added stiffness is desired we do use graphite upon request at added expense. Our EDGE ultralight stocks are made with 100% graphite cloth as standard.

8. Why are your stocks more expensive than some? We are dedicated to making the best stocks money can buy. The material, time, labor, and quality control required to do so is reflected in the price of the stock.

9. What method do you use to make your stocks? We use the method commonly referred to as hand-laminating. Layers of glass cloth are laid in a mold by hand, then cured under heat and pressure. This adds strength, reduces weight, and eliminates voids compared to other methods of sprayed or molding methods.

10. What colors are available in the marble finish? A marble finish is a combination of two or three colors swirled together to form a marble type pattern in the surface of the stock. It is possible to use any combination of colors that we stock. We do suggest you look through the catalog or web site to choose a combination that appeals to you.

11. What is a molded in finish? McMillan produces some stock finishes such as our camouflages and marbles that are actually molded right into the exterior of the stock. These finishes tend to be more durable and wear resistant but are not as high quality as our painted finishes. We call them “utility grade” finishes since the mold lines, small imperfections and some sanding marks may be visible. We WILL NOT offer solid molded colors because it is so hard to make them look acceptable.

12. Can I get a stock molded in the color I want it painted in so scratches won’t show? No. Due to the process used to paint the stock and the nature of the materials used in making them, molding the stock in the color you wanted it painted in offers no advantage, costs more to manufacture, and adds weight to the stock. If you ding or scratch the surface deep enough to penetrate the gelcoat surface, it will appear as a light gray scratch regardless of the color of the stock.

13. Do you recommend barrel bedding or pressure points? No, after installing thousands of stocks we have observed that 98% of the rifles are most accurate when free floated.

14. Do I need to bed the receiver? We have found that in most cases our drop-in and custom fitted stocks provide better than adequate accuracy unbedded. However the final determination is left up to the individual shooter. Bedding services are available from your local gunsmith or from our factory.

15. Can I order from McMillan directly? We encourage you to use your local dealer, but in the event you can’t find a dealer you can order direct.

16. What stocks will my action fit into? Because we fill each stock solid and then inlet them with CNC milling machine, we have some flexibility. If two actions are similar dimensionally (i.e. Remington and Savage) the same stock can be used for either make. Usually, though, each of our stocks is designed and made for specific actions and is available for those actions only. The only way to know for sure is to ask one of our customer service reps.

17. What does a stock cost? Our price list sometimes gets complicated because we offer so many options with each individual stock, there is no one price. For hunting and sporting stocks there is a standard price for a completely finished “Drop-in Stock” which includes a Pachmayr Presentation Recoil pad, Uncle Mikes sling swivel studs, and the finish of your choice. For competition and tactical stocks we start with a base price which is a basic stock inletted for your barreled action including the finish of your choice. To that you add all of the different accessories you would like to complete your stock. Each accessory is priced separately. Add all the prices together to get your total price.

18. How long will it take to get my stock? We keep an assortment of hunting and sporting stocks on the shelf for those customers that want a standard stock without having to wait to have it made. They are all drop-in stocks, always painted black with Pachmayr Presentation pads at 13.5″ LOP and Uncle Mike sling swivel studs. For custom, made to order stocks, delivery time varies depending on the number of orders we are working on at the time. Our customer service reps will give an honest estimate of how long your order will take to complete.

19. Why does it take so long to get a stock? We offer each customer the ability to custom order your stock, including choice of finishes, recoil pads, adjustable cheekpieces, adjustable butt plates, and custom barrel channels. Each stock is ordered, produced, inletted, finished and delivered according to a specific order from an individual customer. It takes time to produce a custom product to the standards our customers and we have established.

20. Can I change my order once I have placed it? As a general rule we will allow you to change your order if the stock has not yet passed the part of the process which would prevent it. For example, since the molded finishes are the first thing that goes into the mold, once the shell is made it is not possible to change colors. If we have already inletted the stock it would be too late to change the barrel contour.

21. Do you need my barreled action? For most of the stocks we make we have in-house barreled actions to use for fitting. If we do not have one we will ask the customer to send in his barreled action so that we can ensure proper fit and function. Because feeding is so critical with clip-fed rifles, we highly recommend that you send in these rifles. We will fit the stock to your rifle at no additional charge.

22. Can I change the stock by removing material from the shell or shortening the forend? Every stock is engineered and constructed for maximum strength with minimum weight. Altering the external dimensions with the exception of shortening the buttstock will compromise the integrity of the stock and thus void the warranty.

23. What is a barrel contour? This is the information necessary for us to provide a stock that is inletted for the barrel and action you wish to stock. All of our stocks allow the barrel to float free of any contact with the stock. Usually the clearance between barrel and stock is 0.030 for hunting stocks, and 0.050 for tactical stocks.

24. What information do you need for the barrel contour? If it is the barrel that came on the rifle from the factory, we need to know the caliber of the rifle. If it is a custom barrel we need to know the barrel maker, the contour number and the length of the chamber cylinder. This is measured from the edge of the receiver to the first contour change.

25. How much do the stocks weigh? Generally, our hunting and sporting stocks all weigh 2 to 2.25 pounds. We do have the ability to achieve a specific target weight if additional weight is required. Our tactical and high power competition stocks are designed to be heavier. Since there are several factors that influence the final weight, such as the accessories you choose, each stock will vary in weight. In general, tactical and high power competition stocks weigh between 2.75 and 4.5 pounds.

26. Can you make stocks lighter? All of the stocks we make are as light as we feel comfortable making them in order to live up to the McMillan reputation. If you require an ultralight, we recommend our new EDGE ultralight hunting and benchrest stocks.

27. Can you make stocks heavier? Yes. We can attain your desired weight plus or minus a few ounces.

28. What is the difference between a Presentation pad and a Decelerator pad? They are both high quality 1″ recoil pads made by Pachmayr. The Presentation pad has a basket weave finish, no vents and is a fine pad. The Decelerator pad has a leather texture finish and is made of a high tech material specifically designed to reduce felt recoil. We feel it is the best pad on the market and well worth the additional cost for heavy recoiling rifles

29. What length of pull should I specify? The beauty of a custom stock is that it can be made exactly to your personal requirements. Most factory rifles come with a length of pull in the 13.5“-13.75“ range. You may want more or less, depending on your physique. Adjustable buttplates are available, too, for the utmost in ergonomics. Contact one of our customer service representatives for advice on your perfect fit.

30. What is the difference between an inletted blank, a drop-in, and a complete installation? An inletted blank includes CNC precision inletting and your choice of molded-in finish. A drop-in adds recoil pad, sling studs and any finish of your choice, including paint. A complete installation adds custom glass bedding with aluminum pillars and custom fitting. See our price list for details.

31. How do I pay? No prepayment is necessary. Payment is due when your stock is finished and ready to ship. We accept personal checks, cashiers checks, money orders, credit cards, or COD. We hold personal checks for three weeks prior to shipping. If you pay by credit card at the time of ordering, your card will not be processed until your stock is shipped.

32. How can I get more answers to my questions? Our website has more information on our stocks. Also, our customer service representatives are highly experienced in the needs of the discriminating shooting enthusiast. Feel free to call for advice on your next project, M-F 7AM to 3:30 PM MST. The number is (623) 582-9635.

FAQ