slaphead Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 So, a small sum of money has fallen into my lap and being the spendthrift I am I was considering upgrading my Browning 425 to a brand new DT11 and having it custom fit at the factory but thats another 10% on top (about 7k in total) plus all the expenses of a trip to Italy (the time off work too) made it feel a tad too expensive so.... I then thought that instead of spending such a huge amount of cash I could maybe go for a second hand DT10 and have someone customise the dimensions for me over here in good old blighty.. Could anyone who has had a shotgun "fitted" at a later date give an idea of how much it cost to do it? and, do you think it was worth the expense.... Im in Lancashire so wouldnt fancy getting nose bleeds by traveling too far south if anyone has any recommendations for a fitter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRDS Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 (edited) I bought a SBS from Holts which I had altered by Elderkins and they did a fantastic job.(the Yorkshire Gun Room fitted me with their try gun then sent Elderkings the measurements). It needed raising and casting for me being kack handed. Cost from Elderkings was £170 / £85 per movement so £85 to raise and the same to cast LH plus post. Both establishments highly recommended. The YGR inculde free fitting in their prices and they have some fantastic stock, more biased to the Game Shooter but well worth taking a look at their Website they take great pics and give in depth descriptions. Having a gun that fits is a necessity not a luxury if you are serious about hitting anything on a regular basis. Edited January 4, 2018 by JRDS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 I'm planning on taking my trusty 325 to Brierley Guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 I had my Perazzi fitted by a local gunsmith it cost about 400 quid all in but that included having the stock and forend stripped and oil finished. It's made a huge difference not only aesthetically but when I miss I can only blame myself not the gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted January 4, 2018 Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 I bought a new Beretta DT11 ACS & went over to Manuel Ricardo’s in Portugal to have a stock & forend made to measure - simply awesome ? can’t belive the difference ! I’ve only Shot it a couple of times but so far the results are looking very good ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphead Posted January 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 14 minutes ago, V8 90 said: I bought a new Beretta DT11 ACS & went over to Manuel Ricardo’s in Portugal to have a stock & forend made to measure - simply awesome ? can’t belive the difference ! I’ve only Shot it a couple of times but so far the results are looking very good ? That sounds expensive!!! What made you do that over getting it custom made at the Beretta factory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 Basically the waiting time - I wouldn’t have had my new gun until mid/late season. It’s probably not as expensive as you think ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphead Posted January 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 I do like the idea of a small mini break in Portugal over Italy Ive contacted them already for an approximate cost. Some of that grade 5 wood is lovely but probably beyond my means. How long did you have to wait? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) If you Google Manuel Ricardo there's an article, the heading is "Guest Post - Stockmaking in Portugal" which I wrote in 2014 about my visit for a stock to be made for my then Miroku MK38 trap gun. I've since been back, in early December, to have stocks made for my Perazzi MX8 and Beretta 682 Gold. I arrived on a Sunday as flights from Luton to Oporto aren't daily during the winter. I met Manuel on Monday morning, he checked out my existing MX8 stock which is a pretty good fit, barring the grip which I'd customised myself with plastic wood. I also took over a couple of Beretta microcell competition pads so I can change the LoP for winter/ summer without needing a grind to fit pad. This was a bit back to front because normally when the stock is being made, it has the butt pad ground down to suit the shape of the stock. In my case Manuel had to match the shape of the stock to the pad. He did a proper job and cut out the butt end of the stock to accommodate the locating bosses on the back of the pad. I'm old school and shoot guns with a flat non adjustable parallel rib, a fixed stock as it's custom made for me why would I need it adjustable and also a straightforward grip, just a palm swell to locate my hand and no 'in vogue' glove grip. I've got arthritis in my hands and don't want to force my thumb into a position that may be uncomfortable in the future. I chose the blanks and off he went, I shot the Perazzi around 4pm that afternoon in the rough and spent some time getting the grip right. More shooting on the Tuesday with a near complete stock. When I was happy he passed the stock over to a member of his staff who completed the stock preparation for oiling and checkered it. On Wednesday oiling was started and finished on Thursday. Once the Perazzi stock was out of the way Manuel started on the Beretta, I'd taken just the action over so he fitted the blank to that and matched it to the Perazzi dimensions, I'd already told him this gun had 32" barrels and the weight. The Manuel magic worked and when I put the gun together at home it balanced as near as dammit on the retaining lugs, how he did it without having the complete gun there I'll never know. I picked both stocks up on Thursday evening and flew home early on Friday morning. Manuel doesn't speak English, but his front of house man Joao does, and he's with you all of the time for translation purposes. The basic stock blank is grade 1 and is 550 Euros, grade 2 is 700, grade 3 is 850, grade 4 is 1000, grade 5 is 1150 and for exhibition the sky is the limit. Forends cost 350 Euros. This includes the fitting, custom making and finishing the woodwork in oil or lacquer. Manuel and the Sao Felix hotel which is a five minute drive away, have an arrangement whereby if you stay at the hotel they will pick you up and drop you off at Oporto airport, negating the need for a hire car and will also run you down to the nearest town on the coast, Povoa de Varzim, which you can see from the hotel. Happy to discuss more if you wish to PM me. Edited January 5, 2018 by PhilR Added more detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) Wait to go or for the stock ? Phil has added some useful info above ? Edited January 5, 2018 by V8 90 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphead Posted January 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 6 hours ago, V8 90 said: Wait to go or for the stock ? Phil has added some useful info above ? Norm, I meant how long did you have to wait for the stock to be finished. PHILR - Great informative post. Ive been in touch with Manuel over t'internet and just got a proposal from him for the work. . Id be traveling alone if I went. Is there much to do around there for a guy on his own that's trying to stay away form the pubs lol Ive just got the pricing through from them and you were correct in the costs except for they must have increased price of grade 5 to 1200 and forend to 375. Exhibition wood is 1400 upwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 Had one done by Manuel after a disaster with a uk supposedly stock maker gunsmith (out of business now) had a wonderful time and enjoyed the relaxation time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 12 minutes ago, slaphead said: Norm, I meant how long did you have to wait for the stock to be finished. PHILR - Great informative post. Ive been in touch with Manuel over t'internet and just got a proposal from him for the work. . Id be traveling alone if I went. Is there much to do around there for a guy on his own that's trying to stay away form the pubs lol Ive just got the pricing through from them and you were correct in the costs except for they must have increased price of grade 5 to 1200 and forend to 375. Exhibition wood is 1400 upwards The hotel is isolated and there's a small bar in a converted windmill further up the hill from the hotel. The hotel restaurant is excellent and house wine good value for money. There's an outdoor swimming pool at the hotel, but I wouldn't fancy it at this time of year. The alternative is to stay down in Povoa where there's plenty of restaurants, bars, the beach and a casino if you fancy your chances. I've stayed at the Costa Verde which was pretty decent but that was a good ten years ago. You'd then need to hire a car for the journey to and from the airport and to Manuel's workshop daily. It is a straightforward trip and will take about 20 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 I stayed at the Sao Felix & was quite content, I did have a lovely couple to chat too & was only there 4 days, most of the time is taken up at Manuel’s workshops or eating the scrumptious food at the Sao Felix ? I’ve attached a couple of pics of my stock so can can see the type of work that Manuel produces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hod Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 I can’t foresee me ever being able to afford to do this, or indeed be a good enough shot to justify it, but this thread is a cracking read, love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 7 minutes ago, V8 90 said: I stayed at the Sao Felix & was quite content, I did have a lovely couple to chat too & was only there 4 days, most of the time is taken up at Manuel’s workshops or eating the scrumptious food at the Sao Felix ? I’ve attached a couple of pics of my stock so can can see the type of work that Manuel produces. A fine bit of kit there norm ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) Why thank you Sir ? 1st 25 straight yesterday (ABT) with it too ? Edited January 5, 2018 by V8 90 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) 5 minutes ago, V8 90 said: Why thank you Sir ? The wood is ok mate. Just a same it’s stuck on that poxy dt11. No offence mate. But I wouldn’t have one let alone go and spend money on an aftermarket stock . Edited January 5, 2018 by stevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 17 minutes ago, stevo said: The wood is ok mate. Just a same it’s stuck on that poxy dt11. No offence mate. But I wouldn’t have one let alone go and spend money on an aftermarket stock . ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) 27 minutes ago, V8 90 said: Why thank you Sir ? Your never your never get anywhere with that mate. You could have got a browning pro trap for less mate , and you would probably get somewhere with it too .? Edited January 5, 2018 by stevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 4 minutes ago, stevo said: Your never your never get anywhere with that mate. You could have got a browning pro trap for less mate , and you would probably get somewhere with it too .? I hope you didn’t Edit your grammar ? - Browning Pro Trap, how dare you !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 Hahaha as you well know I wouldn’t have anything but a beretta in my cabinet , and my dt11 will always have a home in there , right in the middle ! Browning pro trap , I can’t believe I said that haha ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 (edited) Here's the photos of my stocks the Beretta is grade 2 and the Perazzi grade 3, to match my existing forend wood. Edited January 6, 2018 by PhilR Well I thought I'd followed Danger-Mouse's instructions to create an ImgBB account etc. It hasn't worked and life's to short to mess about with photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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