LITTLE ACORNS: We join bespoke riflestock manufacturers Form following a hectic weekend at the Northern Shooting Show to uncover the secrets of their success so far
Having made the arduous journey back from the Northern Shooting Show to their own home near Exeter, its once again business as usual for Form Rifle Stocks. With 600 miles (or ten-and-a-half hours of motorway time) behind them, the team are able to get back to what they do best; designing and manufacturing multi-discipline stocks.
The Devon-based manufacturers were established in 2015 by Peter McGregor after a medical diagnosis prevented him from continuing his work as a carpenter. As a target shooter, he was able to transform his hobby into his profession after growing frustrated with the fact that off-the-peg stocks did not offer adjustability across a range of different stock designs. The company now produces nine different stock designs, all available with a range of adjustability options, including comb and length of pull. The stock’s profile can be machined to suit all styles of shooting, be it long-distance target shooting or deerstalking.
Following two years of set up, this year marked the business launch into the marketplace, and has already caused a splash.
“We invested heavily in terms of time and cash to ensure we had the right technology in place to enable smooth production of multiple units.
“This was always our aim; to produce in quantities. Alongside that we were busy developing our design database and so, by year two, we were able to undertake meaningful research and development.
“The designs have been well received and our abilities to handle good sized orders has enabled us to partner ourselves with some really well established names in the industry,” explains Peter.
The stocks are built using hard-wood laminate from CWP of Finland and on a six-axis CNC machine custom built for the company by CMS of Italy. The timber is made up of 1.5mm veneers, with seven standard colour options available: red and black, walnut classic, camouflage, ebony classic, royal jacaranda, arctic blue and black, and silver. There are a variety of finishes available, from Polyurethane lacquers to a specially blended oil, as well as a premium finish of hydro-dipping to suit the client’s individual wishes. Stocks come fitted with an 18mm Limbsaver recoil pad as standard.
These are becoming an increasingly common sight in retailers across the country with their range of laminate stocks designed to suit just about every discipline, inletted for most popular rifles and air rifles. Working with retailers to produce new inlet options for rifles, established brands such as Edgar Brothers are now offering CZ and Savgae rifle packages with Form stocks.
Peter commented: “We’re excited to be working with Edgar Brothers to produce rifle stocks for CZ and Savage rifles. I’m self-taught, so it’s incredibly satisfying to see my products being paired with such a well-known and respected rifle. We’ve been working on rimfire and centrefire stocks for a while, we produce a small number for military use, and we are now branching out into air rifle stocks as well.”
As well as building a design database, Form have also been working to expand the number of brands which they can inlet for. These now extend to CZ, Sako, Tikka, Steyr, Anschutz, Remingon, Howa and Ruger. They plan to continue this focus while also expanding thier Section 5 offerings.
Peter adds: “Our research and development starts by talking to the shooters, we get their individual perspective on the rifle stocks they own and how Form can make them better.
“This information is then used to compile a list of needs, ideal shooter specifications, dimensions and profile preferences. This can be seen on our YouTube channel.”
“Our biggest challenge has been to be taken seriously as a new face in a market dominated by established names. It’s all well and good buying online, based on a picture, but we really need to make it possible for the customer to touch and feel the stock.
“Once it is in their hands it’s an easy sell because we more that hold our own in terms of quality and this, coupled with great design and choice, makes Form the obvious choice.”
Form Rifle Stocks Ltd
01392 363109
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