Thanks for the feedback. We're always trying to make our kits the best they can possibly be so information like this is always good.
As to buttplate hole alignment, I'm not certain what to think... I've assembled at least a half dozen this year and taught a class where another 8-10 were assembled and we didn't have this problem. With that said, you aren't the first person to express this concern.
I have thoughts on what the issue might be... As Dennis mentioned, the holes don't look perfectly centered when the buttplate is resting on the stock. This is intentional as it helps the buttplate be pulled downward and forward when screwing in place. So don't let this apparent misalignment scare you. I simply put the wood screws in place and the heads seem to always snug into the counter-bore as they should. There is of course the chance the holes were mis-drilled in the stock, but given our process and experience I don't suspect this.
The buttplates do generally require a little bit of fitting. The reason for this is that these are castings and typically come from the foundry somewhat bent and distorted. I straighten each one, but it's not possible to get them such that there would be a perfect fit initially.
As to leaving holes un-drilled this presents problems as well. It's not always easy for assemblers to drill a hole in the appropriate spot which can shift the buttplate when screwing in place. With the near finished stock, there's not much room for movement.
I hope this helps. I'm honestly not dismising you concern, these are just my thoughts on the matter. As with many issues I often wish I could be there to offer guidance or assistance, but that's not these things usually work. We do hope to offer free videos detailing assembly at some point and are hoping these will help.
All the best,
Jim
