Aftermarket Stocks

[joed]

Just purchased one of the Remington 700 SPS Varmint Stainless rifles. I can't get rid of that stock fast enough though.

I've been leaning towards a B&C Medalist but wonder if I'm not cheating myself and should order an HS instead.

Thoughts?

 

[TonyAngel]

I recently faced the same dilemma when I bought my SPS Tactical. Bell and Carlson have some nice looking stocks at a very reasonable price, but when I asked the guys at my range about what stock to get, they all advised not to waste my time and just get into either an HS Precision or a McMillan. I wound up finding an HS Precision that was a pull off of another model of Remington. I believe it was a police model. I'm more than satisfied with it.

 

[G27RR]

What are you planning to use the rifle for? Unless you're going to be using it very hard day after day, the cost difference may not be worth it to you.

The B&C stocks are good quality. I have two of the A2 tactical/varmint versions and plan to get a third one. My Rem 700 SPS .223 improved from a 1.25-1.5MOA rifle to a 0.5-0.75MOA shooter just by switching from the factory stock to a B&C (due to the free float and bedding block). I have one on a Howa .308 too.

 

[joed]

The rifle is going to be a hunting rifle used for varmint hunting. I was looking at the B&C 2958-02. But more then a few people are telling me to go with HS. I don't see the rifle getting heavy use.

I refuse to shoot it with the factory stock it's so bad.

 

[unwise11]

then how do you know its bad? I have shot a 700 VTR in that stock that shot .5 inch groups.

 

[G27RR]

For hunting, I would keep the factory stock to save weight. Unless you're shooting targets, the lack of free float isn't an issue, and neither is a difference of 1-2 MOA under 200-300 yards. I kept my 700 7mm Rem Mag in its SPS stock and did a little camo job on it for a hunting rig. It's light and weather proof.

 

[jmr40]

The HS is a better stock. You have to decide if it is worth the price difference. On a heavy rifle like yours where you are not concerned about weight one of the www.boydsgunstocks.com stocks are a good choice. At around $90 they will do anything the HS or B&C will do.

The main purpose of going synthetic is to have a durable, weather resistant stock that is light in weight. Both the HS and B&C stocks weigh about the same as the laminated wood, and are a lot more expensive. The laminated wood is just as durable and weather resistant.

If you want a tough stock that is also light weight, neither B&C nor HS offer one. McMillan is the only option for a lightweight stock that will drop in with little or no fitting. B&C claims to make a lightweight hunting stock, but the scales say different.

 

[joed]

The main purpose of going synthetic is to have a durable, weather resistant stock that is light in weight. Both the HS and B&C stocks weigh about the same as the laminated wood, and are a lot more expensive. The laminated wood is just as durable and weather resistant.

Funny you should mention this. While researching stocks I found out that wood is actually a very good stock. I was going to replace my 700 bdl stock on my old vs but decided against it. That rifle is consistently shooting under 1/2". Why fool with it.

I absolutely hate the SPS stock. I've learned one thing in all my years of shooting rifles, you can't beat a free floated barrel. I would even consider a nice wood stock on the SPS.

 

[jmr40]

If walnut is an option check E-bay and look in the classifieds of a lot of the gun forums. Lots of guys upgrade to a high end synthetic, then sell the old stocks at very good prices.

For a rifle that is used at the range or in mostly good weather wood is fine. I really like the Boyds laminated stocks as long as weight is not a consideration.

My rifles are all hunting weight rifles and keeping the weight reasonable is important to me. I also hunt in any weather so I really prefer the truly lightweight synthetics. But wood is fine for most uses.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I know it's more a personal issue than anything, but I was really turned off on everything HS Precision when they made that government sponsored murdering psychopath and general all-around POS Lon Horiuchi their spokes-thing a few years ago. Real bitter taste in my mouth now concerning HS.

If I was going to spend money to upgrade to a top tier stock on a precision rifle, it would be a McMillan or Manners. My dad has a McMillan sporter stock bedded on his custom .338 RUM and it seems very solid and well built. Plus, McMillan to my knowledge only supports real warriors and true heros in our military and police, instead of scraping from the bottom of the barrel...

 

[pdd614]

Another vote for manners stock. The little bit extra spent now will be enjoyed for years to come. Buy once cry once.