Cutting a synthetic stock? Good gunsmith MN?

[biggameballs]

I recently purchased a Browning BAR LW stalker in .308. I love the gun and will have it to the day I die but the 13.75" LOP seems just a hair long once I get all loaded up with the hunting clothes required for northern MN. I'm a short stump to begin with. The recoil pad on it is already pretty thin and I cant find anything significantly shorter. Ideally I'd like to take 5/16 to 3/8 off the length of pull.

Has anyone ever had a synthetic stock cut? If so how did it turn out? I called Browning and they said that there is enough material in the back of the stock to cut off about 1/2" but if you take any more then that off there will be nothing to screw the pad onto. I'd like to have this done but I'm a little nervous about it. I also know these BAR's can be a little finnicky and the one I have now shoots 1 1/2 or better with anything I put through it so I dont want someone who doesn't know what they are doing messing with it. If this can be done can someone please recomend a good gunsmith in MN?

Thanks in advance for the responses.

 

[biggameballs]

Anyone?

 

[walt501]

You didn't say what part of Minnesota you're located in, but here are a couple of suggestions.

In the west metro area -

Palmer Raysor
4110 Main Street
St. Bonifacious MN 55375
952 446 1435

He's not much on small talk and his shop doesn't look like much either. But he's been a gunsmith for over 38 years and the work I've had him do has been excellent and completed within a week.

In southern Minnesota, you have the king of all gunsmiths in the mid-west (imho) as well as the warranty station for most new firearms located in the mid-west -

Ahlman's
9525 W. 230th St.
Morristown, MN 55052
(507) 685-4244
(507) 685-4243
http://www.ahlmans.com/

I've also had excellent work done by Ahlman's. They can do it all, from restoring an older firearm to any custom work you want done.

Hope this helps.

 

[jmr40]

You could use a thinner recoil pad and might not even need to cut. Or at least not as much. A 308, from that rifle probably does not need any type of recoil pad, just a buttplate.

 

[biggameballs]

I know it doesn't kick at all but the recoil pad on there is only about 5/8". I cant find anything thinner then .4"


I live in the northern suburbs

 

[dprice3844444]

get a pachmyer decellerator and have the smith shorten it to size with your hunting clothes on

 

[T Bran]

No offence intended but this is the reason I only buy wood stocked rifles. I have short arms so they all need to be cut down to be a good fit I've taken as much as 2.5 inches off of some guns. Would love a synthetic stock for ease of care but unless a youth model fits it is a no go. It is possible that Boyds will have a wood stock to fit at a fair price check them out.
Luck
T

 

[biggameballs]

My arms are not that short that I would ever take anywhere close to 2 inches off a stock. I'm talking about 1/4" - 3/8" here. The gun fits me just fine in a T shirt but we dont hunt in T shirts here in MN.

Can I just have the recoil pad that's already on there ground shorter? To me it looks like it is a pachmayar that Browning uses as their stock pad. I know you can gring the edges to fit but wasn't sure if you can grind the end of the pad and have it look good.

 

[LoonWulf]

if your only taking 1/4" to 1/2" off you should be able to re use your stock pad, and most likely your screw holes will be deep enough you, MIGHT get away with not trimming your screws. I shortened a savage 110 stock about 1/2" for a friend it worked fine. Ive never worked on a BAR stock tho.