Stock design?

Is there any advantages to disadvantages to using a non sloped buttstock? Meaning parallel to the forend? I know some organizations have rules against it but anything i will be shooting doesn't .

Also im assuming the closer the barrel is to the front bag the less twisting torque will be felt and the more stable the rifle will be?

I was thinking about building a stock with a straight buttstock and the forend will be around 2 inches deep at the action then go to 1.5 inches just ahead of the action a little bit and it will have 1/2" high square sides and will be 3" wide.

Any opinions on this? It will be a 30br for score rifle shot in local club matches.

the only real rule is no wider than 3" and must be shot off a front rest with a sand bag in it and a rear sand bag.

Thanks

 

Straight line stocks are made by several stock makers. McMillan conned to mind first.

 

This 6br stock is probably closest to what you’re describing.

 

This is my 30br Kodiak. The toe to the bottom of the grip is angled only 2-3 degrees. The angled section in front of the trigger guard contains the mag well. The forend is around 2” tall. Could/should have been 1 1/2”. I wanted the weight on the heavy side. The flat bottom works well with a Shadetree front rest or the like that adjusts with a rod. I like the angled stock with my other rests. I can make small elevation changes by sliding the gun forward or back.

 

Resale would be the biggest issue I know of, due to being outlawed in most short range br. UBR does allow it though.
I have an aluminum "straightlined" stock on my UBR Unlimited rifle and it works well. I'm not sure if it's really advantageous for a score rifle where you're constantly moving from bull to bull, anyway..but it sure is cool to slide the gun back and forth and it never leave the dot. I really don't think it's shoots any better but it does seem to help with shooting groups fast. I use a joystick style of rest but I'd guess it to be a bigger deal on a windage adjustable type rest rather than a joystick. Just my thoughts, fwiw. --Mike

 

It makes a huge difference and you wont find to many F class stocks that are not straight and parallel. An instructor I know has a saying when the rifle is pointed at the centre and it stays there when the rifle moves back and forth under recoil. where else can the bullets go but the centre. Of course allowing for wind, but you get the idea.

 

I won't disagree that it's better nor will I say that it's worse. I've built and shot lots of fine rifles over the years in both configurations of stocks and I can not say that I've seen it make a huge difference either way, though.

The bullet is gone before the gun has time to travel more than about .050"(nominal). That should at least put the advantage of lack of, into perspective..fwiw. Again, I'm not saying one is better or worse than the other and not arguing either way. Just food for thought.

If given the choice, I'll take straight over the more traditional stocks.

 

why are non angled butt stocks illegal in short range Benchrest?

 

Good question! IMHO, it's just another rule that limits experimentation in search of better accuracy, from sanctioning bodies that claim to have the most accurate rifles on the planet. Today we have stocks that push that rule to the point where bedding the rifle with just a few thou worth of angle can make it illegal, yet I've only seen the rule enforced at one match since 2007.

 

In the varmint classes you are trying to keep a tradition of using actual varmint rifles. You wouldnt varmint hunt with a blocky straight stock or a non tapered barrel

 

I don't know why, but these are the rules.

The allowable stock for short range benchrest is diagrammed on page 34.
https://www.nbrsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/rule_book_nbrsa_201901311001.pages.pdf

There are no stock restrictions for long range benchrest, see page 22
https://www.nbrsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/nbrsa_rules_long_range_201901311016.pdf

 

True, but I wouldn't hunt with ANY benchrest form of rifle. Excluding prairie dogs or any hunting where a front and possibly a rear rest can be well implemented. The rifles used in every class of br have evolved into something far from practical hunting rifles but the rules have not evolved with them, imo. Sometimes less is more. I think this is such a case where there should be less restrictive rules, particularly from an organization that claims to have the most accurate guns on the planet. JMHO, though. I'd be willing to bet that there are several guns at many br matches that won't fit the "box". If the rule isn't enforced, it need not be a rule. Again, jmho.

 

Youre exactly right. The old guard has put the nail in the coffin and its dying a slow death. If you want to experiment the sporter class allows some new stuff but like a heavy nobody wants to tune multiple rifles unless its a backup they can shoot in all classes

 

I don't have a dog in that fight but I think NBRSA missed the boat with sporter. I'd love to see them make it a "run whut ya brung" class, with very few rules. Like 13.5-15lb max weight, 3" wide forearm and no brakes...Something like that. IMHO, there should be a class for anyone that shows up wanting to shoot, with very few restrictions. Similar to UBR. As is, most people shoot their lv in both hv and lv. I would bet that in a short period of time, a class like I'm talking about would have some support and would become the top class. Just my thoughts though.

 

Those are basically the rules we run by here but no official weight limit. Must be front rest with sand bag in it and a rear bag.

 

so, can it be said, as a general rule, that at most club level SR/BR matches, if you show up with a not quite legal stock, you will probably be allowed to shoot?

 

Usually yes. They want the participation

 

thanks, all

 

Don't count on it but if it's visually not obvious that it's illegal, probably so. Even if it is, they might be lenient for a match or so with you.

 

Mike, I think more along the lines of 15.5 # and 3" forearm and no other rules, then guys shooting a 30 in vfs could add some weight or a lr rifle could be used with a slight loss of weight. more windows of opportunity to draw from....