Hello All,
I am looking to build my first dedicated F-TR rifle and need some help picking a stock. I started shooting F-TR club matches a few years ago and quit due to component shortages. It was a bad time to get into the sport as I am sure you all remember. Thank goodness I am not looking for 100 primers or a lb of powder on Gunbroker anymore.
I had made my mind up on a PR&T lowrider stock, but it appears that Mr. Bowman has taken his site down. I hope he is well and hopefully enjoying his retirement. Just as well, I have learned more and a few different designs have caught my eye. What I am reasonably certain of is that I do not like the modern chunky minimum contact style stocks. The round perpendicular grips and no relief for the wrist, palm just feel odd. I just cant seem to get comfortable behind them. I fell like I am working around the rifle more so than molding into it.
I like the TR style stocks, think Joe West, McMillan XIT, GRS X-Eater. Unfortunately, it appears that Mr. West may be on hiatus. The X-Eater is out of production as I am sure you all know. I have not put my hands on the XIT, but it looks...... uninspiring. While I may wind up with one anyway, I much prefer the custom look and feel of the thumb rest, finger groove, palm relief style stocks. I like adjustability as I am still learning what I like as far as comb height. I learned to shoot with a cheek weld, I understand that no cheek pressure helps the track, but I am not sure it cancels out how tense and unnatural it feels with a lower jaw touch point. I wish mcmillan had something between an XIT and an A5 in the grip with the A5 style forend. That would be near perfect in my mind.
Another secondary question: Where would one get a flat top stock inlet? It seems more and more gunsmiths are doing less stock work in my area, the southeast. If you do find someone that will inlet a flat top it seems like the price is more than a blank. All the big online places seem to only offer 700 inlets with bdl or DBM. I havent picked an action yet, but I am sure it will be a Defiance, Borden, or BAT. I am currently shooting a 700 LA with BDL in a mcmillan gamewarden with a rigged up cheek riser. It would be nice to use a single shot plug and get a stock inletted to fit my 700 as a backup rifle. One day I hope to buy another lathe and do my own barrel work, but now is not that time. Until then I hate not having a rifle for 4 months when I need work done.
I will take any and all suggestions, thanks in advance.
Ps. PR&T and Joe West may very well be chipping away, I haven't reached out. I know what its like to run a small business and I try really hard not to kick tires. Please let me know if they are taking orders.
I am looking to build my first dedicated F-TR rifle and need some help picking a stock. I started shooting F-TR club matches a few years ago and quit due to component shortages. It was a bad time to get into the sport as I am sure you all remember. Thank goodness I am not looking for 100 primers or a lb of powder on Gunbroker anymore.
I had made my mind up on a PR&T lowrider stock, but it appears that Mr. Bowman has taken his site down. I hope he is well and hopefully enjoying his retirement. Just as well, I have learned more and a few different designs have caught my eye. What I am reasonably certain of is that I do not like the modern chunky minimum contact style stocks. The round perpendicular grips and no relief for the wrist, palm just feel odd. I just cant seem to get comfortable behind them. I fell like I am working around the rifle more so than molding into it.
I like the TR style stocks, think Joe West, McMillan XIT, GRS X-Eater. Unfortunately, it appears that Mr. West may be on hiatus. The X-Eater is out of production as I am sure you all know. I have not put my hands on the XIT, but it looks...... uninspiring. While I may wind up with one anyway, I much prefer the custom look and feel of the thumb rest, finger groove, palm relief style stocks. I like adjustability as I am still learning what I like as far as comb height. I learned to shoot with a cheek weld, I understand that no cheek pressure helps the track, but I am not sure it cancels out how tense and unnatural it feels with a lower jaw touch point. I wish mcmillan had something between an XIT and an A5 in the grip with the A5 style forend. That would be near perfect in my mind.
Another secondary question: Where would one get a flat top stock inlet? It seems more and more gunsmiths are doing less stock work in my area, the southeast. If you do find someone that will inlet a flat top it seems like the price is more than a blank. All the big online places seem to only offer 700 inlets with bdl or DBM. I havent picked an action yet, but I am sure it will be a Defiance, Borden, or BAT. I am currently shooting a 700 LA with BDL in a mcmillan gamewarden with a rigged up cheek riser. It would be nice to use a single shot plug and get a stock inletted to fit my 700 as a backup rifle. One day I hope to buy another lathe and do my own barrel work, but now is not that time. Until then I hate not having a rifle for 4 months when I need work done.
I will take any and all suggestions, thanks in advance.
Ps. PR&T and Joe West may very well be chipping away, I haven't reached out. I know what its like to run a small business and I try really hard not to kick tires. Please let me know if they are taking orders.
