Choate varmint stock

[284winner]

Anybody have any experience with the choate varmint stocks ? Kinda like the stock, looks like it'd be a comfortable shooting stock. Looks heavy and grip looks pretty beefy. Wide looking forearm. I have a Choate tactical for sale to replace it with the varmint version. It has bottom metal and mag but I'd prefer the blind mag in my next one. Any info would help.

 

[std7mag]

I bought one from Midway for my wife's Savage 110FP.
Luckily it comes with new action bolts! The stock ones are too short for it.
Weight is advertised at 4 lbs. And i believe it's every bit of that!
Bottom of the pistol grip has a plate with 2 screws. You can add even more weight in there if you choose.

With the 24" heavy barrel in 223 Rem, it's a solid platform.
I've only sighted in the scope & run 1 series of load test for it so far.
Have an IBS 100 yard match tomorrow, that i hope to do well in.

 

[Fuj]

I'm using the sniper stock version just for testing and case
forming. Modded it for a rear bag rider, and run a 4" wide
plate for the front bag after some judicious milling. Yes they
are heavy. Pistol grip is huge. Small hands might have a problem.
Needed to hog out the trigger guard area a bit. Tang area needed
hogged out also. It was hitting before it settled into the V-block.

 

[std7mag]

Ok, having shot a match with it, here's my feedback.

I had issues with the safety & trigger upon installing it in the Choate stock. I checked for interference, and could find none.
Everything worked fine in the old stock, and with just the barreled action.
Choate calls for 50 inlb of torque on the action screws. I backed them off to 35 inlb and it got better. I had to increase the trigger weight to get everything to work properly.
Guessing just the way the action interfaces with the stock.

For me, the low cheek riser worked well combined with the EGW 20 MOA base, Vortex Viper low rings, and 4-20X50 Sightron STAC scope.

I have the inexpensive Caldwell front rest. I loosened the screws on the sides of the bag & got it resting flat on the bag, even with the much wider, flat forestock.

The rear Caldwell bag with ears is too narrow.
The pistol grip is really thick! But easier to put hand loosely arouund the pistol grip than thumb over the top.

Recoil seemed a little harsher over the factory stock. Possibly due to a more solid contact of the action to stock?

Some things i'd change, (the pistol grip) but overall, not too bad.

 

[284winner]

Ok, having shot a match with it, here's my feedback.

I had issues with the safety & trigger upon installing it in the Choate stock. I checked for interference, and could find none.
Everything worked fine in the old stock, and with just the barreled action.
Choate calls for 50 inlb of torque on the action screws. I backed them off to 35 inlb and it got better. I had to increase the trigger weight to get everything to work properly.
Guessing just the way the action interfaces with the stock.

For me, the low cheek riser worked well combined with the EGW 20 MOA base, Vortex Viper low rings, and 4-20X50 Sightron STAC scope.

I have the inexpensive Caldwell front rest. I loosened the screws on the sides of the bag & got it resting flat on the bag, even with the much wider, flat forestock.

The rear Caldwell bag with ears is too narrow.
The pistol grip is really thick! But easier to put hand loosely arouund the pistol grip than thumb over the top.

Recoil seemed a little harsher over the factory stock. Possibly due to a more solid contact of the action to stock?

Some things i'd change, (the pistol grip) but overall, not too bad.

That's on a .223 ? Just purchased and received mine. It's also for a Savage .223 from a BVSS platform rifle. Fits the stock perfectly after some work. Its an internal magazine stock. I had to Dremel out alot of the bedding block and synthetic stock to get the bolt to close properly. Piece of cake and fit and finish is good. Haven't shot it yet but with weather getting much nicer, I'll get out. Thanks for the input. John

 

[std7mag]

Yeah, rifle is an old Savage 110 FP in 223 Rem.
Whoever thought a long action for a 223 was a good idea needs to re-examine things!

I'm almost wondering if the action isn't plumb in the v block of the stock. As in the holes for the action screws through the aluminium aren't too big, allowing some twist.

 

[JSH]

Yeah, rifle is an old Savage 110 FP in 223 Rem.
Whoever thought a long action for a 223 was a good idea needs to re-examine things!

I'm almost wondering if the action isn't plumb in the v block of the stock. As in the holes for the action screws through the aluminium aren't too big, allowing some twist.

That was all they had for a while.
I picked one up here for a project. The gent found out I was going to tear it down and pleaded with me to shoot it first, I did and it is still together in a Sniper stock.
When and off this barrel gives up, I may well remove the shims from the magazine and see if it will feed with long bullets.

Yeah they are kind of odd with a long action, but mine is an excellent shooter.

I have about a half dozen Choate stocks now. For the money I won’t complain. I have my heavy 17 Remington set up in one, filled the butt and the grip with #9 shot, then added another 7lbs by taking a piece of 5/8x3 flat bar and mounted it in the T slot. Who needs a brake, I can see the whole show. It weighs right around 38 pounds.