So ive been eyeing up the Mcmillian kestros ZR. I like the molded in look, but wonder how rough the stock is from mold flash lines.
Another option is just a solid paint color and maybe add to the paint later.
Another option is have a wood stock made in a desirable pattern like " curly walnut" or a variation of multiple wood.
Or wood stock and have it painted with the exact colors which would probably take the longest. Unless i can find a stock builder who is also a good painter.
Just as to composite options, McMillan’s molded in color is not rough at all. Today is likely the actual crest of the wave of quality and variety in F-Class stock options. Maybe it was actually two years back. McMIllan’s molded in color, combined with the Z-rail system, makes it the most labor intensive (and highest priced)
composite stock on the market. Once you have one, you’ll find no faults in its manufacture. You’d be as happy with the choice whether you have many Fclass rifles, or all your eggs are in that one basket. Here’s the issue with the extended fore arm stocks, they sure track well - but if the shooter does not also have long arms, he’ll be stretched out and uncomfortable manipulating the front rest. I have an entire second hand Z-Rail custom gun, and a modified Robertson stock, because of the length issue.
It seems like you are interested in aesthetics and finish, with a piece that gets handled between shooting. I myself can’t admire an unattractive or flawed gun, they are like art, not mere tools, I’ll shoot one, but then it would mainly stay put away. I have a good number of McMillan heavy gun and f-Open stocks, spanning from about 2010 to two last week, mainly molded in, but several painted by McMillan, and most recently one painted by me, picked because it was a fully inletted 700 SS Kestros, 3-way rear and cheekpiece at the online store, for someone willing to paint a primed and sanded stock, no wait and on sale. It shipped the day I ordered it. I prefer the molded in finish to McMillans textured camo, and definitely to my own paint job. These stocks are perfectly inletted. They are shipped in flawless condition and packed to arrive that way. There is no pulling out a Dremel; any trigger combination and any safety, functions free of contact. The change of ownership has not diminished the product quality.
For composites, Manners also makes a super Fclass stock. I’m using them with my 300 WM open guns, and this is the stock that surprised a friend with its mild recoil in a match, (V2 match, comment on comfortable stock design/recoil, like 300 WSM/215 bullets). These are, or at least were made primarily by Tom Manners, himself and patience was necessary. This is the most technically ambitious molded stock I’m aware of because of the length of the forearm, and the way it’s reinforced. Calling that reinforcement by integral arch or truss a fish belly does no justice to the elegance of the unique solution. This stock puts the barrel
very close to the rest, but there’s no fixture adapted to a regular length fore end to achieve a long “wheel base” it’s just an amazingly long stock and that is done homogeneously which means nothing can potentially loosen up at a juncture where two pieces are attached together. This stock does not have the high sides at the front to maximize the way a Seb rest’s vertical bolsters can be tightened prevent right hand torque, though. Somehow, only a Flavio trigger will work 100% free of any extra relief in the inletting of the trigger well, in all of mine.
I don’t think there is a better time than now to buy a high end stock. The truth is that Fclass is under pressure. Guys are going quieter on match registrations, with components and even gas costing way more. Many if not most people are less comfortable financially than two years ago, while at the same time the basic ingredients to this buffet line all went up.
I don’t think many shooters will leave permanently, they will just shoot less, but that amounts to the same thing for our invaluable makers and suppliers. These stocks unique to F-Open were always going to be a smallish niche market, even at the best of times. They aren’t even completely suitable for BR cross-use. I have several of the late Mr. Berger’s BR stocks, and they are featherlight and very short compared to what we use. Another BR division I understand, is for 18 pound guns which is still too restrictive, and as to unlimited class, now they are too light. One thing is pretty certain, if a model or whole line drops, (and we have seen this happen) due to slow orders, we cannot expect that others will be investing in producing stocks with the complexity and at the level of quality we can buy right now.
