questions about stock options for 10.5lb PPC build

[JDBraddy]

Am still somewhat new to short range center fire bench rest, have shot about three matches, am considering a dedicated 10.5 lb PPC build, and am confused about stock options. Will probably go with a Borden BR action, have been googling the McMillan Edge, Scoville, Scharbrough, Kelby, Larson, Bruno, Borden, Leonard, Etc....Etc.... am so confused. Price of course matters, but am willing to splurge a little for something I'll really love, but the above seem to range from $550-$2000+, and I understand a lot of this is just personal preference, but I don't know enough to know what I do and don't like, or what is or isn't worth the difference. Would appreciate any guidance you guys could give me.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The best is a scarbrough but its a lot of money and long wait. The alternative to that style is a kelbly klp. With a scarbrough you can make money on them if you find somebody that wants your action just because of the wait time and i assure you that youd love it 110%. Call some of the big name short range br gunsmiths and i bet they have a line on a nice complete rig or stock. I know chris at bulletcentral tries to stock them

 

[LHSmith]

Since you already attend matches, don't be afraid to ask fellow competitors to allow you to sit behind their rifles and perhaps even shoot them. Reconcile your likes with your smith's preference- he most likely knows which are the straightest. I shot free recoil and have used Mcmillan, Bruno, Robertson ( out of production) and Leonard stocks.......and feel most comfortable with a Mcmillan Edge -perhaps because that is the stock design I started with. Add Roy Hunter stocks to the "premium" list.

 

[ebb]

Call Billy Stevens and tell him what you shoot now and what you like about and what you don't. What class and weight you intend to shoot this rifle in. Let him do the rest.

 

[BLCKWLF]

If you have questions on McMillan Stocks, feel free to email me directly and I'll help you out. maxwell@mcmillanusa.com

 

[Tim Singleton]

This is a good place to start
Scarbourgh
Scoville
Leonard
Hunter

 

[BartsBullets]

I’m a Scarbourgh fan!

Bart

 

[Jefferson]

I’m a Scarbourgh fan!

Bart

and I am your fan

 

[ClassCat]

Free recoil or not ? Bruno -McMillan Type 1 and 2 here. 2 type 1,, and 1 type 2. All 3 are LV

 

[alinwa]

Holey Krapp, good thread...... BR Gold

 

[JDBraddy]

Free recoil or not ? Bruno -McMillan Type 1 and 2 here. 2 type 1,, and 1 type 2. All 3 are LV

?????Hugh....What.....Where.....????? I suspect you must be talking about some evolution of the stocks McMillan makes to Lester Bruno's specs, but that's just a guess. Without images or explanation, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Here's the only Bruno-McMillen stock I've personally seen or handled, it's on the rifle I'm currently using, and it's fiberglass, not carbon fiber.

I basicly like this stock but, the only think I don't care for on this stock, is that as you can see the fore arm narrows from just in front of the action, to the end, so as it slides rearward on the front bag during recoil, there is space for lateral movement.

Here is the McMillen on my rimfire 40X, I like this stock a lot, except for the color, I think it's also fiberglass. I call it my ugly-stick.

I also used to own an Anchutz 54 with some variation of a McMillen stock, this stock was also fiberglass, with some sort of chalky fill that crumbled when you tried to drill into it, screws holding on the butplate and trigger guard where always coming out. It was super light, which made the gun very muzzle heavy, and I had to hollow out the fill in the rear to add a lead wedge like the ones they sell for AR-15 stocks. Once I got the rifle balanced, it was ok, hated this stock, required constant maintenance and tweeking to keep the hardware secure, and it vibrated like a rubber band under tension.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Lots of variables but, the gun only has time to move very little while the bullet is still in the bore, but call it about .050-.060" of gun movement that matters. Not trying to keep you from buying whatever you want, just pointing this out.

 

[ClassCat]

?????Hugh....What.....Where.....????? I suspect you must be talking about some evolution of the stocks McMillan makes to Lester Bruno's specs, but that's just a guess. Without images or explanation, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Here's the only Bruno-McMillen stock I've personally seen or handled, it's on the rifle I'm currently using, and it's fiberglass, not carbon fiber.

I basicly like this stock but, the only think I don't care for on this stock, is that as you can see the fore arm narrows from just in front of the action, to the end, so as it slides rearward on the front bag during recoil, there is space for lateral movement.

Here is the McMillen on my rimfire 40X, I like this stock a lot, except for the color, I think it's also fiberglass. I call it my ugly-stick.

I also used to own an Anchutz 54 with some variation of a McMillen stock, this stock was also fiberglass, with some sort of chalky fill that crumbled when you tried to drill into it, screws holding on the butplate and trigger guard where always coming out. It was super light, which made the gun very muzzle heavy, and I had to hollow out the fill in the rear to add a lead wedge like the ones they sell for AR-15 stocks. Once I got the rifle balanced, it was ok, hated this stock, required constant maintenance and tweeking to keep the hardware secure, and it vibrated like a rubber band under tension.

No Images are needed. The difference is minor, but the type 1 has a tapper on the forehand that creates a problem in the way it rides the front rest. That taper in the fore end loosens as the gun recoils. The type 2 addresses that problem as it is wider and straighter and hugs the bag with constitant tension. This problem is highly visible with your types of rest in a left to right tension situation. It is also visible with a Farley because the side plates do not evenly distribute equal tension in the ears. Seb rests increase the left to right tension and the gun rides the bag better due to the overall design of the side plates.

 

[butchlambert]

Well,
I guess I've had most of them-several McMillans, Roberston, A cedar carbon fiber from the flyfishing guy, Kelblys, and ended up building my own with a lot of help from Al Flores. Al prowled the local redwood lumber place hand selecting the lightest pieces. The stock was a laminate with carbon fiber cloth.

I wanted a longer fore end and a short length of pull. For me I need my shoulder away from the butt of the stock. Michael Kavanaugh, A Navy Lieutenant now, painted the stock. It has a Bat DS model receiver and has a 45X Leupold. I have made LV with the 12X42 NXS Nightforce scope. My stock is light.

 

[butchlambert]

I forgot Back in the older days Dwight Scott built me a rifle with the Kelbly Grizzly and Scoville stock.It was a very nice rifle, but just didn't fit me. I shot it for the first time at Raton and another shooter wanted it more than I. As you would guess it was made by the best with the best components, but it just wasn't comfortable to shoot.

 

[butchlambert]

?????Hugh....What.....Where.....????? I suspect you must be talking about some evolution of the stocks McMillan makes to Lester Bruno's specs, but that's just a guess. Without images or explanation, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Here's the only Bruno-McMillen stock I've personally seen or handled, it's on the rifle I'm currently using, and it's fiberglass, not carbon fiber.

I basicly like this stock but, the only think I don't care for on this stock, is that as you can see the fore arm narrows from just in front of the action, to the end, so as it slides rearward on the front bag during recoil, there is space for lateral movement.

Here is the McMillen on my rimfire 40X, I like this stock a lot, except for the color, I think it's also fiberglass. I call it my ugly-stick.

I also used to own an Anchutz 54 with some variation of a McMillen stock, this stock was also fiberglass, with some sort of chalky fill that crumbled when you tried to drill into it, screws holding on the butplate and trigger guard where always coming out. It was super light, which made the gun very muzzle heavy, and I had to hollow out the fill in the rear to add a lead wedge like the ones they sell for AR-15 stocks. Once I got the rifle balanced, it was ok, hated this stock, required constant maintenance and tweeking to keep the hardware secure, and it vibrated like a rubber band under tension.

Doesn't matter what you have, if it ain't comfortable for you, it needs to go down the road.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

A gun that isnt 110% perfect for you in every way and doesnt agg well enough to make you look like a good shooter?




Send it down the road and get one that does.

 

[johnmyers]

Tom Meridith TMBR is one to look at

 

[WSnyder]

No Images are needed. The difference is minor, but the type 1 has a tapper on the forehand that creates a problem in the way it rides the front rest. That taper in the fore end loosens as the gun recoils. The type 2 addresses that problem as it is wider and straighter and hugs the bag with constitant tension. This problem is highly visible with your types of rest in a left to right tension situation. It is also visible with a Farley because the side plates do not evenly distribute equal tension in the ears. Seb rests increase the left to right tension and the gun rides the bag better due to the overall design of the side plates.

The type 2 is thicker and stiffer in the wrist as well.

 

[stifffingers]

The type 2 is thicker and stiffer in the wrist as well.

If you would like to talk to someone that has over fifty years of buying, selling, and shooting them all, it would be Bob White of the Shooterscorner.com 973-663-5159. He also has the largest inventory of used Benchrest rifles in the country. He lists many on his web site.