Stock Material for FTR

[CharlieNC]

I'm thinking about a different stock for my Ftr rifle. Given the importance of harmonics, and in this case resting on a bipod, does anyone have any experience indicating the material has a significant influence on accuracy? I've seen arguments which are both pro and con regarding the impact of rigidity due to material and bedding blocks (including extending into the bipod rail), ability to dampen harmonics, etc.

Looking at laminate, fiberglass, and solid walnut (for weight reduction). I prefer the appearance of solid walnut, but wonder about its extra flex. And the ability to custom shape it to suit my body, as it is.

 

[Warren Dean]

Get a McMillan XIT...you will not regret it...Guaranteed! It is the standard in FTR nowadays.

 

[Steve Jennings]

I'm thinking about a different stock for my Ftr rifle. Given the importance of harmonics, and in this case resting on a bipod, does anyone have any experience indicating the material has a significant influence on accuracy? I've seen arguments which are both pro and con regarding the impact of rigidity due to material and bedding blocks (including extending into the bipod rail), ability to dampen harmonics, etc.

Looking at laminate, fiberglass, and solid walnut (for weight reduction). I prefer the appearance of solid walnut, but wonder about its extra flex. And the ability to custom shape it to suit my body, as it is.

SJR-Enterprises.com stock and a 1 1/4" dia X 34" long barrel changes "harmonics"

 

[XTR]

Personally I prefer wood.

If I were buying something not wood I'd take a look at the Kelbly 1M. It will come in a pound or more lighter than the XIT. If I'm not mistaken one of the F-TR rifles that shot 200-16X at raton this yr was wearing one, if you need some scores to measure potential performance.

 

[CharlieNC]

Don't need a rifle Joe, just interested in any experience/info comparing materials. Maybe there just isn't enough difference, and thus no one has pursued evaluating this.

 

[XTR]

My two hardwood stocks are both as light than any of the weights that I've seen for fiberglass XITs. Both will make weight with a 30" barrel that starts with a blank with a 5" 1.25 breach and ends at .95+ at the muzzle. Both are quite a bit lighter than any laminates. Laminates are heavy due to the resins.

As for 30" barrels, there are a number of shooters that are moving to 28s and 29s. Most who have run longer (I've tested as long as a 34" ) have moved back to 30s. With a 308 pushing heavies with any powder, and I've tested a lot of them up to as slow as H4350, you don't gain more than about 20FPS total in that last two inches going up to a 32". (my testing showed 15FPS comparing 4 barrels).

What we are finding in F-TR is that there are velocity "nodes" where the bullets shoot, and the extra length beyond 30" can't get you up to the next node, but you can still reach the one everyone else is running in with a 28 to 30 inch barrel, so rather than use a lighter contour people are running heavier barrels.

 

[Jdne5b]

If I were buying something not wood I'd take a look at the Kelbly 1M. It will come in a pound or more lighter than the XIT. If I'm not mistaken one of the F-TR rifles that shot 200-16X at raton this yr was wearing one, if you need some scores to measure potential performance.

I recently went with a KTS on my new build, adjustable cheek and butt. Picked up 8oz over my adjustable cheek/fixed butt X-it (4.2lb vs 4.7lb). If I would have special ordered it, it could have been even lighter. I can probably get a little more out of the butt with the mill.

 

[Rope2horns]

McMillan XIT...Let's not forget Ray Gross and Mike Plunkett both shot a impressive 200-16x....Ray was shooting a McMillan fiberglass stock and Mike a Kelbys. Ian Klemm has been the FTR Nationals Champion two years in a row shooting a McMillan XIT...Like XTR I'm just throwing this out there if you need some scores to measure potential performance.

Just for the record I'm biased and can barely spell FTR.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I recently went with a KTS on my new build, adjustable cheek and butt. Picked up 8oz over my adjustable cheek/fixed butt X-it (4.2lb vs 4.7lb). If I would have special ordered it, it could have been even lighter. I can probably get a little more out of the butt with the mill.

Don't mill your butt, Jeremy.

 

[kybountyhunter]

View attachment 1082233 View attachment 1082234

Personally I prefer wood.

If I were buying something not wood I'd take a look at the Kelbly 1M. It will come in a pound or more lighter than the XIT. If I'm not mistaken one of the F-TR rifles that shot 200-16X at raton this yr was wearing one, if you need some scores to measure potential performance.

Wade,

You are correct... I shoot a Kelbley's complete built rifle. Which I have a KTS stock without the butt hook. The stock is just over 3lbs with adjustable cheek and butt plate. I also just ordered my 3rd complete rifle.

 

[Dos XX]

I recently went with a KTS on my new build, adjustable cheek and butt. Picked up 8oz over my adjustable cheek/fixed butt X-it (4.2lb vs 4.7lb). If I would have special ordered it, it could have been even lighter. I can probably get a little more out of the butt with the mill.

I would check with Kelbly before milling on that stock. Pretty sure they are foam filled and not made completely out of fiberglass.

 

[Jdne5b]

I would check with Kelbly before milling on that stock. Pretty sure they are foam filled and not made completely out of fiberglass.

I mean just the aluminum plates.

 

[Dos XX]

I mean just the aluminum plates.

Ahh. I figured you knew about the foam filled. Never mind!!

 

[Jennb]

XIT with the RAD2a, Stiller Predator action and 31” Krieger heavy varmint barrel and a Duplin bipod with a NF competition. Makes weight no problem!!! Can’t go wrong with a McMillan XIT

 

[Evlshnngns]

When Ray shot his 200-16x, I shot a 200-12x (FTR) on the same relay using a laminated birch wood stock from a $100 Microfit blank. Don't get cought up in the arms race. Find or build a stock that you like.

Any pics of the gun and stock?

 

[Rope2horns]

When Ray shot his 200-16x, I shot a 200-12x (FTR) on the same relay using a laminated birch wood stock from a $100 Microfit blank. Don't get cought up in the arms race. Find or build a stock that you like.

If you read CharlieNC post he was asking what stock material had the most significance on accuracy...Both of the record setters were shooting fiberglass stocks...@Alex Wheeler has also stated in the past he had felt like fiberglass may hold some sort of accuracy edge over some other materials IRRC....Congrats on your 200-12x that's some mighty fine shooting.

 

[CharlieNC]

If you read CharlieNC post he was asking what stock material had the most significance on accuracy...Both of the record setters were shooting fiberglass stocks...@Alex Wheeler has also stated in the past he had felt like fiberglass may hold some sort of accuracy edge over some other materials IRRC....Congrats on your 200-12x that's some mighty fine shooting.

You are spot on Norm, mine is a materials question. I believe fit and design (tracking, recoil control) are the primary factors; and was simply questioning the influence of material since I have seen little on the topic.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Having recently acquired a couple of the newer carbon fiber stocks from McMillan and Manners, I would suggest that they might be worth looking into. Very lightweight (as compared to traditional fiberglass/fills) and ridiculously strong. Allows you to put a little more weight where it really matters, the barreled action.

 

[Jdne5b]

Having recently acquired a couple of the newer carbon fiber stocks from McMillan and Manners, I would suggest that they might be worth looking into. Very lightweight (as compared to traditional fiberglass/fills) and ridiculously strong. Allows you to put a little more weight where it really matters, the barreled action.

If Manners would make their ELR stock in a suitable size for a normal (not BMG) action, it would be a great FTR stock.