Choate Ultimate Sniper Review

[Johnnycat]

I bought an Ultimate Sniper for a Win 70 in 300WSM (soon to be .270WSM) and an Ultimate Varmint for a Savage .223.

Here's what I think so far on the Ultimate Sniper:

First Impression:
Cool stock, seems to be well made. I like the OD Green color and the texture. Oh my gosh it's heavy!

Installing the action: breeze! Only, the two action screws are different sizes - the rear tang screw is a little longer - at first I had them reversed and couldn't get the rear tang screw in. When I realized my mistake it was no problem.

PROS:
1) Well made, solid stock

2) Visually appealing for the most part. I love the green color and I like the look.

3) The pistol grip feels right. I have small hands, and the grip is not too big, but it's large enought to get a comfortable grip

4) There a screw in the back to level the butt

5) The bipod attachment (sling stud) is easily removed from the rail and is made so that you can buy extra rails for different size bipods, then just slide on the one you want

6) Nice aluminum bedding block at a cheap price. I paid $148 from Combat Stocks

7) Storage space in the pistol grip - according to the literature that came with the stock it holds 8 rounds of .30-06 bullets, a cleaning kit, or can be filled with lead shot to make the rifle heavier (why would you want to make this beast heavier?)

8) Ambidextrous - I'm left handed but shoot right handed rifles. This stock is made with a "straight" cheekpiece. It also comes with a high cheekpiece in case you hace extra-high rings

9) Generous barrel channel. I checked with a card - the barrel is fully free floated


CONS:
1) Heavy - not very portable. I was hoping to have something of a scout stock - but this thing's too big and heavy

2) You have to unscrew a couple Phillips screws to get to the grip storage - not very practical

3) No floorplate - the only way to unload is cycle through the bolt. The website says this make the stock stiffer and cuts doen on overhead (it's easier to manufacture). No doubt! It's not really a big deal - but it kinda is.

4) Sling mounts on the side of the rifle. I guess this is okay -I sure am accumstomed to the sling being on the bottom. At least there are studs on either side so that it's still ambidextrous.

All-in-all I'd say this is going to be a great stock. Especially for the price. Other Aluminum beeding block stocks sell for twice the price of these. The negatives are really picky. I can't wait to shoot them!

[billy]

thank you! i will buy one soon. as i said before i like em heavy

[killer]

I've seen a few guys take spray paint (black and brown) to them but I haven't bothered yet.

The stock was designed by a sniper that served in Vietnam. Col John Plaster and he has a book out entitled "The Ultimate Sniper."

You'll definitely like those side swivels once you start totin that thing. And because of the weight I think you'll find you can make some difficult shots that a light rifle couldn't hold steady on.

I put the above long action sniper stock on a Rem 700 in 25-06 caliber. Still tweaking hand loads for it.

[roach570]

i am looking into this stock, but i have problems..
rifle is a Savage MK II (.22lr)
magazine fed
bolt action (the only stocks i found are semi-auto only)

my questions:
Killer:
can you post the height, width and length of the stock, along with pics from all angles (bottom, top, left, right)
i might build my own by hand if i cant find one to fit my .22

[ArkansasHunter]

I think that stock ROCKS !!! It would be nice if they came out with the same design in a Lite weight.
I'd like to drop a Remington 700 barreled action in one in 220 Swift caliber in a stock like that and the green color is great !
A.H

[Deersniper]

Looks great. I'd like one for my Stevens center feed .308, but with a removable mag. Since they like adding more weight. How much does it weigh? How heavy is it?

[billy]

Originally Posted by Deersniper

Looks great. I'd like one for my Stevens center feed .308, but with a removable mag. Since they like adding more weight. How much does it weigh? How heavy is it?

mine is 5 1/2 lbs. and i filled that compartment with lead.
it is just for bench work .
with the combined weights of barreled action/stock/scope/rings and that lead.
there really isnt any recoil on this .308
at least not enough to even make me think about it while shooting.
it rides the bags well.
and you are right ..
they DO look cool!

[joshrem700]

I don't get the complaint about the weight im 6' @ 160 lbs. and i have no trouble carring my rifle for hours on end wich is a rem. 700 on a choate ultimate sniper stock, plus carring 4 boxes of ammo. and an additional 30-40 lbs sometimes less if im not walking so far but usually im doing a good 6 to 8 miles. i do have a military background and i carried a 249 machinegun for 3 years but that shouldnt matter that was 9 years ago. the weight of the stock helps with recoil and stability and makes for tighter shot groups .

[joshrem700]

rem. 700 w/ choate sniper stock