I am planning to purchase a Ruger Hawkeye SS in .338 federal and would like to put a quality aftermarket stock on it. Some manufacturers I am familiar with by name and but not by use are:
McMillan, Hogue, Boyds & Accurate Innovations. Do any of you have ideas or suggestions?
I put a Bell & Carlson stock on a 30-06 Rem. 700, and really like it a lot. I had to have a gunsmith fit it just a bit. While he had it he glassed the recoil lug. Not a real expensive stock, but not a cheap-o either. Might take a look.
I am planning to purchase a Ruger Hawkeye SS in .338 federal and would like to put a quality aftermarket stock on it. Some manufacturers I am familiar with by name and but not by use are:
McMillan, Hogue, Boyds & Accurate Innovations. Do any of you have ideas or suggestions?
Thank you!
RDS
I chose a Boyd's laminate for my SS .338Fed. It was my second Boyds stock, the first fully finished one. The finish on mine (pepper laminate) is excellent. There is, however, no checkering. I think it has a good recoil pad and is a really good looking stock. The new SS finish on the Hawkeyes is a lot more dull and dark than the previous SS MKII. The black/grey stock looks good with it. I'll send u a pick of the rifle and stock, if you'd like. Previous hunts have shown me that laminate stocks take a good bit of abuse, and do not show it t all.
McMillan or HS precision would be my choice if I could afford one. I have Bell and Carlson on two of my rifles, I don't like them as much as I thought I would. They are the "carbilite" versions, I did'nt know at the time that the way they made them lighter was to shorten the butt stock so length of pull was ridiculously short. I had to add spacers under the recoil pad. A stupid idea from B&C to shorten the butt end if you ask me. Also the barrel channel of both stocks were not very straight. I had to relieve quite a bit of material from one side when I glass bedded and free floated the barreled action. One is a Mauser long action .243 the other is a Ruger .338wm.
The B&C stocks do look nice, they hold up well and perform as a synthetic stock otherwise should ,but I won't buy another if I can afford the McMillan or HS pre.
McMillan or HS precision would be my choice if I could afford one. I have Bell and Carlson on two of my rifles, I don't like them as much as I thought I would. They are the "carbilite" versions, I did'nt know at the time that the way they made them lighter was to shorten the butt stock so length of pull was ridiculously short. I had to add spacers under the recoil pad. A stupid idea from B&C to shorten the butt end if you ask me. Also the barrel channel of both stocks were not very straight. I had to relieve quite a bit of material from one side when I glass bedded and free floated the barreled action. One is a Mauser long action .243 the other is a Ruger .338wm.
The B&C stocks do look nice, they hold up well and perform as a synthetic stock otherwise should ,but I won't buy another if I can afford the McMillan or HS pre.
Yep.. that's about what I experienced with the B&C. Like I said I took it to a gunsmith and he shaved out the barrel channel and glass bedded the action and recoil lug. He said it didn't take hardly any work though. I think he only charged me 40 bucks or something like that. It is on a mod. 700 in 30-06 which originally had a lot of kick. This stock really tamed it down. All in all I like it ok, but if money were no object it would be McMillan for me also.
