Gunsmithing BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

762frmafr

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
i will be receiving a left handed McMillan A-5 stock that is inletted for remington 700 short action. it will be completed in the next couple of days. it was supposed to go on my current 308. i have decided to build a custom 308 and will be picking up a BADGER M2008 left handed action from BADGER on friday. my question for everyone is this....is there a way to use the McMillan that is already coming to me for the new action. maybe by building an aluminum bedding block for it and inletting the rest. i know that the badger action is a flat bottom and the remington is a round action. any thoughts or suggestions. i really do not want to wait another 3 months for a stock or have to sell this stock. thank you.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

If it can be use with the badger action McMillan would know. Call and talk to dick, he is production MGR. If it can they will inlet it for you for 40.00-50.00 it should take 2-3 weeks.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

im pretty sure it will "fit" in the stock.... the big concern is the difference between the flat bottom of the badger and the round bottom of the remington. with the badger it wouldn't be an "inletting" problem....the problem would be that there would be air to fill...hence the question about making an aluminum bedding block.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

I think the badger action is flat bottom. The remington is round. They can go in and re inlet yhe stock. The question is the rear of action with the tang. I do not know if they use a differant stock for badgers that have a high tang area.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

This was discussed when the action came out. Your stock can be inletted for the Badger. The only issue will be at the back, the tang of the action will sit above the stock. The bolt handle notch will have to be opened up as well. If you look around, you will find some pics of the 2008 in some A5's and see what I'm talking about. McMillan did make some A5's with a taller tang area for this action.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RADcustom</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This was discussed when the action came out. Your stock can be inletted for the Badger. The only issue will be at the back, the tang of the action will sit above the stock. The bolt handle notch will have to be opened up as well. If you look around, you will find some pics of the 2008 in some A5's and see what I'm talking about. McMillan did make some A5's with a taller tang area for this action. </div></div>
that's awesome news. i have seen the pic you are talking about and it is a non-issue for me. so next question is, who can inlet it? a gunsmith or should i let mcmillan do it?
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

I would let McMillan do it if you want the best job. The depth is critical for the bottom metal to fit flush and the mags to feed reliably.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

I would not send them the barrel action to bed they will take 6-9 months just send stock and have them re- inlet it. then have one of the gunsmiths on hide bed it.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THUNDERBOLT68</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would not send them the barrel action to bed they will take 6-9 months just send stock and have them re- inlet it. then have one of the gunsmiths on hide bed it. </div></div>

This would be my suggestion also. There are some custom pillars somebody was making to prevent the bedding from cracking when the action is removed. I will see if I can find the post about them.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THUNDERBOLT68</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would not send them the barrel action to bed they will take 6-9 months just send stock and have them re- inlet it. then have one of the gunsmiths on hide bed it. </div></div>
it will take 6-9 months to re-inlet my stock?
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RWSGunsmithing</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You need those style pillars because when you remove your action out of the stock there is a tendency for the rear action screw area to break out the bedding. </div></div>
couple questions then...can you make the pillars? can you inlet my stock from remington to M2008? i really don't want to send it back to mcmillan...they take such a long time. if so maybe i'll just let you build the whole rifle. let me know what you think.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

We cannot machine for the badger 2008 after it has already been machined for a S700. We put the badger into a differnt A5 mold than the remingtons because of the rear tang difference.
 
Re: BADGER M2008 MCMILLAN A-5 QUESTION

Something to think about. . . .

Your current A5 and several other stocks not meant for the M2008 can be made to work. "Work" meaning the gun may go bang and will feed reliably. However, you need to remember that even the most talented rifle smith can only do so much when it comes to hiding the cosmetic problems inherent to such a compromise.

It sounds like you are spending a good deal of money to make a custom rifle. When it is all said and done, do you really want a stock that was MADE to work with an action it was never meant for. Your ejection port, bolt handle cut and tang inlets are all going to look half assed.

My advice would be to sell your existing stock (very easy and very fast) and get the correct A5 from the correct mold with the correct inlets. The finished rifle will look like the two were grown together perfectly. You will thank youself every time you look at the rifle or show it off in the future.

Don't do like some have done and end up with a three or four thousand dollar rifle that looks like the components were hacked apart and glued back together. From across the room it may look pretty sweet but up close, the ugly will jump on you.

Everybody, including myself, wants their stuff right NOW!.. Please be patient just a little longer and do it right.

Good luck either way.

TC