Alright since I'm just getting back into the bolt gun game I figured I'd do this little write up to show some of the other new guys why the SPS TACT Stock falls short.
Most people know that it flexes and when they say that they are usually referring to the foreend touching the barrel while on a bipod. This is easily fixed with 10 minutes and a dremel sanding disk. If this was the only problem that would be great...because I really like the way this stock feels.
Shown dremeled out, and it free floats all the way to the action even on a bipod
The really problem is the rigidity, or lack of, in the rest of the stock.
I went to the range today to sight in a new scope and noticed that my NPA was impossible to nail down. Part of the blame is the lack of cheekweld while shooting prone but the main problem was that the stock would "Twist" if any pressure is applied to it. This would cause the action to torque sideways in the stock.
Now the barrel channel wouldn't actually contact the barrel but with the twisting forces on the stock its impossible to be consistent during recoil and therefore impossible to be consistent down range.
Barrel sitting naturally
Barrel with person in shooting position
Sorry for the crap pics but you can see the barrel will move sideways quite a bit while the whole stock twists.
At 200 yards the difference between natural position and the torqued position would move the sight picture a foot or more.
The other problem is the stock will actually slightly bow if you try and load the bipod.
None of this would be a problem if you were using a bipod on the front as there wouldn't be anything to twist against but since shooting off a pack brings a whole new set of problems this isn't ideal either.
Now this isn't to say that the rifle wont shoot with the Houge stock on there. The problem is that you cant drive the rifle, you have to let it "free recoil" in order to keep the loaded forces out of the stock and the recoil consistent. This also means that spotting your own hits becomes nearly impossible up close.
Top right is 2.0 at 200 yards edge to edge and bottom left is 1.6 edge to edge at 200 yards
15 rounds 1.3 edge to edge at 100
So what do you gain with an aftermarket stock? In a word....
Consistency.
And thats what this whole game boils down to......eliminating variables. It may or may not shoot smaller groups but it should get rid of those odd duck flyers that make a .5 MOA Group into a 1.5 MOA group. A stock is basically a foundation of your rifle anything added to a cruddy foundation is only covering up problems.
Just so people don't ask...no the action is not loose in the stock and I checked the torque. I've seen these same problems on 2 of the SPS Tact .308 rifles now. Its a shame remington didn't want to charge 50 bucks more for the rifle and include the stock with the full length bedding block.
Most people know that it flexes and when they say that they are usually referring to the foreend touching the barrel while on a bipod. This is easily fixed with 10 minutes and a dremel sanding disk. If this was the only problem that would be great...because I really like the way this stock feels.
Shown dremeled out, and it free floats all the way to the action even on a bipod
The really problem is the rigidity, or lack of, in the rest of the stock.
I went to the range today to sight in a new scope and noticed that my NPA was impossible to nail down. Part of the blame is the lack of cheekweld while shooting prone but the main problem was that the stock would "Twist" if any pressure is applied to it. This would cause the action to torque sideways in the stock.
Now the barrel channel wouldn't actually contact the barrel but with the twisting forces on the stock its impossible to be consistent during recoil and therefore impossible to be consistent down range.
Barrel sitting naturally
Barrel with person in shooting position
Sorry for the crap pics but you can see the barrel will move sideways quite a bit while the whole stock twists.
At 200 yards the difference between natural position and the torqued position would move the sight picture a foot or more.
The other problem is the stock will actually slightly bow if you try and load the bipod.
None of this would be a problem if you were using a bipod on the front as there wouldn't be anything to twist against but since shooting off a pack brings a whole new set of problems this isn't ideal either.
Now this isn't to say that the rifle wont shoot with the Houge stock on there. The problem is that you cant drive the rifle, you have to let it "free recoil" in order to keep the loaded forces out of the stock and the recoil consistent. This also means that spotting your own hits becomes nearly impossible up close.
Top right is 2.0 at 200 yards edge to edge and bottom left is 1.6 edge to edge at 200 yards
15 rounds 1.3 edge to edge at 100
So what do you gain with an aftermarket stock? In a word....
Consistency.
And thats what this whole game boils down to......eliminating variables. It may or may not shoot smaller groups but it should get rid of those odd duck flyers that make a .5 MOA Group into a 1.5 MOA group. A stock is basically a foundation of your rifle anything added to a cruddy foundation is only covering up problems.
Just so people don't ask...no the action is not loose in the stock and I checked the torque. I've seen these same problems on 2 of the SPS Tact .308 rifles now. Its a shame remington didn't want to charge 50 bucks more for the rifle and include the stock with the full length bedding block.