Yet another stock question...

[907plinkster]

So for my first post in this forum I have come to ask about stocks,
The rifle that is looking for a new stock is a Remington 700 AAC-SD .308. I want to upgrade the stock because the one that it came with from the factory does not free float. It contacts the barrel at the very end of the stock.

I am currently trying to decide if I should go my typical "buy once, cry once" route and get the Mcmillan A5, or save some money and go with a B&C M40.

I know that the B&C has the aluminum block in it, and I'm not sure what the Mcmillan has in the stock to aid in rigidity.

Just looking for input from anyone who has either, Pro's and Con's. Or anyone that has had both. I will say that I am already leaning very much towards the Mcmillan, I know it costs more but I am rapidly learning that you get what you pay for.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Yet another stock question...

get the McMillan, they are stiff and don't need to aluminum bocks plus they have a good retained value.
hope this helps.

 

[Nuttshooter]

Re: Yet another stock question...

Why not just open the channel up some so that the barrel is free floating. It is not rocket science. Is the Hogue stock flexing when you lock in?

 

[907plinkster]

Re: Yet another stock question...

I know it wouldn't be hard to open up the channel a little, but part of me is wondering that if the stock is already giving me issues what else is going on with it that might influence accuracy? Sorry for the newb question but just to make sure I am understanding this right...

B&C uses the aluminum to add rigidity to the stock right? It doesn't change it from pillar to some other kind of bedding?
And the Mcmillan is still pillar? Just trying to get all my questions answered before I buy something, and so I can buy the right DBM.

Sorry if this question gets asked alot, and thanks to everyone who answers.

 

[2/1_Kiwi]

Re: Yet another stock question...

If your willing to pay and want resale value then the A5 for sure. I prefer the medalist to the M40 in regards to the B&C. Its a nice budget stock, can be generously floated and good bedding.

 

[lonely_wolf]

Re: Yet another stock question...

The positives of a McMillan or Manners is they are custom built. You choose what you want or do not want. ie. Flush cups, studs, or both. Also, with the carbon fiber options you can have a very light stock.

The negatives are price and wait time.

The positives of the B&C is they are cheaper and readily available The M40 is a handsome design and has received good reviews from people on SH that use their rifles.

If you are picky and/or want a light stock- go custom.

If you like simple, don't mind studs or weight, get the B&C.

If you choose a McMillan or Manners order it with 'Machined in Pillars.' this way you can drop in your rifle and shoot it right away and decide later if you want to spend the extra on bedding.

I wouldn't worry about cost. This hobby will spend the money one was or another.

I used HSP for a long time, but eventually went to a McMillan. The stock is light, has a higher comb, a more comfortable grip, and handles recoil better. I have no regrets.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: Yet another stock question...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lonely_Wolf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The positives of a McMillan or Manners is they are custom built. You choose what you want or do not want. ie. Flush cups, studs, or both. Also, with the carbon fiber options you can have a very light stock.

The negatives are price and wait time.

The positives of the B&C is they are cheaper and readily available The M40 is a handsome design and has received good reviews from people on SH that use their rifles.

If you are picky and/or want a light stock- go custom.

If you like simple, don't mind studs or weight, get the B&C.
</div></div>

Contrary to what some might think, Bell & Carlson stocks aren't pieces of shit...they're pretty good kit. Not as good as a Manners or McMillan, but not exactly junk either.

I've got 2 A5s and a MCS-T that should arrive in the next couple weeks, and previously owned a MCS-T2 and two BC A2 Medalists. The Medalists are very good stocks, especially at the price point, but the McMillan & Manners simply outclass them in weight & ergonomics. The M&Ms didn't make my rifles shoot any better, but made them <span style="font-style: italic">feel</span> better to me.

I'm VERY happy with my A5s and also really liked the T2 as well.

That said, if Bell & Carlson made the M40 Medalist for Savages I likely would have gone that route, never knowing what I was missing and putting the $300+ per difference in price into reloading components.

You can always buy the M40 Medalist now, order your custom and start the 12-16 week wait, then when the custom is done compare the two side-by-side. If ya like the custom better, sell the Medalist at a 15-20% loss to help finance the custom and if you decide the Medalist is better for your needs you can sell the custom for only a minimal % loss.

 

[Dick D]

Re: Yet another stock question...

I have went over this several times here but maybe it's time to do it again. Pillars and bedding have nothing to do with each other. Putting pillars around guard screws is to prevent excessive guard screw tension from compressing a softer stock material or in a wood stock to keep the guard screws and floorplate from becoming loose as the stock shrinks and swells due to humidity changes. It is at lease a 120 year old practice first used (to the best of my knowledge) by Paul Mauser back in the 1890's when he started putting a steel sleeve around the rear guard screw in his military rifles. On his rifles when used in a vary arid enviorment like North Africa
after many years the wood would shrink down so much that the action would get loose in the stock and the rear guard screw would get loose and fall out or let the floorplate/magazine box drop down so much it would cause feeding problems. The steel sleeve around the rear screw and the direct contact between the front of the floorplate and receiver would keep a constant and tight distance between the floorplate and the receiver.
Now, as for glass bedding an action to a stock. All manufactured items have tolerances. Stock do due to tool wear, different set-ups, mold wear, etc. Actions do due to tool wear, different production runs, metal polish before blueing, slight warping during heat treating after machineing, etc. Scope bases do, rings, triggers, bolts, etc. All this is quite normal and as long as everything is within the design tolerances everything will still fit together and function just fine.
When high accuracy ( sub MOA) became possible rifle builders found that if they glass bedded an action to a stock (whether synthetic or wood) with an epoxy based bedding compount to take the tolerances on the action to stock fit down to essentially zero then this may (or may not) increase the accuracy potential of the rifle. This bedding must be done with the actual action that is going into the stock as that action and that stock will each have their own unique set of tolerances. Now days it goes even further with many high end benchrest rifles having the action permantely glued to the stock essentially making them a one-piece unit.
But, pillars and bedding have nothing to do with each other. You can put pillars in a stock without bedding it, and you can bed an action to a stock without putting pillars in it. Just putting pillars into a stock does not constitute "bedding" and there is really no such thing as "pillar bedded" with just pillars in the stock.

 

[Dick D]

Re: Yet another stock question...

P.S. The above descertation is just my very humble opinion and your milage may vary. Please feel free to disagree with the above if you wish.

 

[lonely_wolf]

Re: Yet another stock question...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BoilerUP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Contrary to what some might think, Bell & Carlson stocks aren't pieces of shit...they're pretty good kit. Not as good as a Manners or McMillan, but not exactly junk either. </div></div>

To be clear, when I wrote 'cheap' I meant in price, not quality.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: Yet another stock question...

I wasn't referring to you...

 

[907plinkster]

Re: Yet another stock question...

You guys rock, I think I will go with the A-5. But I do like the idea of ordering the medalist and then comparing the two and then selling one at a small loss. Guess it's time to log some more overtime and get to buying. Thanks again for the help guys, it is truly appreciated.