I have the 20" SPS Tactical (.308) with a rubber Hogue stock. I’m very new to precision shooting but read a lot about the stock flexing. So I want to upgrade my stock.
I’m looking at the Bell and Carlson Medalist Light Tactical Rifle Stock Remington 700 BDL Short Action with Aluminum Bedding Block System Varmint Barrel Channel Synthetic Black, and the H-S Precision Pro-Series Rifle Stock Remington 700 BDL Short Action Police Sniper Varmint Barrel Channel Synthetic Black.
Can anyone tell me anything about these two stocks?
They’re both under $300.
Will either make much difference to a new shooter?
It’s one of those things that gets bandied about the gun forums and repeated as gospel but no one has actually quantified it in any meaningful way.
A random gun forum junkie sees the forestock flex (slightly), assume it must be touching the barrel and accordingly must have a profound harmonic effect, they can’t hit their target (because they’re new shooters) and so assume it’s the stock and not them. This tidbit of “wisdom” gets repeated online until it becomes the worst piece of junk ever to be foisted on the public. This trend isn’t even specific to the Hogue/SPS stock.
The stock doesn’t flex that much, I’ve tried it, I’ve played with it and I can still slide a dollar bill between the barrel and the stock. It may appear to be touching (slightly) but it isn’t and even if it was the effect would be so minimal as to be non-existant for all practical purposes.
Using the Hogue stock at a sniper course I was able to hit at 1000 yards without difficulty. Ammo selection, optic, training play an exponentially greater role. Rule out those variables first.
If you want a nicer stock because you want a nicer stock, it fits you better or has some other feature you want…knock yourself out. For the new shooter any difference in accuracy would be non-existant and for the more experienced shooter I doubt there would be a $300 improvement.
When you’ve shot it a bunch, mastered the principles of precision shooting, and can clearly quantify/identify the stock’s (as opposed to your) shortcomings. Then you can invest the $300.
The only stock I am considering is the XLR Industries. In the meantime, I have learned a lot about bedding my cheap plastic stock, and I highly recommend you do so as well. It only costs $50, time and patience…all well worth the investment. First, read Page 1 of this thread:
ETA: it is much easier than you may think. Even on a $300 stock, I think bedding is a Good Thing, so worst case scenario, you learn an important skill and buy a new stock later. You don’t really have to remove the trigger, either, but removing the scope and one piece base (if you have one) is an easy worthwhile step. Feel free to post here other questions, and be sure to post your results!
The Light Tactical is nice. I like the look and it’s really solid.
This is on a 26" SPS Varmint, but you get the idea. A lot of my PD hunting buddies have the HS precision stock and it’s really nice too. If they cost the same, I’d probably get the HS but I found the B&C for like $150 cheaper somewhere so I went that route.
Take it from someone who spent money a B&C stock. Just shoot the snot out of your rifle with the Hogue. Save your $300.
The B&C is a “nicer” stock than the plastic Hogue, but it won’t make a noticeable difference in the way your rifle shoots, functions, or feels.
After getting some face time with your Hogue, let ergonomics and function drive your stock selection… not just urge to replace original equipment.
Eventually, when you end up spending $1000 on a Manners or McMillan and Badger Ordnance bottom metal, you’ll be glad you didn’t waste $300 on a B&C that isn’t much of an “upgrade” from your Hogue.
If your shooting from bags, you should be fine. The only time I was able to get my old houge stock to flex up into the barrel was when I preloaded the crap out of my bi-pod.
I did end up replacing it with a choate tactical stock because I got a really good deal on it, and it fits me like 10 times better.
I spent just under $300 putting this stock together. I have owned McMillian’s, and for the money you are better off going with the B&C on a “Stock” SPS 20". If it was a higher end build I would say go with the McM right off the bat, but if you plan on just changing the stock the B&C is a much more prudent purchase.
I stiffened the forend with MarineTex, relieved to plenty of gap, and that problem went away. A less expensive option would be 2 part epoxy from a hobby shop.
Sorry I can’t tell you scientifically, since I added weight to the buttstock at the same time (also epoxied in a side swivel and modded the grip). Accuracy did improve, but I can’t say whether it was only due to the forend stiffening or the ergo improvement as well. I use a 13-25" Harris for hunting in the high desert foothills, so that further diminishes the scientific control, in comparison with using a 6-9 for example.
ETA: if you were asking if I noticed diminished accuracy with the bipod versus off the bags, I also can’t give you a scientific answer, since it had only 200 rounds or so through the new factory barrel when I bedded, so it was still breaking in. I knew the stock would need stiffening or replacement, so not worth testing before and after, to me.
Really like the Epoxy idea, wish I had though of that.
Shot mine for a year and a half before I noticed on very warm days the stock flexing enough to touch. I too had read about the stock flexing and had kept a very close eye on it. Thought I had gotten lucky and ended up with a stiffer stock until the 90+ degree range day. I ended up going the B&C light tactical route.
Can honestly say that I haven’t been able to beat my previous best group with the replacement stock yet but I thoroughly enjoy working up various hand loads. The factory over mould will support 1/2" 100yd groups, even with out handloads(think Federal GMM), which is really more thank anyone can ask of a $500-600 rifle
