Rifle stock or Rifle scope which is better?

[Cold Trigger Finger]

For lr hunting obviously a proper scope is needed . But how many shots are ruined or consistent accuracy is not realized or achieved because the stock on your rifle doesn't fit you or it bugs/ is a p.I.a. to get the same consistent sight picture, grip, trigger reach ect.

The rifles that I consistently shoot well, at least from big game hunting positions are the ones that fit me.

I know that by being a Ruger guy I am limited as to selection of aftermarket stocks but fortunately there are laminates. . To that end I ordered a Richards Micro Fit Tackdriver stock for my 6.5 today I'll order the SWFA SS scope tomorrow. " still haven't decided on what rings "

Anyway. Any comments are appreciated.
I know if I would just go the M700 way there is no end to the aftermarket stocks. But I just can't get myself to rely on plunger ejectors and enclosed bolt faces and rotating extractors

 

[FearNoWind]

The length of pull on a rifle will vary, infinitely, depending on your hunting attire. Shirt sleeves offer one length of pull, a heavy jacket in the winter offers something else. The type of clothing will also affect where the rifle butt contacts the shoulder. Some shooters rely on stocks with adjustable butt plate assemblies (some are pretty exotic) to accommodate every need in that regard. There's a guy in California (Recoilless Engineering) who makes custom butt plate assemblies for just that reason.
I'm not wealthy enough to do that so I make adjustments as necessary and I practice at the range with those factors in mind, often adding/removing coats, jackets, etc. to get familiar with the equipment.
Some rifle stocks have a straight comb, others have an angled or "dropped" comb. Some have a pistol grip, some don't. The toe of the butt can be extended or recessed, depending on design and the forearm can be wide or narrow, also a factor of design and intended application.
The height of the scope, eye relief adjustment (and consistency in how the shooter comes onto the rifle when aiming) are all factors that come into play when mating a scope to a particular rifle.
I guess you could say that, bottom line, it's up to the shooter to do his/her homework when selecting rifle/scope combinations and to practice. I was instructing a young shooter at the range a few weeks ago and found he was fighting the rifle to align the sights on target. I told him that the rifle was not in charge of the session; that he was in charge. He needed to make sure he was comfortable and avoid putting stresses into the hold on target. Didn't take long for his score to improve.

 

[MudRunner2005]

As for rings, I use either Seekins Precision 30mm Lows, or TPS TSR 30mm Lows. Aluminum rings of course.

Some folks like steel, but I've never had any issues with my aluminum ones.

 

[WildRose]

It's not one vs the other.

If the stock is not free floated and properly bedded you will never get consistent accuracy.

If the stock is too flexible, you will never get consistent accuracy.

If you cannot get a consistent cheek weld and sight picture you will never get consistent accuracy

If your cheap scope does not hold zero or track properly you will never get consistent accuracy.

You can do a lot to make a cheap stock stiffer, bed it, float it etc but the only thing you can do to improve a cheap scope that won't hold zero or track properly all of the time is replace it.

When it comes to glass patience is the word. Set a maximum budget for glass, then add 30% or more to that and save up for the very best you can possibly afford.

Go for quality over more magnification.

Go for larger objective over more magnification.

You can easily kill deer sized critters at a thousand yards with 10x glass if it's a quality scope that holds zero well and tracks perfectly every time.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

For scopes I've settles on the SWFA scopes. . For what a scope must endure to be around me toughness, holding its zero and repeatability with good, maybe not GREAT glass. Thefixed power scopes in their SS line appear to be the very best bang for the buck. I'm gonna start with the fixed 6 which will be a better overall hunting power for me but I'm still trying to convince myself that I don't need the 3-15x42 at this point. I haven't quite accomplished that yet. But a fixed 6 will do a lot for the ranges I usually hunt at. And a dependable 6 x can be used on other rifles if I find I need to go up in power.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Uess you're hunting closer than 150 yards, I'd go ahead and get the fixed 10x.

I have a SWFA SS 20x42 MRAD (fixed power) scope on my .300 Ackley, and while the glass quality isn't the best, for $300, I think it's hard to beat. The turrets are also very repeatable and solid, and the scopes are built like a tank.

 

[davkrat]

I've never quite felt comfortable behind my Remington 700 stocks. never really shot anything else and definitely never any aftermarket stock. A while back I got my CZ 455 and the stock felt like it was custom made to my hand. SO....... I decided to make a matching stock for my Rem 700 .308. Need to try my hand at checkering and figure someway to clean up the recoil pad but I was able to squeeze off a half dozen rounds today for the first time and absolutely love the way it fits. The distance from trigger to grip is perfect for my hands and the European hogback drop comb aligns my eye perfectly without having to scrunch my head.

All of my rifles wear Nikon Monarchs. The .22 a 2-8X32, .308 now has a 2.5-20X42 and the 7mm Rem Mag has a 4-16X50 SF. I like consistency and plan to make a similar stock for my 7mm Rem Mag next. Hope the recoil and dropped comb are not a bad combo.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

My hunting requires shots from less than 20 yards up thru 1 k well I haven't made it to 1 k yet but I've had to let animals go at 600 because I knew I couldn't make the shot. . I've played around with my variables and 6 x will work for the close shots and out to at least 500 yards on small deer size game. plus they are as much magnification as I can get without compromising light transmission.
Nice stock work!! I did some wood removal on a CZ 550 in 458 Lott that I had. I made it the best fitting rifle I've ever had for fast offhand shooting. Because it fit so perfectly there was no canting of the rifle when I threw it up. Hollowed out the spot where the heel of my thumb contacted the stock. I didn't have to stress any part of my body to mount and hold the rifle with the express sights. It was easy to run 8" groups off hand ,no rest at 100 yards rapid fire with full house ammo. 400 gr bullet at 2550 fps with the factory pad and no muzzle brake. My 9.3 I had a Boyd's JRS classic stock put on with a 13 1/4" lop it is a close 2 nd.
So now I want to do that with my lr rifles. Make them comfortable to aim. Hopefully eliminate stress and pain tremers when setting up the shot and shooting. I've had lots of neck , back and shoulder injuries .

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

I've used Accra Glass gel to make palm swells before. My 1 st custom rifle, a Sako AV in 458 Win Mag I did it on the MPI, Whby style fiberglass stock and I could shoot it very well tho it was a real climber.

The reason I started this thread was to bring up the idea of having lr rifles fit the shooter as well as they wish they would.
I have found in big game hunting that a rifle that fits well hits well and easily and was wondering if other more experienced shooters had found the same.

 

[WildRose]

I've never quite felt comfortable behind my Remington 700 stocks. never really shot anything else and definitely never any aftermarket stock. A while back I got my CZ 455 and the stock felt like it was custom made to my hand. SO....... I decided to make a matching stock for my Rem 700 .308. Need to try my hand at checkering and figure someway to clean up the recoil pad but I was able to squeeze off a half dozen rounds today for the first time and absolutely love the way it fits. The distance from trigger to grip is perfect for my hands and the European hogback drop comb aligns my eye perfectly without having to scrunch my head.

All of my rifles wear Nikon Monarchs. The .22 a 2-8X32, .308 now has a 2.5-20X42 and the 7mm Rem Mag has a 4-16X50 SF. I like consistency and plan to make a similar stock for my 7mm Rem Mag next. Hope the recoil and dropped comb are not a bad combo.

Very nice.