Floundertrap
Well-Known Member
I'm building a long range rig on a Browning A-Bolt II long action and I'm having a little difficulty with the stock options. I plan for this to be an heirloom rifle and I want it right, even if a little odd.
Let me say that I'm building the Browning because I think it's a very well made bolt and action, the factor trigger can be polished and adjusted to be pretty good, and it looks sharp. I want to put this in a nice wood stock (hopefully exhibition maple), so looks are important. It
's getting an 8 twist brux that I will cut at either 26" or 28" I have custom Remingtons and I have a Savage I could build, both are easier to find stocks for and I am aware that I could do this easier with a different action. Why a short mag on a long action? I will be running the 170 gn Berger EOL and when loaded to an optimum depth (I read on another LRH forum that's 3.060 COAL) it is too long for an internal box (Savage .308) or detachable mag (AB2 300 WSM).
So here's the rub: Richards Microfit is the best option I've found so far. With a light palma contour, I'm going to have to hand carve the barrel channel, free floated of course but CLOSE. I hate a big or uneven gap next to a barrel almost as much as I hate a big gap under a scope bell, that's also why I'm not really interested in synthetic stock options at this point. So in order to accommodate the larger barrel contour (1.200 at breach, bevels to .90 at 5", tapered to .75 at 30"), I will have to open the channel up too much for the factory stock to handle as the sides will be very thin. Richards will only cut a 3/4" contour for an AB2 inlet, and they won't shape the forend to have more meat on the sides for me. They will leave the forend in block form for me to shape completely (with rosewood tip and cap), which as I said, is the best option I've found so far, but it isn't a great one.
Surely someone has dealt with something like this before, what did you do? I appreciate suggestions and feedback, though as I mentioned, I'm not really trying to build a different action or go to a synthetic for this rifle. Thanks
Let me say that I'm building the Browning because I think it's a very well made bolt and action, the factor trigger can be polished and adjusted to be pretty good, and it looks sharp. I want to put this in a nice wood stock (hopefully exhibition maple), so looks are important. It
's getting an 8 twist brux that I will cut at either 26" or 28" I have custom Remingtons and I have a Savage I could build, both are easier to find stocks for and I am aware that I could do this easier with a different action. Why a short mag on a long action? I will be running the 170 gn Berger EOL and when loaded to an optimum depth (I read on another LRH forum that's 3.060 COAL) it is too long for an internal box (Savage .308) or detachable mag (AB2 300 WSM).
So here's the rub: Richards Microfit is the best option I've found so far. With a light palma contour, I'm going to have to hand carve the barrel channel, free floated of course but CLOSE. I hate a big or uneven gap next to a barrel almost as much as I hate a big gap under a scope bell, that's also why I'm not really interested in synthetic stock options at this point. So in order to accommodate the larger barrel contour (1.200 at breach, bevels to .90 at 5", tapered to .75 at 30"), I will have to open the channel up too much for the factory stock to handle as the sides will be very thin. Richards will only cut a 3/4" contour for an AB2 inlet, and they won't shape the forend to have more meat on the sides for me. They will leave the forend in block form for me to shape completely (with rosewood tip and cap), which as I said, is the best option I've found so far, but it isn't a great one.
Surely someone has dealt with something like this before, what did you do? I appreciate suggestions and feedback, though as I mentioned, I'm not really trying to build a different action or go to a synthetic for this rifle. Thanks
