Biggest Improvement With Aftermarket Stocks

2

243kimber

New member
With so many style choices of aftermarket stocks that are available, I was wondering what is the most areas of improvement you have experienced after you installed a aftermarket stock on your coyote slaying machine? ? More connections in the field? Less recoil? Better follow up shots? More ease of scope use?
My current Tikka T3x stock needs improvements w/recoil reduction. Check weld height. I added the vertical hand grip which was a startling improvement for my trigger reach placement. I also added the beavertail forearm which I like.
I primarily shoot from a blind chair while using a bog-pod tripod in the field. I use to be a belly-flopper and shoot from a bipod. Not any more though.
It sounds like at shot show there will be several companies introducing new stocks for the Tikka T3x that I will wait to see who has what. Im just trying to get my ducks in a row for when the time comes. Thanks in advance.
 
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Off the rack fits me just fine. The aftermarket stocks on my calling rifles are all the same pattern and it's a copy of a factory pattern, the Rem. Classic. That's my idea of a stock for a riflemans rifle. No goofy monte carlos or anything like that, just classic straight lines. No recoil reduction with something like that. No change in how they fit, though they can be ordered with custom LOP if wanted. McMillan isn't really any lighter than a walnut stock either. Though weight is one area that improvement can often be found - you can get light, rigid and strong all in one package for a price.

The Mickeys are a heckuva lot more rigid and stable than walnut though. And even way more so than factory plastic. More accuracy and more consistency. That's why all my calling rifles have McMillan handles. Not any of the reasons you mentioned.

Sounds like you want something completely different though. If you can't try one on, from the sounds of it, an adjustable comb might be something you'd like. And at least measure for your ideal LOP and order it that way. Adding adjustable LOP and adjustable comb is pretty neat, but gets awfully expensive.

Aside from recoil pad silliness, really only two ways a stock can help with recoil or follow up shot. Weight being the main one. Make it heavier. I did that on my custom colony varmint rigs. Filled the hollow area of the butt stocks with lead then added lead in the forearm to balance them. Those stocks are all Lee Six and Shehane's. Hella rigid. I like a big gap all around on my free float but those stocks can maintain a pretty thin gap and you still can't make them touch the barrel slapping the forearm hard with your palm. A test pretty much every factory stock fails, BTW. Rifles ended up near 20 pounds.

If you are shooting off bags a flat forearm and flat bottom butt to ride the bags straight back make a world of difference in maintaining sight picture for a follow up shot. Off the bog pod, there may be some design parameters that can help with muzzle rise, but I couldn't tell you what.

Shooting my big heavy .22BR colony rig off bags or pedestal at p-dogs, it's heavy enough I see impacts even at 30X. My even bigger and heavier .243AI, in a Shehane tracker with an extra long and wide forearm, same thing, see impacts at full magnification. It just tracks straight back, and not too far, being so heavy. Nothing I'd every dream of trying to use on a calling stand though!

- DAA
 
Originally Posted By: 243kimberMy current Tikka T3x stock needs improvements w/recoil reduction. Check weld height. I added the vertical hand grip which was a startling improvement for my trigger reach placement. I also added the beavertail forearm which I like. 
Which model T3x and stock do you have? What caliber is causing excessive recoil? What scope/rings are causing cheek weld issues with the stock? Maybe a tricked out stock isn't the only solution?
 
I'm a broadshouldered guy with high cheekbones, a very short neck, and a wrist which was wrecked by 20yrs riding bulls. Factory stocks don't suit me worth a hoot. Jumping into a custom stock witha more suitable LOP, adjustable cheekpiece or elevated comb/riser, and a vertical pistol grip gives me MUCH greater control over the rifle in all positions, a lot more comfort in recoil, and a much faster follow up (since the rifle isn't shifting in my hold).
 
There’s a reason competition and snipers and all other guys who make a living with an eye behind the glass have custom stocks. The more comfortable and natural the deadlier. Length of pull is a big one for me but cheek weld is number one. The vertical grip and a palm swell greatly reduce hand fatigue if behind the rifle for a long time. As for recoil reduction, and to make it so you can customize the other preferences, I’d suggest a chassis. Put the stock in a straight line to help with muzzle climb too.
 
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