It is a dang shame about DuraMaxx stocks going away.
I have two and have been extremely happy with them,
given the price. A big improvement over early Savage
synthetic stocks. Yes both the DuraMaxx and the Varmint
stocks have heavy barrel channels. But one of mine
has an action with a sporter barrel, and one with a
magnum contour barrel, and I think it looks fine with
the large gap. The stocks in question are top and bottom
rifles in this picture:
As you can see, mine got in a fight with a rattle can.
I would have replaced the middle Savage with a DuraMaxx,
but I am considering trading it on a new FN Win. M70,
just because I always wanted a control round fed M70.
It is almost a crime to trade this Savage. It is a 300 WSM,
that shoots itty bitty groups. But I really want an M70 in
300 WSM, so I decided not to do a stock upgrade on it.
Anyway, I wouldn't worry about a sporter barrel in a heavy
barrel channel stock...It has great ventilation!
Squeeze