I have a stainless stalker and wonder what the general impression is regarding the factory stock. I am getting some inconsistant shooting and was going to bed this stock. Being my first bedding job and it being a synthetic I am thinking it may not be a good idea for a first time try. I am wondering if most people find these to be very good factory stocks or should I replace with another model - maybe with just a touch more weight and less hollow feeling. It is only a 260 but it has a bit of snap to the recoil because it is so light. I am looking at a Bell & Carlson Medalist or one of the Accurate innovation wood stocks, perhaps a laminate. All of these have aluminum bedding blocks already built in. Would love to hear from someone who replaced (or decided against replacing) the stock and why.

my personal opinion is that the factory stocks suck, I am a mcmillan slut so that is what I have been putting on my brownings. I know that they are expensive, but they are definitely worth every penny.........blake

ymmv

I replaced my Abolt stock with a McMillan pillar bedded by them.

Why - because I tried to bed, free float, and install pillars and I had the chuck go nuts and fall of the drill press when I was cutting the holes of the post in the factory stock.

I am super happy with the result - tightened up the groups and it lightened the rifle.

Spot

Spot, do you have any pics of the bedding job?

Kenjs, my factory tupperware "got the job done" for many years...but when I finally wanted something better and replaced it with a McMillan, I wished I had done it years ago. You won't regret it.

Spot, if you get Mcmillan to pillar bed it do you have to send in your barreled action?

Guy's,

I can take some pictures of the job and post them... It's really nice.

Yes I did send the rifle to them to get the "complete Installation" option done where they pillar, bed, and free float after fitting everyting.

I'll get out the camera and see what I can do, it doesn't focus good up close so I'm not sure how good they'll be but I'll give it a shot.

I'm going to send my Winchester model 70 to McMillan for another custom stock in the next month... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'm just waiting for a check to come so I don't feel the waters getting too deep.

Spot

Ok here are the pictures starting with the beding moving out to shots of the whole rifle.

I'll put one per post (I don't know where to upload on the web) sorry.

BUT these are Great examples of how good McMillan is - you can see exactly where the pillars are and how they still get exactly the bedding surface area you want.. Look at the tang area and you can see exactly where the surface fits.

In fact I have to wiggle the trigger guard out since the fit is so precise!

Now I can't wait to send my next rifle in for it's new stock.. BUT you guy's hold off so my order can be infront of yours.

Hhahhahahahah .
Spot

Here's the top view of the bedding

Here's a down the channel from the tang view.

Here's a bedded view,

Look how nice she fits <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Here's the whole stock from the left.

Here it is from the right side.

The rifle itself pulls up like a dream, and the stock cut some weight off it the orginal configuration so I am a sold on McMillan stocks.

Now I would have never spent as much as I did on a stock with McMillan - I destroyed my old one and decided that I should get a new one so I took a risk (for me it was $$ wise) to McMillan.

I am DAMN glad I did, like I said I plan to send them another one soon. It's well worth the cash.

Spot

That's a very nice looking stock! Thanks for the pictures.

Do you know how much the stock weighs?

Thanks for posting those, Spot. Looks like they did a fine job.

I didn't weight the stock but it cut almost a half pound off the rifle.

Spot

I guess I must be the odd man out, cuz I just got a Browning Stainless Stalker last fall. The stock and accuracy are excellent. Their bedding job is "interesting" but this rifle shoots 1/2" groups without much effort. I see no need to swap out stocks unless I just had to have a McMillan.

Long

Long,

I don't know what performance others will get but her's how mine performed before and after.

Before I sent mine it was grouping .59" and it went down to .38" at 100 yds. At 300 yds, It went from about a 5" group to around a 3" group which I'm really happy with.

The reason I ended up putting the McMillan on was I was pillar bedding the one I owned and my buddies drill press chuck fell off into the stock! The thing flew all over cutting the heck out of the stock and my hand (took months to heal).

Anyway, I just replaced the trigger springs with the timney kit and I think that'll make a group difference too.

Spot

Spotshooter - those springs are great. You will be amazed at what $22 can do for a rig.

Longwinters- I am going to check something else out. I moved the scope a bit further forward and think that might have an impact. I just don't know why it is on again off again - ya know? After reading this and responses from my other post about this rifle I am more confused than ever. Should I try to bed it? I've never bedded a rifle and is it just over my head to jack with a synthetic? Is it too much for a McMillan - should I try an Accurate innovations and just drop it in?? The McMillan looks like it will cost me as much as the rifle or dang near (Acc. Innov. not much less) and that means I can't get the 222 I want - or perhaps a decent pistol. Still need to find a place to reload and buy that stuff too AAARrrgghhh.