Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Custom replacement stock for Hawkeye Alaskan

I purchased an Alaskan over the weekend. Visiting stockmaker web sites like McMillan, HS-Precision, Bansner and so forth I have not noticed anyone yet building a replacement for the factory Hogue. E-mail's sent out to a short list of stockmakers are coming back negative (so far). Has anyone done the research? Which quality synthetic stocks are available presently for the Alaskan?

Yes, I noted 458Win's posting on the $65 factory replacement through Brownell.

Thanks for the help.

I thought that the alaskan was just the long action hawkeye/mkII. I assumed that the standard Mickey would fit.. just have to give them the barrel specs.

Mcmillan said this wasn't true?

Since the 375 "Alaskan" fits in the standard length Ruger stock ( I dropped mine in a Hawkeye 30-06 stock to try it ) I don't see why it wouldn't fit most of the others. Give Jim Borden a call if you like his stocks.

That was my musing, too, but I've never been a Ruger guy so I'm unaware if the Hawkeye/Alaskan differs.

Phil, Brownell's lists two OEM synthetic replacement stocks. Being really unfamiliar with Rugers, which is the one you used?

Stock Assembly, Long Action, All-Weather $66.33
Stock Assembly, Full, Long Action, Synthetic Black $69.64

Thanks,

McMillan may be the only maker that never replied to my "contact us" e-mail. Don't ya just love prompt service? I want to be clear that mine so far hasn't been an extensive poll among the makers--I just contacted those few I've used in the past.

John, I an not sure which one I ordered. I just called Brownells and told them what I needed. I think it was the $66 one. ($63 at the time)

The stock for a magnum barrel channel should work. I dropped a Hawkeye African into a "paddle stock" taken off a 300 Win Mag and it fit fine.

Thanks Oregon 45. Did you find it necessary to pin the stock (i.e., install a cross bolt)? Will an unreinforced injection molded stock stand up to the greater recoil?

The unreinforced Ruger stock on my 375 H&H has held up to a few hundred rounds with no problem. the same stock on my daughters 375 Ruger has held up fine however after maybe a hundred rounds the little tab holding the front of the magazine box dented the box enough to cause feeding problems. It looks as if the recoil lug must be giving enough to allow that so I plan on bedding it in something more solid.

Phil,

I picked up the African because I didn't like the Hogue stock on the Alaskan and liked the wood on the African. My reasoning was I could put a synthetic on the African and still hunt Alaska. Then I could glass bed the African's original wood stock for safari in the future.

I've assumed that the wood stock would not be ideal for Alaska. Now I'm wondering whether there's some way to make the wood stock work up there. If you were to hunt with wood (no pun intended) what would you do to make sure it didn't collect too much moisture and changing point of impact?

I carried the wooden stocked African model most of the season and loaned it to my last hunter to shoot his bear. I intentionally did nothing to it and since the weather was wet it naturally swelled a bit. You noticed it around the recoil pad and grip cap. A little of the spray on finish was beginning to flake in the same areas. But the rifle still maintained zero and worked great. It would be no problem to refinish the wood with something either more water-resistant or a good oil finish for looks. With a dark, rich stain and very little work it should be easy to have a striking, beautiful rifle.
Wood stocks have been used up here for as long as there have been rifles and they still work just fine. Although I have preached the virtues of synthetic for years there is nothing wrong with wood

Amen to that, only plastic stocks on rifles are on my black guns.

I'm betting I could make one fit with some glass and touch up paint..Any good gunsmith could fix you up..

McMillan eventually e-mailed me back saying that they don't have a stock for the Hawkeye Alaskan at this time. Maybe it's a customer service mistake(?), not on his scripted answers list?

I sent my 375 Ruger Alaskan to Mc Millan ( barreled action)for
them to use as a CNC pattern, a couple weeks ago. Should know
something pretty soon, as they wanted it "yesterday", Rick and Tareh
arranged all of this and should let everyone know as soon as they get any information.
Charlie

Hey MackMan,

That's great to hear! Please keep us up to date. I have an African that would love to wear a McMillan.