Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats McMillan Stock Question Pt. 2

In the ongoing quest to decide on the stock for the Pre-64 I’m building, I stumbled across the Mauser Mark X stock offered by McMillan. There was a Mark X in that stock at the Tulsa gun show, and it is perfect in my eyes. It feels great in the hand and has everything I want. (Checkering, cheek piece, and shadow line)

I looked on their website and found that stock only comes as a flat top. So I emailed McMillan and asked them if there was anything preventing me from having a smith inlet that stock to fit a Pre-64. I got a response from Josh Deards and he said this.

“Yes, the diminutions of that action and bottom metal will not work with any thing we make other than the pre 64 monte carlo stock.”

Speaking from a place of relative ignorance, that doesn’t make any sense. I could understand if that stock simply wouldn’t work for whatever reason, but his answer makes me question whether or not he is correct. As far as I’m aware, the only size or dimension difference between a pre and post 64 is the screw hole spacing.

Does this guy know what he’s talking about?

That pattern looks very, very similar - if not identical - to the sako classic pattern. The sako classic at one time could be had with an M70 inlet.

Yeah they’re very similar. Mr. Deards said that stock won’t work either, which further leads me to think he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

I've ordered seven stocks from Josh directly and have spoken to him on the phone, he knows what he's doing. I would suggest calling him and talking through your questions, he's a good guy and very knowledgeable. Good luck!

Okay, thanks a bunch.

I do not know Mr Deards. I do know I have a sako classic that was inlet by McMillan for a model 70 classic in 2019. I also have a pre 64 in a sako classic, but I do not know for certain who inlet it as I purchased it secondhand.

Has the shape of the Sako Classic changed in the past few years?

Not to my knowledge. That would necessitate a new mold, which would be expensive. I don’t see the new ownership of McMillan doing anything that cost money when they already have a usable mold. I could be wrong.

Make sure he knows what bottom metal you're going to be using. The pre-64 trigger guard is a trouble spot for the grip/wrist area in many after market stocks.

Is a different brand of bottom metal different in this regard? For instance, would Blackburn or Sunny Hill fit the grip/wrist better than factory?

Yep. Hunters edge/compact for sure. Been discussed here a time or two. I’ll see if I can find a link to one of the previous discussions. BSA had some good pictures.

I sure miss Dick Davis. Threads like these just reinforce what a treasure he was.

Yep. Couldn’t agree more.