I just picked up a M70 Classic Stainless 5 digit that has a .416 Rem barrel screwed on it. I'll probably ditch the factory tupperware for a McMillian.

Which style stock is best for reducing felt recoil.

Thanks

The Echols legend stock made by McMillan.

Whatever has a straight comb with minor drop.

My McM Express just works on my M70 416 Rem. Seem to recall it dropped a half of a pound from the factory wood stock. This with a magnum fill. Made for a nice lean 416.

...... with a large butt pad foot print.

trapperJ:
Good afternoon, I hope the day's been behaving for you and this finds you well.

In one of his books on rifles, John Barnsness goes into why different stock types fit different body builds/types and what effect that has on how we perceive the recoil. I want to say its the first Rifle Loonie book, but can check later to verify.

Going off of what I can recall from his chapter on it then and based upon personal experience having 3 different stocks on a barreled action, my answer would be it will depend on how you're built.

For instance I'm 5'6" on a tall day, but have a fairly broad chest and longer than average arms and not much neck - lots of Neanderthal DNA active most likely.

I did Model 70 stock up for a friend who was a foot taller than me, maybe weighed another 25lb on a heavy day and had at least twice as long of a neck. What fit him didn't fit me and absolutely affected how we felt the recoil of the rifle.

My friend from the east coast of Canada is correct that a large butt pad is important, but I'd argue that of equal importance is that the pitch at the toe fits your shoulder.

For me personally the answer is usually a Monte Carlo cheek piece with a wide butt and the toe pitch cut to fit my "unique" body - but it might be the exact opposite for you.

Hopefully that made some sense and was useful.

Good luck on the project and Merry Christmas to you too.

Dwayne

Thanks for the advice guys

For me I have discovered a stock with about a 1/2 inch drop diff between the nose and heel of the comb works best. Similar for.my wife but our daughter has a long neck line my mom did so a more Monte Carlo type works for her. Women generally do better with a stock having toe out cast owing to more.tender breast tissue. I had an Echols.stock once and it did not fit me at all.

Here are three recoil pads that I used on different 375H&Hs.

The bottom one was off an A-Bolt and was hard as a puck. The middle one was from a std 700 stock, also as hard as a puck.

The top one went on an old B&C stock with straight comb. It handled recoil 2nd to none. The other two, not so well. The A-bolt was brutal.

Switching that bbl to 375H&H or 358NM will reduce recoil in a big way as well. Just sayin'.

^^^^^^What these guys said, and with i mean the 'exact' LOP to fit you.

A normal, non-pencil barrel weight rifle, with a properly fitted thumbhole stock including proper length of pull, and your choice of a modern technology recoil absorbing pad will significantly reduce recoil and eliminate the need for a muzzle break.

I have restocked a 375 Ruger, 300 WM, and 30 06 and the difference the thumbhole stock makes is worthwhile. It also makes for a much steadier shooting platform for better shot placement.

I have had others try these rifles with a normal straight comb sporter style style and the thumbhole, everyone felt a significant amount of recoil reduction and liked the handling.

I still have not gotten used to the thumbhole look, but they sure have been an improvement for me.

Harry Lawson designed and promoted the thumbhole stock for heavy kickers decades ago and I would say is the pioneer in helping to tame heavy kickers.

A proper heavy game rifle should point like a shotgun. Have you ever held an English rifle in hand or shouldered one? The reaction is one of, Oh, that is why they build them this way. One must do so to appreciate how good that style can be.

Best I can tell it's these two things.

I definitely agree on the proper LOP.

My McM stocked 416 M70 mentioned above.

^^^^^^^Yep, my 458 WM+ with 14" LOP recoils like a dream, even with 500gr TBSS's at 2350 fps, even placing precision shots on warthog between the headlights and skinny Impala dead in the chest off the sticks at 190 yards with 404 Hammers at 2500 fps was cake, stock fit is KING!

Regarding stock fit:

I had a 7mm RM in a 77 tanger. It felt terrible until I replaced the stock with B&C. Then it felt mild.

I had a Ruger 416 Rigby that hurt more than it should. I sold it. I probably would have liked that rifle if it were re-stocked. But I pretty much gave up on Africa and Cape buffalo, but if I do go I’ll make do with a 375 H&H AI pre-64 that doesn’t recoil badly, even with full power 300 grain loads.

I like the Ruger design but their stock design doesn’t fit me. I think their comb is too low or maybe because I’m larger than many. (My shirt size is 20” neck and 40” sleeve).

I don’t have the same problem with 70’s or 700’s???
I did feel recoil on my 600 350 RM with full power 250 grain loads but a replacement stock, synthetic and as light as factory made the 600 feel fine.

Some people whine about the 300 Weatherby recoil. I’d bet that if they shot that cartridge in a 700 they would stop complaining about the 300’s recoil.

I noticed the same thing with the Win 70 Safari Express having big recoil pads and smaller ones on the Rugers and Brownings. Also remember the smaller hard rubber pad on the Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine?

I think that recoil spread over twice the surface area must be a very significant factor.

Ex- BIL had a 7 mag like yours.
He complained about how it kicked,used a jacket to cushion it. Was at our place
frequently zeroing it.

Dad and I decided he was a puss and afraid of it.
Finally, we shot it.
Dad had a Vanguard, I had a Sako. 7mms. That Ruger was brutal.
It hit harder than my 300 Win Mountain Rifle.
Have since noticed the same with other 77s.

I don't understand recoil.I have a double rifle in 450.It had light barrels for a 450 but with the mercury break it was a pleasure to shoot.
I had heavier barrels installed and it now beats me up even with the break.

My most comfortable stock design has always been the Monte Carlo style with 1-1.5 in drop in the heel. I’m 5’6”, 190, muscular build(used to be anyway). My favorite rifle is a beautiful FN Sako in 375 Weatherby, that I bought from forum member luv2safari. The load I’m using now is a 270g Hornady over H4350 for close to 2800fps. Even longer range sessions don’t bother me with this setup. I think it all depends on your body type. My least comfortable is what most shooters I know like. Straight comb. Little drop at the heel.

This^^^ Plus, I'll agree with the guys that said good recoil pad. On the Mcmillan Echols Legend, I'd go with a pachmayr decelerator. The Brown precision stock is a good one for mitigating recoil as well.