Anybody use the max contour in a classic? I'm about to order one and need to be sure!

No pics at the moment (maybe tomorrow). I've got 2 hart 5 contours in Mickey classics and love them

That would be great. I actually have a bartlein 3B, but I'd call it a 5 contour. It's .900 and .700 like most 5s are.

I really like the classic. i just want to be sure.

Thanks, I look forward to seeing some photos if you have the opportunity.

Why would you want to see a fat girl in a bikini?

I had a #4 Broughton stuffed into a Classic, and the shank literally came out the sidewall a smidge. Have to pay attention to each mfg's dimensions. They are not all equal.

Bartlein #3 fluted fits nicely.

Grand,

I want a bull sporter, and I don't want a cheekpiece or a varmint looking forearm. Not a lot of options. The classic should do just fine.

If I ordered a stock and it came in with an issue like that, I'd just send it back. The shank on a 3 and and 3B are both 1.200. Shouldn't be an issue.
Of course, that's the same diameter as a broughton 4 shank. How long was it? Action length?

I'm pretty sure a Seven or 700 short with a 1" shank and a 4 broughton would have fit. Correct?

Here you go. Hart 5 contour McM Classic (Edge if it matters).

Gunsmith left the shank way too long. Action is a Model Seven if that matters.

Love this rifle. Have another built just like it in 243 except no flutes and standard fill stock

Thank you for the pics. That's just about what I'm looking for. I wanted a #5 in the most compact forearm I could manage. Looks like you nailed it!

How long is that shank? 1.5"?

I'd be thinking more along the lines of a #4 Douglas or Shilen contour in that stock, or whatever those contours equate to in a Broughton, Bartlein, etc. But that's just me. And I'd go standard fill or even sniper fill for balance, depending on the barrel length.

Think it is 1 7/8" if my memory is correct. I love the classic with a meaty barrel

I really like it Short Mag.

JPro, I'm definitely going with a standard fill, although for its intended purpose balance is of VERY little concern.

All I want out of this rifle is to bang some steel at a weight that I could still manage to carry around.

I don't have any desire to build a big heavy barrel rig just to shoot 2 moa targets.

I have seriously considered a standard 4 contour (like Brux/Krieger) but I'm a little more comfortable going with a 5 for just a bit more sustained fire.

For creativity's sake, I thought about having a 5 contour turned down to something you could call a 4.5, ordering the stock with a #4 barrel channel and finishing the barrel Inlet by hand. Just an idea.

You can get 4.5 contours from Krieger.....check out Bruno's Shooters Supply as they usually carry a couple Krieger 4.5 contours!!

I have a #4 and wouldn't want it any bigger. Member aalf had a #5 in a classic at one time I think.

Sig how does yours hold up at the range, are you able to shoot 15-20 shots in a reasonable amount of time?

There's been quite a few LRH rifles built with #4 contours that shoot well enough. I think that's what Len Backus uses, and so does GAP (#3 Bart, a 4 if you ask most.)

What cartridge are going with?
15-20 shots could be pretty hard on a throat, cartridge depending!

I'd say there's a pretty good chance of that. (and every other conceivable combo)

I have had both a #4 and a #5 Shilen in a Classic...both fit fine, but I liked the fit and carry of the #4 the best...

I had a PacNor #5 in a Classic and wanted more. Put it in the Remington Hunter pattern and life is good.

He doesn't want a cheekpiece.

I would look at a Manners MCS-T. No cheek piece. And, in my opinion, a better forearm for a #5.

Scallop, that is actually a close second for me right now. If I go that route I'll do a 5.5. This thing is getting heavier by the minute, lol.

Ackleyfan, if I can get someone to promise me reliable feeding I'll go with a 6 Hagar. I have a ton of brass for that. If not, I'll sell it off and go with something different, probably the Lapua, but I don't look forward to the extra muzzle jump.

One thing to keep in mind - caliber influences weight. A 6mm 5 contour is going to be heavier than a .30 cal 5 contour. It's enough to make a difference.

Shortmag
That's a really interesting combo! What purpose were you aiming for? Short light action, edge stock and a heavy, long shank (but fluted) barrel. Seems like a study in contradictions, but I think I like it! Might need one once I know what it's for.

Would you mind sharing a few photos of the whole rifle?

JD730

It was my first custom build and has evolved ever since. It started in a really heavy Remington Hunter stock with a 4-16x50 scope on it. At 9.5lbs + it's been on a diet ever since. The diet has consisted of:
- chopping off 2" of barrel (now 23")
- trading heavy stock for edge classic that weighs a whopping 22oz at 13.25" LOP
- trading Talley steel bases and rings for LWs
- replacing scope with a still relatively heavy (but lighter than where i started) victory Diavari

The action is what I had as a donor. What it has evolved to works great for me - relatively short and light rifle for handling inside a box stand while overlooking clearcuts and lanes where shots can be longish (400) and quick

Believe it or not I weighed it last night and it is 6lb 10oz rings/no scope

It balances under the barrel shank

It's a hammer in 300 Saum that I've used for elk and some really nice white tails the last few years.

I agree with you it's a study in contradictions. Would I have done it differently if I were starting over? Absolutely. Would I trade that rifle for anything? Well maybe there is something out there I'd trade it for but its my primary rifle and works great for me.

It's unscoped right now but I'll try to post some pics

Put me down for liking the #4, I like the looks fit and feel.

Just be happy with your choice.

Here is the pig. 6 pounds 10 ounces as it sits

24" 30-06 +p performance out of a package about 2" shorter

Bolt handle has been torx screwed on and rear action screw opened up for a 700 rear action screw. And it's a 12 twist (the horror), though it still manages to bug hole 180 grain accubonds in Nosler Custom factory ammo

I like a barrel that will shoot a group, in a stock that fits in your hand. Short mag isn't crazy.... He's creative.

Here is a Benchmark #5

You don't need a #5 for that.

You had better show the rest of that rifle.

Lol. 300 Win Mag done by Hill Country Rifles. I went with a fluted #5 instead of a #4. I am very glad I did, it balances very well and handles heat decently. (I am sure it is pure coincidence, especially on the fluting, but my two most accurate rifles wear fluted Benchmark tubes.)

Very nice like the mcwoody

Great looking stick Whitebread. Thank you.

Maybe we have a different definition of group.

What's yours?

5 shots 5 minutes 3/8 or better. I'd call that a group from a bipod.

I usually shoot them in about 60 seconds. Don't have all day.

3/8 moa for five shots is pretty tight.

What kind of rifle are you using now to average 3/8 moa for a series of five shot groups?

I'll start with my very favorite, a Krieger barreled 243, 22" 1:9, shooting 105 a maxes over RL 19 with a CCI BR2 and weight sorted, neck turned and range sorted lapua brass. It gets annealed and STM cleaned every 3rd firing. It's a dandy little rifle. I wish it was a little bit lighter but I can live with it.

I've got two more that will do it, one of them only while the aftermarket barrel is on it (I kept the original 5.56 barrel for plinking). The 6x45 barrel is a Krieger 1:12. The 6mm WOA is a Krieger 1:10. 18" and 21.5" in that order. Contours are a good bit heavier than factory, and both of them have aftermarket triggers set at 1.3 lbs.

The 6x45 gets lapua brass, the WOA gets some HEAVILY sorted hornady brass. It takes a long time to find enough uniform cases to have fun with. Even then, I've already got 3 steps in them before I find out.

Both of these rifles are on BR trued CZ receivers (still a bit rough but square enough.). The 45 was barreled by GAP. The WOA was barreled by Kevin Weaver.

The little one likes a Berger. The big one prefers sierras. All in all, they will shoot some stupid groups. They both like Benchmark.

I think practice has a lot to do with it. I grew up on a range and now I live just 3 miles from another. I shoot pretty much every day.

Practice, practice, practice.

So again, what would you call a group?

I don't have any custom built and barreled rigs like yours. The rifle I do have with a barrel most relevant to my not needing a #5 comment is my Kimber LPT. It's the older model, not the one in the catalog now.

The barrel it has looks like a straight taper #6 contour in overall form. But it's lighter than it looks. The 84M receiver is small and the straight shank part of the barrel is only 1" diameter. It tapers to about .67" at the muzzle and is 24" long. This is lighter than a #5 Douglas.

With off the shelf RP 308 brass, thrown charges of crunchy IMR 3031, and aimed by a 6x scope I've been getting .5 to .6 moa for five shots as quickly as I reset and shoot. Not in a hurry mind you, but not waiting around either.

To recap, factory rifle and barrel lighter than a #5, SAAMI chamber, off the shelf common brass, thrown charges of crunchy powder, 6x scope, cartridge with more recoil than a 6mm, me and my caffeine induced twitchy finger , and it'll do .5 to .6 moa for five without waiting around.

So I'll stand by my statement that if you have a well built custom rig fed by carefully made cartridges, particularly in a smaller 6mm size, you can reliably shoot a pretty nice group with less than a #5 on it.

I'd say given the setup that's awfully good. In fact, if I bought a factory rifle I'd probably be happy with .75.