slav
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Post by slav on Jun 18, 2012 5:25:55 GMT
Well...I was strolling thru the gun shop with my dad this weekend. It took three passes by the used bolt-action rack before I noticed a neat looking gun leaning against the very corner, in the very back. I saw that it had a Hogue overmold stock, which comes standard on so many tac-sport bolt guns these days.
Upon picking it up, I realized that I was holding my dream gun. An FN Patrol Bolt Rifle, in .308 SA, in 20". This is the gun I've wanted forever. I had to own it, but I know they can tend to be pricey for what they are. Then I flipped the tag over just to check out the damage.......$495. WTH? That's less than just about any new bolt gun in similar config (except maybe them dang Savages).
Needless to say, the deal was sealed and the rifle is mine. As soon as I got it home I took it out to the field for testing. Long story short: sub-MOA with every factory ammo brought along, with about half the groups well under. Field Conditions. No time for handloads yet.
So, I suppose now the fun begins. First order of business is a new stock. I hate the Hogue. Any suggestions? MOS is a rifle I can use for long-range practical shooting.
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Post by Larry Jordan on Jun 18, 2012 9:48:19 GMT
Got a pic?
It is essentially a winchester barreled action, correct? If so, then any of the after market stocks for winchester short actions should work. I have an HS Precision stock with alum pillars for a Remingon that I have been pleased with. I know Cabelas used to sell these for both Rem and Win.
Give the [tacky] Hogue stock a chance. I have one on a Ruger 10/22 that took some getting used to. If it shoots well, dont change it.
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slav
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Post by slav on Jun 18, 2012 12:30:50 GMT
Ill post a pic.
Correct, its a CRF win action. I just dont think I can live with the hogue stock. I definitely plan on ripping out the factory 'hot glue' bedding and doing a proper glass bedding job myself, so I'd rather put that work into a stock I like.
Cdnn had some Bell & Carlson medalist stocks for my action for just $99...but I called and they are long sold out. I like that stock too...
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Post by GUEST on Jun 18, 2012 16:06:19 GMT
I too like the HS Percision I've got them on a few of my Remington rifles. With the alumium pillar blocks and a per once toque wrench you shouldn't hve a group shift if you have to take the barrelled action out of the stock for some reason.
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Sam H
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Post by Sam H on Jun 18, 2012 17:36:36 GMT
Congrats on your acquisition of your dream gun. Personally I've gotten my dream gun several times - each time being a different gun! :mrgreen:
Anyway I can't say I know much about your particular model of rifle so I don't have anything really constructive to add to the discussion but I just wanted to congratulate you on your newest member to the family.
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Jun 18, 2012 17:47:37 GMT
congratulations slav :mrgreen: pics when you can get them up
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slav
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Post by slav on Jun 18, 2012 20:29:52 GMT
If you guys are talking about the standard varmint/tac stock by HS, I have handled and dislike them. I would be willing to consider their vertical grip tactical style stocks I suppose.
Thank you all for the kind words
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Post by Larry Jordan on Jun 19, 2012 14:29:44 GMT
I didnt care for B&C. Felt wrong to dress an action so cheaply. There is always a mcmillan little something you could clothe it in. Dillon used to sell a line of less expensive mac stocks. Not pillar bedded. Just crush 'em good and tight with a torque wrench and voila! Or, you could spend as much again on one of their tactical stocks.
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slav
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Post by slav on Jun 20, 2012 5:11:16 GMT
I've been considering jumping for a McMillan or Manners. I've handled various McM's on other setups. In the interest of cost-cutting, I would probably acquire one of the more basic models and just add a Karsten cheek piece myself. Would still cost me as much as the gun itself did.
I'm not completely sold on aluminum pillar bedding. It adds weight, and I've never seen the problem with a straight glass-bedding job in a fiberglass stock, if done right. Seems to me that alum setups are geared toward those who want to drop-in without manually bedding their action at all. Am I right?
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Post by Larry Jordan on Jun 20, 2012 13:28:57 GMT
Messy. Not Monkish.
What do you use for a bedding compound? Something from AutoZone or a Brownells kit?
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slav
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Post by slav on Jun 20, 2012 13:52:48 GMT
Devcon plastic steel. It was recommended to my dad when he was out at McMillan taking a shooting course. He was told it has been independently tested to be less sensitive to temperature and humidity changes than Brownell's Acraglass and just about any other known compound.
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slav
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Post by slav on Jul 23, 2012 6:08:06 GMT
Finally... Here it is, having just been glass-bedded into the HS Precision stock I chose:
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Post by Larry Jordan on Jul 23, 2012 14:24:51 GMT
Lovely. Can't wait to read your range report.
You did the cheek piece yourself? Tell me about that.
What base and rings did you go with?
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Jul 23, 2012 17:48:53 GMT
that's a very very nice looking piece of kit,congratulations
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slav
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Post by slav on Jul 23, 2012 20:56:18 GMT
Thanks guys! Larry: The Karsten kydex cheek piece is really nothing to install yourself and works great. It's just a matter of drilling two (straight) holes. The base is the stock 20 MOA picatinny rail that came on the rifle. The rings are just some I had laying around still in the package, Blackhawk I think. They likely won't make it to the final permanent setup. Any recommendations? Range report redux... Well, I took it out this afternoon for a few groups at 100 just to see how it was looking. I'm pretty sure it's a shooter: (The best group was the last one, seen here. Exactly 1/3" c-to-c. I was fatigued and thought it was going to be crap. Federal Gold Medal Match [factory, not a handload]. 3-shot @ 100yd with Leupold 4-12 (not the Vortex seen previously). Off bench w/ Blackhawk bipod and a squeeze-bag at the rear. Worst groups were 5-shot @ 3/4"). EDIT: I'd like to point out that the taped-up holes seen are separate groups and reference rounds, fired absolutely exclusively of (and prior to) the exposed group.
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slav
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Post by slav on Jul 28, 2012 4:02:44 GMT
Finally, a glam shot: EDIT: My 308th post...too funny!
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slav
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Post by slav on Nov 14, 2012 8:36:04 GMT
Well, it works.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Nov 14, 2012 9:08:33 GMT
A 20" barrel will lose some velocity, still sub MOA is a good start
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slav
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Post by slav on Nov 14, 2012 20:30:57 GMT
I'm not too concerned about the potential of slight velocity loss with some powders. I really like the handling of the 20" over the 24" version (one of which I owned for a short time and did not like).
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Post by ShooterMike on Nov 20, 2012 12:10:20 GMT
Very nice smokepole. Impressive shooting for groups. And an nice fat little doe. She'll be tastey indeed.
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