Big Bore rifles present many challenges, one of those challenges comes with the stock. You cannot just use any stock on a big bore rifle and expect it to perform. There are several factors involved that need to work together when it comes to the stock on a big bore.
To control recoil and muzzle flip the bore and stock must be straight in line, or very close. If you have a lot of drop in the rear of the stock, then you are going to get more felt recoil and a lot more muzzle flip. In the field muzzle flip takes more time to get back on target for that second shot, which could cost valuable time.
Stock design is important in this area.
Weight is important as well. I love Classic Wood stocks, and I love a Winchester M70. In fact, I won't even go to the field with anything other than a Winchester. Not when it comes to hunting dangerous game anyway. You don't want a stock that is too heavy, anymore than you want one that is too light on a rifle that has some recoil, there needs to be balance in the equation.
I was introduced to Accurate Innovations stocks early on and for one reason. We had just put together the first 500 MDM and the first rifle stock, a very nice Winchester Super Grade, had busted in 18 rounds. A second stock busted in 4 rounds.
Brian at SSK had heard of Accurate Innovations in South Dakota at the time. Small outfit, owned by 3 guys. Not big enough to even support one of them, they all had other jobs, AI was a sideline job at the time. What they had over all other stocks on the market was an Aluminum Chassis that ran from the action all the way up the forearm of the stock. The Chassis had 3 full recoil lugs along the way. The action would sit down in this chassis, and the recoil lugs distributed recoil along the length of the entire chassis. With this embedded into the wood inside, it seemed that it would protect the wood, distribute the recoil, and just might not bust the stock all to hell.
Pins and rods were not working, so I decided to give it a try. I contacted one of the guys there and we got a Myrtle Stock in the works for that first 500 MDM.
When AI was in South Dakota, they didn't have any true checkering, they offered the laser engraving, so I took what they had available as I wanted to expedite this stock so I could get started shooting the 500.
In this photo, the Middle rifle is the first AI Myrtle stock, soon after I built a second 500 MDM, and they did a Claro Walnut stock for it. The stock you see on top is English Walnut, and that was done after Accurate Innovations moved to the Carolinas and Wes Chapman took over. Big Difference in quality and workmanship.
To control recoil and muzzle flip the bore and stock must be straight in line, or very close. If you have a lot of drop in the rear of the stock, then you are going to get more felt recoil and a lot more muzzle flip. In the field muzzle flip takes more time to get back on target for that second shot, which could cost valuable time.
Stock design is important in this area.
Weight is important as well. I love Classic Wood stocks, and I love a Winchester M70. In fact, I won't even go to the field with anything other than a Winchester. Not when it comes to hunting dangerous game anyway. You don't want a stock that is too heavy, anymore than you want one that is too light on a rifle that has some recoil, there needs to be balance in the equation.
I was introduced to Accurate Innovations stocks early on and for one reason. We had just put together the first 500 MDM and the first rifle stock, a very nice Winchester Super Grade, had busted in 18 rounds. A second stock busted in 4 rounds.
Brian at SSK had heard of Accurate Innovations in South Dakota at the time. Small outfit, owned by 3 guys. Not big enough to even support one of them, they all had other jobs, AI was a sideline job at the time. What they had over all other stocks on the market was an Aluminum Chassis that ran from the action all the way up the forearm of the stock. The Chassis had 3 full recoil lugs along the way. The action would sit down in this chassis, and the recoil lugs distributed recoil along the length of the entire chassis. With this embedded into the wood inside, it seemed that it would protect the wood, distribute the recoil, and just might not bust the stock all to hell.
Pins and rods were not working, so I decided to give it a try. I contacted one of the guys there and we got a Myrtle Stock in the works for that first 500 MDM.
When AI was in South Dakota, they didn't have any true checkering, they offered the laser engraving, so I took what they had available as I wanted to expedite this stock so I could get started shooting the 500.
In this photo, the Middle rifle is the first AI Myrtle stock, soon after I built a second 500 MDM, and they did a Claro Walnut stock for it. The stock you see on top is English Walnut, and that was done after Accurate Innovations moved to the Carolinas and Wes Chapman took over. Big Difference in quality and workmanship.