Bench-Talk

I am building a new rig around a diamondback action.

I am planning this as a switch barrel rifle for shooting different games. (6ppc, 30 Br, 220 Beggs, 30x47)

What stock should I get. Sometimes we shoot prone for score at 100 and 200 and I tried the Edge style stocks and don't like em.

At the moment I am thinking about the McMillan HBR or the Kelbly's hunter stock. Which one gives the best reslts , comfort....

Opinions appreciated,

Best David

Hello, David.

david.bergen:

I am building a new rig around a diamondback action.

I am planning this as a switch barrel rifle for shooting different games. (6ppc, 30 Br, 220 Beggs, 30x47)

What stock should I get. Sometimes we shoot prone for score at 100 and 200 and I tried the Edge style stocks and don't like em.

At the moment I am thinking about the McMillan HBR or the Kelbly's hunter stock. Which one gives the best reslts , comfort....

Opinions appreciated,

Best David

This is a difficult question, as the answer is completely subjective and highly opinionated - I find the original McMillan Hunter pattern very pleasing: both for rest shootin' and on hunting rigs.  If prone means holding on to the rifle (as opposed to shooting off front & rear rests), I believe you'd appreciated the pistol-grip on the McMillan Hunter, and the fore-end isn't a terrible fit/feel - I have several on hunting rigs! ;) RG

Hi RG,

Prone shooting would be with front and rear rests. I didn't like the comb height with the edge stock when shooting prone.

Having a pistol grip is nice. Does the McMillan stock have torque issues when shot with the 30 BR due to the smaller fore end?

I am thinking on the hunter stocks because I want to be able to use the gun for more than dedicated bench shooting, this is very difficult to do with 3 inch fore ends.

Thanks,

David

david.bergen:

Hi RG,

Prone shooting would be with front and rear rests. I didn't like the comb height with the edge stock when shooting prone.

Having a pistol grip is nice. Does the McMillan stock have torque issues when shot with the 30 BR due to the smaller fore end?

I am thinking on the hunter stocks because I want to be able to use the gun for more than dedicated bench shooting, this is very difficult to do with 3 inch fore ends.

Thanks,

David

 I had one of the EDGES and did not like it, but for other reasons than the comb height - I can't say that the comb height is any different on the standard McMillan BR models, but as I ststed, I use the HBR stocks for hunting rigs and like them. For your 30BR,  if you go with the typical 1:18" or, 1:17" twist barrel and use short/light bullets ( 1.00" oe less in length), and the 2.25" wide (Hunter fore-end) torque is not much of an issue. However, You'd probably better do some research on the comb height also. Good shootin' !  RG

Randy,

Thank you for the reply. If you can use the stock for hunting , it probably will be fine for me.

May be by using low rings will make the cheeck weld ok.

Will a cleaning rod handle clear the comb on the Mc Millan?

 Maybe you can post a picture with a cleaning rod in the rifle?

Sorry for all these questions but no models to look at or measure here in Belgium

 Barrel in stock is a Lilja 1-17 and a Pacific reamer grind to your design.

Can't wait to put everything together.

David

david.bergen:

Randy,

Thank you for the reply. If you can use the stock for hunting , it probably will be fine for me.

May be by using low rings will make the cheeck weld ok.

Will a cleaning rod handle clear the comb on the Mc Millan?  Yes.

 Maybe you can post a picture with a cleaning rod in the rifle?

Sorry for all these questions but no models to look at or measure here in Belgium

 Barrel in stock is a Lilja 1-17 and a Pacific reamer grind to your design. This barrel should handle bullets of up to 1.10" long very nicely (Sg = 1.4) - it will probably prove best using bullets based either upon the 1.00" long jacket  ( Sg=1.7 ; finished OAL of 1.050" or <) or, the .925" long jacket (finished OAL about .950" or <, Sg= 1.9): these latter two  will include most BR qaulity bullets of up 125 Gr.(Note: all Sg calculated at sea-level and Standard conditions.

Can't wait to put everything together. Berger bullets will likely be your best option - and some of my friendly competitors may have opted to pay the registration fee now demanded by Uncle Sugar (see link for THE RULES) . . . but not me - therefore, Uncle will no longer issue export permits for BIB bullets. :(

David

David, It will take a few days, but I will make and post a couple of pics - due to quality issues, probably in my album: but I'll try here first. RG

http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ -  Liberty at it's finest . . . he who would sacrifice a shread of LIBERTY for security is a FOOL and DESERVES NEITHER  . . . this is my best attempt at recalling a statement made by, I believe, Thomas Jefferson - I apologize if, in my ignorance, I credit the wrong individual. However, I do believe in HIS words, which were spoken in an era when words had meaning!

Randy,

It's sad I can't try your bullets.

I'll probably start with the Speer TNT bullets.

I also read that Berger is going to start making a short .30 cal bullet. I can get Berger bullets through Germany

so that's my second option. Do you think the new Sierra 135 would work?

Then there are also the offering from Nosler and Hornady. One off them should work don't you think?

Looking forward to the picture.

Best,

David

David, this is a pic of my  McMillan (HUNTER) stocked, ALPINE (Borden) actioned 20BR,  with a [T.K. Nolan] rod-guide, guiding a Dewy cleaning-rod: the rod-handle (flutes) barely clear the heel of the stock, but do clear. The T.K. guide-body is supporting a Flying-Fish Fundamentals 20. Cal. guide-insert , which required a little sanding to get a perfect slip-fit to the body. Hopefully, this will help. Good shootin' ! RG

P.S. as usual, the pic isn't what it's supposed to be - it was distorted and poorly cropped - I reposted it in my album, where, for a small format, low resolution pic,  the quality is acceptable. RG