Bell and Carlson stocks

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WhiteKnight

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Have any of you guys used Bell and Carlson rifle stocks? I am specifically considering a Carbelite Classic model for my Remington 700 ADL LA, but I'd like some feedback first.

Are they worth the money?

Do they seem durable?

How does the finish hold up to repeated hard use?

Where did you order yours and how did you like the service? (I'm considering Lock Stock or Warner Guns)




Thanks!
 
I would guess he is talking about an entry level sporting McMillan, but I could be wrong.

Does anyone else care to comment on Bell and Carlson rifle stocks?
 
I have a BC Anschutz Style stock on my 10/22. It's held up well. No chips or anything. Seems solid enough to me.
 
I don't have any experience with B&C, but I have a Brown and a McMillan. The McMillan is far superior.

I should qualify that. The McMillan is a finished dropin for a Ruger Ultra Light. The Brown was an unfinished, primed, Pachmayr Dec installed, swivels installed, for Rem 700 ADL (I was trying to save money - same price as McMillan drop-in). I had it bedded by a local gunsmith. It has been nothing but a problem. First of all, it just didn't fit the action at all. When bedded, all kinds of problems surfaced. It sat too deep in the receiver mortiss, but the barrell was still misaligned. So, I had to grind off the rear tang screw, shim that area, and sand off the bottom of the trigger itself to keep from rubbing on the trigger guard. The receiver still sits fairly deep in the receiver mortiss, but the barrel is still too far out of the fore end. Was having all kinds of problems with the bolt release and trigger release.

Purchased a Jewell trigger for the subject rifle. When installing the Jewell, I found that the trigger was rubbing against the inside of the trigger guard cutout. Moto Dremelled the inside of the trigger guard cutout and things looked better.

Upon further investigation, the glass bedding was done without making allowance for front, side, and bottom clearance. Used the dremel to remedy this situation. Everything is much better now.

The rifle is a Rem SS 700 ADL .300 Win Mag. It was one of those SS ADL Mtn Rifles that Remington produced in limited quatities. I had the barrel fluted, and with the Brown stock and Leupold 2 1/2 x 8 Vx 11 -- It weighs about 7 1/4 lbs with scope, ammo and sling.

It is great to carry, but not real pleasant off the bench. This is my hunting rifle -- it's been a pain, but still my "go to" rifle. It's light, has an excellent trigger (now), it's weather proof, and is reliable (now). My son keeps trying to get me to let him use it -- he has a Win M70 that weighs about 10 lbs with bi-pod.

Bottom Line -- Spend the extra money, and get the McMillan. You won't regret it.
 
I have 3 B&C stocks on 3 different rifles.
I'm happy with them.
Got them through a distributor when I had my FFL and Business Licenses.
One was the wrong # and B&C exchanged it no questions asked.
They fit fine and I like the product.

If they're the 'best of the cheap stocks', then that's OK by me, as I don't have any high $$$ custom rifles to put into the 'cheapest of the best' stocks! :p

You may want to try a Bell&Carlson stock for your 700 ADL.
I put my 700 BDL 7mm Rem.Mag. into the Premier Thumbhole Sporter model and it's very comfortable for me...plus, it looks bitchin'...:D
I have changed scopes and paint jobs with this rifle a couple of times, with the final configuration as this:
091002.jpg

BEFORE:
091045.jpg

The other two rifles in B&C stocks are the 7400 Carbine/.30-06 and my BAR MkII/BOSS, also in 7mm Rem.Mag.
 
Wild Alaska, do you believe the price of a McMillan justifies the features it possesses over the price of a more inexpensive Bell and Carlson?
 
Two B&C stocks here. One is one of the few made for the SKS (now discontinued), best aftermarket SKS hunter type stock on the market, very stable and comfortable. Second is one of the old Carbalite stocks for the Remington Model 7 with the intergal sling mounts rather than the clunky quick disconnect sling swivels we are expected to use nowadays.
The B&C Carbalite stock is suited for lesser recoiling calibers. The stocks made for Remingtons have some extra reinforcement in the action area but not enough for magnums or heavy hitters like the .35 calibers on up. I got mine from a dealers old inventory for $35.00 and mounted it on a Model 7 that had been rebarreled to 6.5-.284. When we installed it we put in steel pillars around the bedding screws to prevent compression of the somewhat soft B&C stock material and glass bedded the action and the first two inches of barrel with glass bedding compound. The result has been a very stable and accurate rifle and the price on the stock was right.

MODEL7.JPG
 
Wild Alaska, do you believe the price of a McMillan justifies the features it possesses over the price of a more inexpensive Bell and Carlson?
Click to expand...

Absolutely..Bell and Carlsons are heavy and clubby...even when bedded they look...well like Bell and Carlsons...

Thats not to say they arent functional.

Myself, I like Pacific Research, thats what I have on my Sako.

HS precision makes a nice stock.

WildplasticpersonAlaska
 
H&S Precision stocks are nice products. I have one on my 25-06 Remington Sendero and had one on a .308 Remington Synthetic Varmit. H&S stocks are very sensitive to the amount of torque used on the bedding screws and it is possible to tune your groups with an inch/pound torque wrench like you use the barrel end weight on a Browning Boss. One problem here is that the aluminum bedding block on the stock needs to exactly match the under surface of your receiver for OPTIMUM accuracy. Some will bolt right up and when torqued to about 50 to 75 inch/pounds they shoot like a custom benchrest rifle. Others will refuse to shoot well with any combo of torque values. Try a coat of bedding coumpound on the aluminum bedding block and some wax on the bottom of the receiver. Bolt the two together and allow to dry. Break the rifle down and clean the wax offo of the receiver. Bolt it back together and torque the bedding screws to 75 inch pounds. Usually this will cure the problems, if any. I have seen a few H&S stocks that require full receiver bedding before they would shoot as well as we expected. My 25-06 Sendero will shot .25 MOA groups with hunting ammo loaded with bench rest procedures with the bedding screws set at 75 inch/pounds. My Remington Synthetic Varmit will shot a little better than that but only after full receiver bedding was done.

Cheers
SENDERO25-06.JPG
 
My experience with Bell and Carlson

I bought a B&C from Cabela's for my Browning A-bolt in .270. I took it to my smith for him to bed the rifle. He had a terrible time fitting the stock. They are supposed to be a drop in fit or close to it. He had to mill all kinds of material out of that stock, it gave him fits, and he was about to write a letter to B&C about his experience. It is ok now thanks to my smith being a perfectionist, but the stock is noticably heavier than the original wood. I have not noticed any change in accuracy, positive or negative.

But it does look cool, I guess. :)
 
Wildtherearefarbetterforafewmore$$Alaska
Click to expand...

Although your signatures are a constant eyesore on the forum, I nevertheless greatly appreciate your expert advice. Could you refer me to the place where you can get McMillans for "a few more $$" than a Bell and Carlson? I've looked all over, and the cheapest McMillan hunting style stock I can find is ~$350 and the Bell and Carlson is ~$150. Please enlighten. :confused:
 
I just installed one on my Ruger short action .308. It's advertised as "drop in" which is a joke. I actually sent the first one back thinking it was defective. The action would drop about 1/4 of the way in and that was it.


They sent me a second one, same thing. I spent two hours with a dremel tool and removed MAJOR amounts of material to get it to fit.

After all is said and done, I like it. It's much better than the plastic POS that the Ruger came with. Groups have tightened up because the fore arm doesn't cause the wild vertical stringing the blow molded stock did. Recoil is less cause the stock is heavier and it has that big squishy recoil pad on it.

It's a good deal but I wish they hadn't advertised it as "drop in."
 
My B&C Thumbhole was a near perfect fit on my Model 70. Some minor filing to free float it and light sanding around the rear and I was good to go. I don't mind the weight at all and it balances well. The gun holds in .5 MOA in 7STW, so I'm very happy.

On a thread drift, I enjoy WildAlaska's sig lines......
 
I also have a theory that "drop in" parts for guns can be interpreted as "some fitting that doesn't involve changing the caliber".

There's no free ride. Try installing a "drop in" grip safety on a 1911 and being happy with the performance and aesthetics.
 
WhiteKnight:

Although your signatures are a constant eyesore on the forum, I nevertheless greatly appreciate your expert advice
Click to expand...

Although your handle and signture are an affront to many on this forum, am always glad that you seek the advice of an untermensch like me. :)

I think you should spend the extra $200 (too me thats a few $$ more) and get the McmIllan..it will fit nicer, fit easier and is slimmer and lighter..

But your$$, your rifle. I aint seliing either to ya, so its not like I have an interest in this. Suffice it to say, ya get waht ya pay for.

WildgoaheadsplurgeAlaska
 
think you should spend the extra $200 (too me thats a few $$ more) and get the McmIllan..it will fit nicer, fit easier and is slimmer and lighter..
Click to expand...

Just what I didn't want to hear. :p There goes my shooting budget for, oh, the next two or three months.
 
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