Do I Need to Replace Tupperware Stocks ...

[Flynt]

...if I don't intend to use a bipod? I am the proud new owner of a 16" Remington 700 SPS .308, which I shoot suppressed. (I Mounted a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8 x42.) The gun came with a Hogue overmold stock. Haven't had a chance to put her through her paces yet, but I have started wondering whether a new stock is in order. The reviews and videos I have seen all praise the gun, with the exception of the stock, which flexes. Indeed it does, but the flex issues seem to center around using a bipod. I have a bipod, but never use it. I'm a hunter, and most of my shots are at about 100 yds. from a deer blind or in the case of pigs, off an improvised rest. I'm able to shell out a few hundred bucks for a Bell & Carlson or HS Precision, but I don't want to if won't be relevant to the way I shoot. Thanks.

 

[primalmu]

I say shoot it first. See how it shoots, and if you think the stock is negatively affecting accuracy then replace it. Otherwise, especially for a hunting rifle for shots 100 yards or under, I don't think a high dollar stock is necessary.

 

[mdThanatos]

If you haven't shot it to test accuracy then do so first, like primalmu said. It's like any other firearm, shoot it then decide what/if any changes to make.

 

[Flynt]

primalmu and mdThanatos, you're both absolutely right. I'm just suffering from cabin fever. I live in North Texas, and my natural habitat, the Dallas Gun Club, has been flooded out. now it's probably about 80% flooded. So I'm in a sad state; I sit around and stare at a couple of new toys I've bought but can't play with.

 

[Gordon]

If they would have used the full aluminum bedding block Houge stock everybody would have thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. But nooooo they saved $20 .

 

[jmr40]

Unless your goal is to shoot 5 shot groups measuring in the .1's you'll not see enough gains accuracy to justify replace the tupperware stock. The key is a generous free float and they shoot as well as anything. On a hunting rifle, or for casual target shooting the tupperware is just fine. You might need to tweak the bedding and open up the barrel channel more to ensure the stock never touches the barrel, but make no mistake, they shoot

That said, I use McMillan Edge stocks on all of my serious rifles, currently 4 Edge stocked rifles. I've also tried aftermarket stocks made by most of the major players over the years from folks like Boyds, Hogue, B&C, HS-Precision, Brown Precision and Hi-Tech. Not one rifle shot any better in the $600 stocks than in the tupperware stocks. At least not enough for my measuring tools to note.

I prefer them for other reasons. They just think they look better, fit me better, and with the Edge stocks weigh anywhere between 1/2 to 1 1/2 lbs lighter than what came from the factory. When I buy a rifle it has to PROVE it will shoot well before I spend an additional $600 for a better stock. You don't spend $600 and hope it makes a poor shooting rifle shoot better. It doesn't work that way.

 

[Gordon]

Yes open up the barrel channel and fiberglass bed the action , those Hogue overmolded stocks really respond to this . $20.00 brownell accraglass kit and follow the directions

 

[Hookeye]

Freefloat and stiffen the stock if need be.
My last reg 700 synthetic got the forend hollows filled with aluminum filled epoxy.
Works great but does change the balance. If you want less weight, use some tubes cut to fit in the hollows and then add epoxy (cap tubes of course).

I have used aluminum and stainless tubes.

Next one I'll just get some free carbon tubes....from the archery shop's cutoffs.

 

[Swampman]

Flynt,
Quit worrying about what the reviews and videos say, what matters is how your rifle shoots for you.

I've got one of the Remington 700 AAC SD's with the cheap Hogue stock. I mostly shoot it with an old YHM Stainless 7.62 can that weighs a little less than 3 pounds.

There's really no way to free float the barrel short of chopping the whole forend off, the barrel and can are just way too heavy.

The rifle shoots slightly over a half inch at 100 yards and about 7 inches at 600, both of those are 5 shot groups. I do all my shooting with the rifle off a bipod and with the can attached.

Like you, I was going to get a stiffer stock (I was leaning towards the Boyd's Varmint Thumbhole), but I decided I'd get more return off of investing the money in reloading components and more shooting.

A rifle without free floating can be very accurate, you've just got to be consistent in how you shoot it.

 

[Flynt]

Swampman, now that I think about it, shooting with a can may make a big difference. I will always shoot this gun with a can -- a Liberty 300 Mag., which is huge and heavy. It seems to really improve accuracy with my POF .308 AR, so maybe I'll have similar results with the remmy. Thanks.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

For a hunting rifle with 100 yard distances I suspect you will be just fine. Needs to be tested but I doubt you need to make any changes.