Help me choose McMillan Stock Options

[Sven]

Which of the following options would _you_ add to your McMillan stock if you were building a match rifle?

Additional Accessories
Price includes Installation

Presentation Pad $50.00
Decelerator Pad $65.00
Spacer System (includes Pad) $90.00
3-way Adjustable Butt Plate (includes Pad) $140.00
Vertically Adjustable Butt Plate $90.00
Adjustable Cheek Piece $90.00
Thumbwheel Adjustable Cheek Piece $110.00
Handstop Rail anodized black $35.00
Sling Swivels studs (per stud) $6.00
Sling Swivels and studs (each) $12.00
Flushmount Swivel cups (each) $10.00
Flushmount Swivels and cups (each) $17.50
Stock made with graphite $70.00

 

[hksw]

What caliber?

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

What rifle?

 

[EchoSixMike]

Caliber or rifle doesn't matter, he'll get it inletted for whatever he needs

For the target gun I suspect you're talking about here's my recommendations:

3-way Adjustable Butt Plate (includes Pad) $140.00
-or-
Vertically Adjustable Butt Plate $90.00

It depends on how much you like to mess with adjustments between relays. I have both on some of my match rifles and it's a toss up for me. But I normally shoot Service Rifle and so I'm accustomed to adjusting myself and not the rifle. Small bore types fiddle with everthing, so maybe one of them can comment on the need for all that figeting.

Thumbwheel Adjustable Cheek Piece $110.00

This is handy is you use a scope or high position iron sights, makes sure you have your face the same way on the rifle every time. The thumbwheel version is mucho easier to work with

Handstop Rail anodized black $35.00

This is for your sling swivels, handstop, bipod and other stuff. If you get the rail you can add what you like later with ease. If you get swivels, you're limited in what you can add. Makes a prone gun harder to use if your arms are not just the right length, whereas the rail is easier to adjust length to sling/handstop. S/F...Ken M

 

[Steve Smith]

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

that is adjustable is Service Rifle legal. The recoil pad is also a non-authorized addition. This is kind of the point.

You may view all of the rules at http://www.tngbbs.com/rifle/nra/hp/

Specifically,
3.1.1 Service Rifle-U.S. Rifle, Caliber 7.62 min M 14 as issued by the U.S.
Armed Forces or the same type and caliber of commercially manufactured
rifle, having not less than a 4 1/2 pound trigger pull, with standard type stock
of wood or synthetic material. Must be no more than 2 inches wide at a point
immediately to the rear of the front band, no more than 2.5 inches wide at the
front and rear of the receiver, and have a continuous taper from receiver to front
band. Width at receiver may be carried through to the butt plate, which may be
the flat M-1 or hinged M-14 plate and standard leather or web sling. The rifle
must be so adjusted as to be incapable of automatic fire without removing the
stock and changing parts. In all courses and in all positions the 20-round box
magazine or a reduced capacity magazine of the same external dimensions will
be allowed. The hinged butt plate will be used only in the folded position.

 

[hksw]

Well, I was just thinking, a Decelerator Pad would be a waste of money for say a .223, but for a .308 or bigger, possibly, depending on the weight of the action and barrel.

 

[Sven]

It's for the M1A I'm building.

Steve - that's the link I've been searching for - thanks so much.

I want to stay in the service rifle category, so I will just get the standard items... thanks for clarifying.

But which of these (remaining) options should I elect:

Sling Swivels studs (per stud) $6.00
Sling Swivels and studs (each) $12.00
Flushmount Swivel cups (each) $10.00
Flushmount Swivels and cups (each) $17.50
Stock made with graphite $70.00

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Well, if it's for an M1A I'd just get the M1A stock. Plain Jane. No frills. No Bells or whistles.

 

[HankL]

Sven, Send all of the M14 stock metal parts for a fiberglass stock
to them. Front and rear sling swivels, butt plate assembly , screws and a N.M. modified stock ferrule. That's all you can have on a service rifle if intended to shoot Service Rifle Match
Also insure that they know the stock needs to comply with the rules.

 

[Steve Smith]

I would call McMillan and discuss it with them. Explain that you plan to use it in CM and HP Service Rifle competition. Obviosly you want the strongest stock and swivels you can get but if it does not fit the rules or has something that can be seen from the outside. it won't be allowed. Be sure before you buy.

HankL posted while I did...I'm sure we would concur with each other's comments.

 

[EchoSixMike]

Damn Sven, you have to make sure you're using the right words when you're talking technical stuff When you say:

Which of the following options would _you_ add to your McMillan stock if you were building a match rifle?

I thought you were talking about a bolt gun. Almost all MR's that have McMillan stocks are bolt guns. S/F...Ken M

 

[Steve Smith]

E6M brings up a good point. In the future you should probably specify so you don't have as much "chaff" to throw out.

 

[HankL]

Sven, If you haven't shot a bunch of high power match with a full house 308 M1A/14 or 30 06 M1 you might consider picking up a GI fiberglass stock for your M1A from Fred's or somewhere else. From Fred's you get a fiberglass stock and the correct metal. Have it bedded or bed it yourself as a military fiberglass stock is a good bit less time consuming to bed than a wood version. If that fails to meet your expectations you still have all of the metal parts you need to send off to McMillans

 

[Steve Smith]

Hank, FYI I have been privy to Sven's efforts. As much as he's put into having a PRIMO M1A Highpower rig, I'd hate to see him throw one of those on it. Of course, its his gun, and we can only live vicariously through him.

 

[Sven]

Hank, as Steve said we're pulling out all the stops on this one. Finances be damned!

 

[bogie]

If I were building a match rifle, I'd just tell Kelly that I wanted it to be black and blue, with a weight system in the butt.

 

[Sven]

I didn't see any options on McMillan's site for a weight system... can you explain this more to me?

thanks.

 

[HankL]

Glad to here it Sven. Since money is no object, I wish you good luck with your project and hope that it meets all of your expectations.

Best Regards,

Hank Lampe

 

[Sven]

Hank: Actually, money _is_ an object... that's why I'm taking my time and building this thing piece-by-piece.

I'm going to start a separate thread showing the parts I've received and listing my plans... I really appreciate insight from everyone more experienced than I (that's most people here).

-s

 

[Sven]

None other than Kally McMillan chimed in on this thread over on BattleRifles, with this to say:

Okay, first, the prices listed were last years prices and we did take a 10% increase Jan 1. (I know, I know, but it was the first price increase in 3 years).
Secondly, to compete in NRA Service Rifle matches, none of the accessories listed are legal. The stock in the pic above is just as it must be to conform to the rules.
BTW The camo paint job is not our standard dark camo. When asking for a dark camo you will get a molded camo which does not look as clean and crisp as the custom camo paint, which does add the texture to an otherwise smooth stock.

Many years ago when we made the first M-14 stocks for the Marine Corp we ran into some opposition from the Army. They claimed the rules stated that the rifles (and their parts) must have been issued as regular military equipment before they were legal for NRA Service Rifle matches. (Col. Pullum, dir. of the Army Marksmanship program at the time, vowed never to allow a McMillan stock to be used in competition) The Marines then issued a bunch or rifles equipped with our stocks and opened the door for them to be used in Service Rifle Matches. The only reason I bring this up is that now that the Marines have actually put the DMR into service, it should open the door for the use of the M2A with all the adjustments in NRA Service Rifle Matches.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there will be plenty of opposition, but if the prerequisite is field use my the military, then if anyone has the cojones to pursue it, it just might work.
_________________
McMillan Fiberglass Stocks Inc.
"Molding the Way America Shoots"
www.mcmfamily.com

 

[RTownsend]

Hi Steve and Sven

I've noticed that Kelly McMillan is often referred to as a "she". The Kelly that I'm aware of is a he.

Just thought you would like to know.

 

[Sven]

Fixed that... makes no difference to me if shes a he or he's a she...

 

[Steve Smith]

What Kelly said makes perfect sense.

I don't expect to see adjustable stocks in SR competition for many, many years, if ever. The flat top has been used in the military for quite a while but has been voted out every time it comes up. Like it or not, there is a lot of "tradition for tradition's sake" in SR. That is part of why I like it, actually, but I do understand that it is limiting for newbies. Thankfully there is a Match Rifle class for everyone else.