Hogue or wood for a rifle stock?

[LoonWulf]

I don't care about looks, so Hogue is where I live. It's all about the practical, without the craptical. But I'm looking for rifles that are shooters.
I sold my best looking gun, beautiful Black Walnut Stock JM Marlin, it had me a nervous wreck, that I would dent or scratch the stock.
I bought the same type rifle with a crappy, dinged up stock, never been happier. Don't have to worry about ruining the furniture.

I just dont see the standard hogue as much of an upgrade over most factory synthetics, so have a hard time recommending a switch. If the guns got a wood stock that a person dosent want to nick up then its as good an option as getting a factory take off.
Honestly my favorite injection molded stocks ARE factory, old remingtons, Bergaras, Brownings (never mind that they transmit horrendous recoil).

 

[BigBL87]

I just dont see the standard hogue as much of an upgrade over most factory synthetics, so have a hard time recommending a switch.

I feel like they're basically standard stocks but pillar bedded. I've never had a stock pillar bedded, but I feel like that would probably be cheaper to have done than buying a new stock (that's of you can't do it yourself like me).

 

[LoonWulf]

Thats my feeling as well, and since im going to epoxy bed the stock anyway, adding a set of pillars (whos whole point is simply keeping constant tension) isnt much more work.

 

[bummer7]

I just dont see the standard hogue as much of an upgrade over most factory synthetics, so have a hard time recommending a switch. If the guns got a wood stock that a person dosent want to nick up then its as good an option as getting a factory take off.
Honestly my favorite injection molded stocks ARE factory, old remingtons, Bergaras, Brownings (never mind that they transmit horrendous recoil).

For me, the Hogue stock would me an improvement as i dont have a stock now. All i have now is a barreled action. While a full aluminum bed stock would be nice and something i may upgrade to in the future. I figure the Hogue stock would let me test fire fhe rifle without breaking the bank.

I should tell you my initial thought for this Rem 700 SA is for lighweight hunting rifle. Another idea i have been kicking around is rechambering it too. But that is a topic for another thread.

 

[LoonWulf]

For me, the Hogue stock would me an improvement as i dont have a stock now. All i have now is a barreled action. While a full aluminum bed stock would be nice and something i may upgrade to in the future. I figure the Hogue stock would let me test fire fhe rifle without breaking the bank.

I should tell you my initial thought for this Rem 700 SA is for lighweight hunting rifle. Another idea i have been kicking around is rechambering it too. But that is a topic for another thread.

Hogues fine for that role, and it IS better than many factory stock.

out of curiosity whats the thing chambered in now, and what were you considering going to?

 

[bummer7]

Hogues fine for that role, and it IS better than many factory stock.

out of curiosity whats the thing chambered in now, and what were you considering going to?

The barrel is a 22-250. It is definitely a safe queen as I got the barreled action in a swap in the early '80s. Been meaning to work on completing the rifle until life got in the way. Some of the calibers I have been kicking around is 6.5 CM, 260 Rem, and 7mm-08. The idea is to fill in the gap between the .243 and 7x57 I have now.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I've had good success with Boyd's stocks. A Tacticool/Pro Varminter is on a 10/22 as well as a 6x47L, and the other is an At One on a 223. I pillar bedded the 6x47 with pillars I made on a friend's lathe, and used JB Weld. With Hornady 105 BTHP bullets, it is a .5 MOA gun and .3 with Bergers.

The 223 was originally in a Magpul Hunter stock but I took it out and skim bedded it in the At One. My groups shrank and became far more consistent.

 

[shoobe01]

If seeking something THAT cheap, just something to get the gun running, then always, always remember used. Say, go to eBay, sort by price, and you can get (mostly unused) factory takeoffs starting around $25
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=remington+700+short+action+stock&_sacat=0&_sop=15

(If you hate them, go to GB. Or go to the nearest reasonably large store, gunsmith, and ask them for takeoffs, old inventory)

Those are, shape and features aside, generally (they vary, yes!) stiffer than the Hogue so still something I'd choose over those. Then, you have so little in it, you aren't sad when it gets taken off in a year or three and replaced with something better.


FWIW: I DO have one Hogue, as they have a purpose built shotgun buttstock as short as I used to saw them but even that when there's no critical dimensions (recoil lugs, bedding blocks) and lack of stiffness to soak up recoil may be good is just... okay.

 

[bummer7]

I've had good success with Boyd's stocks. A Tacticool/Pro Varminter is on a 10/22 as well as a 6x47L, and the other is an At One on a 223. I pillar bedded the 6x47 with pillars I made on a friend's lathe, and used JB Weld. With Hornady 105 BTHP bullets, it is a .5 MOA gun and .3 with Bergers.

The 223 was originally in a Magpul Hunter stock but I took it out and skim bedded it in the At One. My groups shrank and became far more consistent.

Much appreciate this information. I see why the pillars would be easier to maintain constant pressure on the action against the stock.

Where you piqued my curiosity is when you said "skim bedding". Please tell me what is skim bedding? I looked at a few YouTube videos on how to skim bed an action but it sure looked like a regular bedding job to me.

 

[MCMXI]

The only decent Hogue rifle stock I've encountered is on my Mini-14, and the two I tried for a Savage Weather Warrior were really bad.

I have a very nice Horizon/Iota Remington stock I'll sell you, or an exceptional MPA chassis for Remington .... both new.

 

[army_eod]

Any decent aftermarket will cost you at least $300. I have gone with Bell and Carlson usually. The Hogues flex too much for using a bipod. Good composite stocks are full aluminum bedded and do add to the accuracy and consistency factor. I am just a hobby shooter but the bedding is important to me. I know Hogues are either pillar or full aluminum bedded, but still flex. My Rem LTR came with a HS Precision stock and that is a great stock in my opinion.

 

[MCMXI]

Any decent aftermarket will cost you at least $300. I have gone with Bell and Carlson usually. The Hogues flex too much for using a bipod. Good composite stocks are full aluminum bedded and do add to the accuracy and consistency factor. I am just a hobby shooter but the bedding is important to me. I know Hogues are either pillar or full aluminum bedded, but still flex. My Rem LTR came with a HS Precision stock and that is a great stock in my opinion.

There are a number of good fiberglass/carbon fiber stocks out there that don't have a full aluminum bedding block, just pillars. AG Composites and Horizon/Iota for example. As long as the stock is stiff and the pillars properly installed there's nothing wrong with that combination. My current Proof barreled project has an AG Composite stock with pillars and it shoots extremely well. Bedding the recoil lug can help too, if nothing else in terms of return to zero when removing/installing the barreled action. I only have one Remington 700 left now, one of Ti receiver models, but I have four stocks ... it never ends!

From top to bottom: MPA, B&C, Horizon/Iota, Horizon/Iota.

 

[bummer7]

MCMXI,
I appreciate your offer to sell me a nice stock at a good price. Maybe in the near future after I get a chance to shoot this rifle and figure out what I want to do with it. Right now, I just want to get the rifle functional and shoot it to see what I have.

army_eod,
You may be right about the cost of a decent stock costing at least $300. A quick glance at the various online stores tell me prices for a good stock run a lot more than I can afford.

I don't know if I will be using a bi-pod upfront on this rifle. But I may try my hand at stiffening the fore-end using a steel rod as well as bedding the recoil lug. This looks to be a fun project and something I can do. If it doesn't work out, I'm not out a lot of money will have learned what not to do the next time.

To everyone,
Thank you. You have been great in sharing what you know as well as challenging my beliefs and ideas. Granted, the more I listen to the members here, the more I learn.

 

[Bill M.]

I am a wood stick guy. But since you even asked the question then you better consider the plastic. There is not really a way to get a light, cheap, rigid stock that I know if. You might consider a laminated stock from Boyds and slim it and hollow it.

 

[bummer7]

Nothing wrong with wood stocks. All my rifles have wood now. Not having a plastic stock now, I figure I should take a look at one and see if they work for me.

I am fortunate the price is right and I don't mind experimenting. Its okay if the plastic stock doesn't turn out quite right. I figure this is still a learning experience for me as I will have a better idea of wood and plastic stocks.

I may end up getting a wood stock for this barreled action in the future. For now, it won't hurt to experiment and try something new.

 

[FL-NC]

Would appreciate your input, opinion, experiece, criticism, or thoughts on a Hogue synthetic stock or using a wooc stock.
I havve been working on assembling a Rem 700 SA for a few years now. Will soon be at the point where i need to find a stock for the barrelled action. I'm attracted to a synthentic because they are lighter than a wood stock. But i also want stability and fit is important too.
Thanks in advance.
-s

For a light barreled sporter, I would use a Boyd's laminate and glass it in.

 

[bummer7]

FL-NC and Bill M.
Eventually the action and barrel will be bedded to a stock. Whether that product is wood or plastic remains to be seen. Right now, I have the opportunity to play around with an inexpensive and probably not a very good synthetic stock. but heck, experimenting or modifying firearms is as much fun as reloading.

What I am curious is if an inexpensive plastic stock can be made functional for a reasonable investment. While i have my reservations about the quality of the Hogue stock; might it also work out as an average stock for a hunting rifle? Especially if i can strengthen or stiffen up the fore end while keeping the stock as light as possible?

As much as I would like to get a better and much better looking stock, this Rem 700 SA is still a work in progress at the moment. I agree with you a laminated stock is handsome and functional too. At present, only time will tell if I go this route.

I appreciate the advice and suggestions from both of you. You guys got good taste in stocks!
-s

 

[Bill M.]

I can not answer your question since I have never owned or worked with a synthetic stock. Many people do and I assume their guns shoot fine. They advertise synthetic stocks as being more stable than a wood stock, so it must be true, right? Ebay would be my first stop for a solution to your problem. Buy a cheap stock, try it, and sell it if it does not work well or if you wish to move up in price.

 

[bummer7]

I can not answer your question since I have never owned or worked with a synthetic stock. Many people do and I assume their guns shoot fine. They advertise synthetic stocks as being more stable than a wood stock, so it must be true, right? Ebay would be my first stop for a solution to your problem. Buy a cheap stock, try it, and sell it if it does not work well or if you wish to move up in price.

No problem with not knowing as I don't know what to expect either. I've never had a synthetic stock myself until now. I will say I am excited to have a synthetic stock to experiment on. If the stock doesn't work out, I will have learned something and possibly have had fun working on it.