Need help selecting 10/22 stock

[Revolver Ocelot]

I have a 10/22 target tactical (or so it was before the upgrades) that I am preparing to replace the hogue stock it came with on.

The hogue stock is fine for general purposes but I'm looking to get something less tacky and upgrade it while I'm at it.

The two stocks I am presently looking at are:

The Boyds "Tacticool" Pro Varmint stock
http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/ProductDetail/3Z2681W1G203

Or

The Bell & Carlson Target/Varmint stock
http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-433/Bell-&-Carlson-Ruger/Detail

Anyone have experience with one or both? What do you think, post pictures!

Thanks,

-Ocelot

 

[Armed 24/7]

I do not have any experience with either of those stocks. I really like the Altamont stock I put on our 10/22. They are well made and worth a look.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

No one else have experience with either of these stocks?

 

[Khromo]

I have one of each of those stocks.

I don't see any measurable difference in accuracy using either stock, and I have switched rifles between the two stocks just to check. Both stocks shoot very well, for me.

The Boyd's Tacticool stock works fine. It fit well on my rifle. I got mine unfinished. Since I like to tinker, I enjoyed sanding down some of the industrial-looking sharp edges and painting it. I installed a Karsten adjustable cheek rest (the wide version) and a Morgan adjustable butt plate on mine, and now it fits perfectly.

Some would call that putting lipstick on a pig. To those people, I would say "Eat a delicious pork chop sandwich, then tell me what's wrong with a beautiful pig!!! Huh?!?! Huh?!?!"

It is pretty heavy, being a laminate. Mine was a little more than a pound heavier than the B&C before I went nuts with the modifications, and that is definitely something you should think about. That stock rides sandbags very well as it comes from the box.

The B&C stock works fine as well. It fit my rifle well, with designed-in stock contact at the chamber and at the fore end tip. You could sand this out if you wanted, but my barrel is not threaded so I left it as it was, and it shoots very well.

It weighs just about 2 1/2 pounds, and makes for a great gun to carry around. It really shines for position shooting and as a "walking plinker" or trainer with no alterations. I would prefer not to have the hook so it would ride the bags better, but it works well in that role too.

In summary, both stocks turned out to be very well-liked keepers. The Boyd's wound up costing about the same as the B&C after the cheek rest, buttplate, and paint job, but it looks great and it fits perfectly, which is a big deal to me. The B&C is great as it comes, and the lighter weight is a big plus for position shooting or wandering around the desert.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

great write up Khromo! I appreciate the info, one question though, how does the out of the box comb height compare to that on a hogue or factory stock?

 

[Khromo]

My best measurement is about 3/8" drop at the comb for the B&C, and a little under 5/8" drop for the Tacticool. I didn't have a factory stock to measure. Since they are probably cut to allow easy use of the iron sights, I would suspect the factory stock would have about 3/4" to even 7/8" of drop, but that is just a guess.

Both of them are wider than the factory stock, so that might be something to consider as well. The feel of your cheek on the stock will be different. I always shoot those guns with scopes, and both of the replacement stocks work better for that than the factory stock did. If I were using the irons I might prefer the Tacticool or even the factory stock, but I never really tried it.

Both were usable as they came, but I really appreciate a good fit. Once I started tinkering with comb heights and butt adjustments, I found that none of the factory offerings felt as good as I wanted. This is a personal choice, and anybody can adapt to a less-than-optimal fit, but I like to be able to snap the rifle to my shoulder and get a perfect sight picture through my scope without having to adjust the rifle or my head.

The Morgan butt plates are handy. The plastic one looks a little cheesy, and the aluminum one is a little pricey and adds weight, but it works very well. I couldn't find any cheaper alternatives.

The Karsten cheek rests work really well. I like the one with the flush fitting bolts. I've seen cheek rests guys made in their garage for $15 or $20 that look just as good. A router, a belt sander, a hacksaw, and if you knew where to buy some Kydex and you could make one pretty easily.