standard vs monte carlo stock

[joed]

I'll add that my old 700 VS with monte carlo stock is used as a varmint rifle. It is very comfortable, more so then the straight stocks. 1 other rifle is a varmint rifle with straight stock and it doesn't fit me as well as the monte carlo stock. Seems like I can't get good alignment with the scope. The 2nd rifle is used for long range shooting and I have no problem with it.

Maybe I need to look at some other rifles with monte carlo stocks and see how they feel.

 

[Axis II]

I have to say all the drop at the heal and such is a little confusing. I shot over the weekend and noticed that the way the scope and rings are the stock is sitting a little low for a good cheek weld but somehow i can still shoot it accurately. Another concern i have with the monte carlo stock is the description states the forearm is almost rounded for a good hand grip when standing and shooting freehand. would this inhibit use of bags or bipods?

 

[SwampWolf]

Another concern i have with the monte carlo stock is the description states the forearm is almost rounded for a good hand grip when standing and shooting freehand. would this inhibit use of bags or bipods?

A rounded forearm can still be shot off the bench but flatter forearms work better on surfaces more conducive to flatter rests. I would consider rounded forearms more flexible/versatile for all kinds of shooting/hunting. Needless to say, no forearm configuration is best for every situation. What you do most with a rifle should dictate which shape you need the forearm to be.

 

[LoonWulf]

Also generally bi-pods dont care what forend type you have as long as your attachment is secure.

Heres a few pictures of the difference in drop between a classic stock (boyds even), and a Weatherby style monte carlo.

The boyds is designed for scope use and actually has a very high comb for a classic style stock.

 

[Axis II]

Also generally bi-pods dont care what forend type you have as long as your attachment is secure.

Heres a few pictures of the difference in drop between a classic stock (boyds even), and a Weatherby style monte carlo.

The boyds is designed for scope use and actually has a very high comb for a classic style stock.

View attachment 235254 View attachment 235255View attachment 235256

i take it the boyds is the darker color? Is it the classic model? If so in your opinion with a medium ring scope height would I have issues with cheek weld?

the reason I asked about the forend being better for a bench was I seen on another forum that I need a flatter forend for bags and such.

 

[horsey300]

i take it the boyds is the darker color? Is it the classic model? If so in your opinion with a medium ring scope height would I have issues with cheek weld?

the reason I asked about the forend being better for a bench was I seen on another forum that I need a flatter forend for bags and such.

I use a round forend on my x bags just fine but as Loonwulf said, the bipod don't care.

 

[LoonWulf]

Correct the darker, not shiny one is the boyds classic.
You should be fine with med rings and the classic. The comb line is quite high on these stock, they are after all ment for scoped rifles.

My feeling is for square forend to make any real difference in how a gun rids bags, it needs to be quite wide, say 3" or more. That other shiny stock gun has a fairly flat forend, and it twists pretty good in spite of that. The only "bag" gun ive shot had a really wide forend and probably weighed 12-15lbs.


Oh also the 700 with the classic stock has a 50mm scope on it so its in either high or extra high rings, cant remember which, but i can still get a decent cheek weld.

 

[Axis II]

Correct the darker, not shiny one is the boyds classic.
You should be fine with med rings and the classic. The comb line is quite high on these stock, they are after all ment for scoped rifles.

My feeling is for square forend to make any real difference in how a gun rids bags, it needs to be quite wide, say 3" or more. That other shiny stock gun has a fairly flat forend, and it twists pretty good in spite of that. The only "bag" gun ive shot had a really wide forend and probably weighed 12-15lbs.

well I think you just helped me decide on the classic. I was so afraid the prairie hunter would be too awkward of a stock for me and I would hate it but the classic being the same style as the factory savage axis stock concerned me as well but If you say its higher I will trust your judgement sir. . classic it shall be.

In case you guys haven't noticed yet I have a very hard time committing to something.

 

[LoonWulf]

Cool hopefully it fits and feels exactly the way you want. One nice thing about wood stock tho is if they dont its easy to modify them so that they do.

I was just playing on boyds site...you might want to take a look at the At-one stocks. Im now considering one for my next howa build.

 

[Axis II]

well i found a prairie hunter in nutmeg for $100-shipped so couldn't pass it up. Amazon is pretty good about returns so if it doesn't fit me i can send it back. thanks for your help guys.

 

[Big7]

More of an personal preference.

Me too..

I shoot left handed and all that I have now are right handed.
Some straight, some Monte Carlo.

By the time I could afford left handed long arms, that's all I knew.
Once I could, everything was backwards to me.
Couldn't hit squat. Much less a follow up.
And Dad's Mosin was the first "big rifle" I ever shot so, triggers
are not much of an issue with me.

FWIW.. Use what you can hit with.

 

[Sav .250]

Me too..

I shoot left handed and all that I have now are right handed.
Some straight, some Monte Carlo.

By the time I could afford left handed long arms, that's all I knew.
Once I could, everything was backwards to me.
Couldn't hit squat. Much less a follow up.
And Dad's Mosin was the first "big rifle" I ever shot so, triggers
are not much of an issue with me.

I`m a lefty a well........ never had a Left hand rifle. All my rifles are right handed. From day one!
It`s never been an issue with me. All you need is one shot anyway.
FWIW.. Use what you can hit with.

 

[Bart B.]

Monte Carlo stocks are about putting your eye in the right place with a scope mounted. Nothing to do with how you rest. Those "gaudy older Weatherby rifles" had 'em for the same reason. Also about helping keep the shooter's face from getting bruised under recoil. In any case, how a stock looks is irrelevant.

I used to shoot rifle matches with the stockmaker who designed and made some of Roy Weatherby's stocks in the 1950's. He cautioned Mr. Weatherby that his way made the center of the butt plate well below the recoil (bore) axis and that would increase the stock comb rise up into the cheek of the shooter from recoil. But Roy Weatherby wanted his stocks to fit perfect in the store were customers would feel them naturally fitting them as they shouldered prospective rifles. The stockmaker said he would slope the cheek piece down forward to mitigate the up forces caused by the butt plate center being so low below bore/recoil axis.

Big bore bolt guns used for dangerous game with open sights as well as match rifles, when shouldered, have much straighter stocks to lessen muzzle rise while bullets go through the barrel. Recoil axis is closer to the butt-shoulder contact point and muzzle up-swing is much less. The greater the distance from butt-shoulder contact and recoil axis, the harder it is to shoot the rifle accurately.

 

[SwampWolf]

In any case, how a stock looks is irrelevant.

How a stock looks is certainly "relevant" to me, if only in a purely subjective sense; especially when I can have a good-looking (i.e., "classic" styled) stock that shoots as good as it looks. How a stock fits an individual shooter and how well it handles recoil are, of course, its most important attributes. But fine checkering (as opposed to crude or even impressed "checkering"), nice figure in the grain of the wood, classic lines (as opposed to ungainly looking "pancake", roll-over cheek pieces, radical grip angles and blocky fore-ends) and classic, oil-based finishes (as opposed to "dipped in" polyurethane stocks, replete with gaudy spacers and inlays) will always capture my mind's eye.

Beautiful stocks can shoot every bit as well or better than can ugly stocks (keeping in mind the total subjectivity of what "looks good" might mean to any one individual), so "how a stock looks" will always be relevant to me. Always.

 

[Axis II]

well I have shot my first monte carlo stocked gun today and I'm kind of torn if I like it or not. I don't think it sits in the rear bag that well or it could just be me used to shooting strait stocks. I think the comb does help with scope alignment but the way its riding in the rear Caldwell bag it feels like I'm not getting as good as a cheek weld as I did with the normal plastic stock. I just shot some cheap fmj ammo today and will see how the good handloads shoot this week. Part of me says I should have went with something else but as with anything its new and takes a little getting used to.

 

[horsey300]

well I have shot my first monte carlo stocked gun today and I'm kind of torn if I like it or not. I don't think it sits in the rear bag that well or it could just be me used to shooting strait stocks. I think the comb does help with scope alignment but the way its riding in the rear Caldwell bag it feels like I'm not getting as good as a cheek weld as I did with the normal plastic stock. I just shot some cheap fmj ammo today and will see how the good handloads shoot this week. Part of me says I should have went with something else but as with anything its new and takes a little getting used to.

See, when I got my first one, I was in your shoes, I had to practice a good little bit to get used to it, but now that I am, it's my preference. Put a good hundred more rounds downrange, try some field positions. It may not be right for you, but if you can't get used to it with a few good weeks of practice, then at least you got that itch scratched.

 

[HexHead]

A moderate Monte Carlo would be good, but I would not want the exaggerated Weatherby style for hunkering down on a bench.

I've had several Weatherby rifles. It's not an issue.
The big benefit of the Monte Carlo stock is the reduction of felt recoil, since the stock is moving away from your face as it's recoiling.

 

[Axis II]

well I've got about 100rds downrange with this new monte carlo stock and I'm leaning very heavily toward a classic style stock. I don't know if its the bags I'm using or because I'm tall and have a long neck and torso but I cant get a good cheek weld when using Caldwell front and rear bags. I'm going to put the original stock back on and check and see how the difference is.