Stock opinion

[gdcpony]

I know it is odd for someone to be customizing a Mauser these days, but I love the action! I scored one a while ago and in what seems to be a sign from God two other pieces came up available for it. One was ER Shaw putting my favorite round on their list of calibers (7x57Ack) and the other was Boyds making a Thumbhole Varminter stock for a '98.

I had one of these stocks on a Howa in stainless and to this day it was probably the nicest looking gun I ever owned and the most comfortable too. Now I have similar on my 20ga (H&R UltraSlugger Thumbhole) in Forest Camo. I am getting a Royal Jacaranda Thumbhole Fetherweight for my 257Roberts (also a 98) too.

For the action destined to become my "big gun" I want the Varminter which comes in two colors Pepper and Nutmeg. Pepper is simply grey and black and what was on the Howa. Nutmeg is brown and black. The rifle will be finished in a matte blued (probably also by ER Shaw). While most would go with the brown, I am split. Most people around me consider me a gun nut and don't care (ironic since we carry rifles EVERY day as deployed Marines). So I turn to you all and ask your opinion. They won't make these stocks for long so i must decide fast (in fact I like to think my constant emails helped them decide to make them available for a while).

Here are links to the two stocks. Boyds doesn't allow copying of their pics and I probably couldn't post them from here anyways.

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/VARMINT-THUMBHOLE-LARGE-RING-MAUSER-p/660-705.htm

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/VARMINT-THUMBHOLE-LARGE-RING-MAUSER-p/660-707.htm

If anyone has pics of a similar rifle for me to see I would love to. I just don't know what a blued/pepper combo would look like, but my mind is saying it would look good.

 

[Welding Rod]

I have a Boyd's nutmeg and it is a really good looking stock. That pepper looks good too though!

I don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

[gdcpony]

I found a pic of the nutmeg now lets see if this computer will let me post it. It's not a Mauser, but a bolt gun works

My old Howa with the pepper on it.

Couldn't find a pepper on blue finish.

 

[Storm]

I just picked up a Boyds Ross Thumbhole in nutmeg for my Savage Model 110 (blued) and it's beautiful. My other choice was the pepper so I was right where you are, trying to decide. But doggone, that nutmeg is really sweet.

 

[tabealer]

I think the nutmeg looks really nice with the blue. I think the pepper looks outstanding with the stainless.

 

[roundoff]

With the blue, I would choose nutmeg.

 

[brandon_mcg]

go with the nutmeg. it will give you a good contrast with the blued barrel.

 

[flashhole]

Yes, grey with stainless, brown with blue.

 

[Otis is DaMan]

Pony, please follow up on this so we can see the finished product and some intel on the amount of fitting required. I just ordered a B&C Medalist for my 98; the tech said there would probably be SOME fitting required.....

 

[451 Detonics]

Personally I like the pepper on my Mauser... and my vote just tied it 9 and 9...

 

[Storm]

BTW, as to fitting, my Boyds Ross Thumbhole stock on my Savage 110 was a perfect fit, drop-in without any fitting. The barrel is completely free floating. The only real issue that I did encounter was that the original front action screw was too short with just two or three threads catching. Savage sent me a new screw (no charge) that was a bit longer that does the trick.

 

[hunt]

i really like the nutmeg with the blued
and the stainless on the pepper

but i really think you've already made a great choice by picking these beautiful stocks

 

[gdcpony]

Pony, please follow up on this so we can see the finished product and some intel on the amount of fitting required. I just ordered a B&C Medalist for my 98; the tech said there would probably be SOME fitting required.....

For the fitting, I can report on the .257Roberts and the Featherweight stock. That rifle is done and will simply be restocked. Should be the same type of work both being 98's and thumbhole stocks. The forend should be the only difference. The .257 will remain a lighter sporter, while I plan a varmint rig in 7x57Ack for the other. Of course, I plan to someday Ackley the 257 too, but still a sporter barrel for it.

This one is for the action I have sitting in a box in the garage that I am slowly aquiring parts for. Might be years on it, just a project for spare time and money.

 

[Offfhand]

Go to Winig Custom Gunstocks website. You'll see much wider range of woods, wood color and stock styles to choose from. I have several of their stocks and have been pleased with all.

 

[CraigC]

Opinions are like you know whats, everybody has one and they're all different. Personally, the black laminates leave me cold but the brown looks great on either blued or stainless rifles. I think the brown laminate against Ruger's target grey stainless is a particularly attractive combination.

 

[gdcpony]

I plan to order tomorrow any last votes. It's kinda tied here!

 

[ngnrd]

I voted for the grey. I think brown would certainly have a more "classic" look, and I'm sure that's why it has as many votes as it does. But, if I was building a custom, I would prefer something more unique. Hey, everybody and their brother has a blued rifle sitting in brown wood. Besides, I think the blue on grey just looks good.

Whatever you decide, be sure to post up some build pictures.

 

[gdcpony]

I voted for the grey. I think brown would certainly have a more "classic" look, and I'm sure that's why it has as many votes as it does. But, if I was building a custom, I would prefer something more unique. Hey, everybody and their brother has a blued rifle sitting in brown wood. Besides, I think the blue on grey just looks good.

Whatever you decide, be sure to post up some build pictures.

That I will.
Ordering tonight (which will be during the day for you all)