Thumbhole stocks

[Silent-Snail]

Anyone here like them. If so please tell me why? It may just be a matter of personal taste but I find the frelling things too uncomfortable and unwieldly.

PS Is the kind of stock seen on Dragonov type rifles very different and what is it called.

 

[Art Eatman]

I don't like them on a bolt-action hunting rifle. I bang the knuckle of my thumb when I go to operate the bolt for a reload. And, the TH is just inherently slower.

Off the bench, I guess, fine. And, for semi-autos I guess they're okay. Just not my cup of tea.

, Art

 

[benEzra]

While the Dragunov stock is legally considered a "thumbhole" stock, it is functionally more of a pistol grip stock. I suspect the reason it was designed with both top and bottom support is weight; an AK-style buttstock (not attached at the bottom) on a real Dragunov would have to be considerably thicker than the "Dragunov style" stock in order to handle the recoil forces of the 7.62x54 cartridge.

I personally like pistol-grip stocks, for ergonomic reasons. I have one on my mini-14, and of course the SAR-1 (AK lookalike). On a bolt rifle, I can see how they could slow down followup shots, though.

 

[Dave R]

I know a guy who has thumbhole stocks on all his rifles. He particularly likes them on harder-recoiling rifles. He says the design lets the palm of your hand and your forearms soak up some of the recoil, like a shock absorber, so your shoulder doesn't have to take it all. So he considers it a recoil-reducer. Dunno if I believe it or not.

 

[Black Snowman]

I like the thumb-hole stock on my Browning A-Bolt Eclipse. I didn't at first. Once I figured out how it was set up and intended to be used it helped a lot.

The top of the stock is cut so you can still get a conventional hold on the stock when on the bench letting you take advantage of the supported rear and work the bolt quickly.. When in an unsupported position using the thumbhole makes it easier to hold the heavy gun steady and gives me more control over the back. Like a pistol grip would.

Now that I worked with it a bit I like it. It's not for every situations and some are better than others. I think it's like any stock. You have to try it to see if it fits you. Unlike any stock, I think there are more variables that might keep it from fitting you well.

 

[jobu07]

I can tell you that the thumbhole stock on the dragunov is extremely comfortable to me. But, i'm 6' tall and probably i'd call myself large framed if it helps in judgement.

 

[Chipperman]

I only have one: SL8-1
Most people don't like the stock, but I find it comfortable.
To each his/her own.

 

[Jim K]

Most makers of semi-auto rifles adopted thumb hole stocks because they did NOT constitute a "pistol grip protruding below the stock line" which was one "evil feature" of a so-called "assault rifle". On that basis, I liked them no more than anything else imposed on us by the "nanny" state. (Let's do our best to make sure it doesn't become the "Kerry state" with bans on almost all guns.)

Objectively, many thumb hole stocks are very nice; they are comfortable, ergonomic and help to control recoil of heavy caliber rifles. Like many other things, I like them when they are done right, hate them when they are done wrong.

Jim

 

[Smoke]

There is a remington in the rack at the local shop with a thumhole stock that speaks to me everytime I walk in.

The thing that keeps me from taking it home is I shoot ambidextrous....kinda hard to do with a right handed thumbholer.

I have seen too many times when being able to shoot from either shoulder meant the difference in going home with game or empty handed, defense is another thing altogether.

Smoke