Thumbhole stocks

[Phaethon]

I don't get it; what's the problem with thumbhole stocks? I've been prowling the forums for a while now, and anytime a fire-arm that sports them is mentioned, there seems to be unanimous disapproval for them and suggestions to remove them and swap them with standard furniture. Primarily with AK's.

I think the whole VEPR line of sporting AK's look very attractive. The thumbhole/Dragunov style stocks seem to be more functional and ergonomic anyway, since they almost universally sport a cheek riser.

If people just can't stand that little bridge of wood between the pistol grip and the buttstock, why don't they just strip the finish, saw that part off, sand it even to look nice, and then refinish it? You wouldn't have to expose that cut in the receiver and burn money on a new set of furniture. If I didn't like it, that's what I would do.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

I do like thumbhole stock, I wish more companies would offer them on bolt rifles. I could see a well made one on an AR/AK pattern rifle with lop adjustment or fixed for a large storage compartment.

I'm in the pro thumbhole section, I feel like I could have a better grip on my rifle.

Oh and post up some pics if you got some!

 

[USAF_Vet]

I dislike them because they are set up to fit right handed shooters mostly. If they were ambi, I wouldn't mind. Lefty thumb holes, like most everything else, tend to cost more.

 

[JoeMal]

Not an AK, but I love my Evo stock on my Marlin 60. Much more comfortable and natural to shoot/hold

 

[JHenry]

Other than the dragonuvs/PSLs, thumbholes need to stay away from AK patterned rifles

 

[P.B.Walsh]

JHenry, can you please elaborate on your reasoning behind an AK not having a thumbhole (besides looking like a "ban" rifle)?

 

[JHenry]

Most arnt ergonomic and they just throw off the balace of wood and metal(aesthically that is)

 

[P.B.Walsh]

ah, I can see that.

 

[451 Detonics]

I like some thumbhole stocks...dislike others, some look right while other look awkward. They might not be awkward but they look that way.

I like the thumbhole on my 1100...works well for trap and even skeet...and looks good to boot...



I like the one on one of my 10/22s as well

 

[Bentley4700]

I love my Boyds...

 

[Ryanxia]

I don't like the right hand thumb hole stocks. It rules me out from ever buying or shooting it. I've shot one and it wasn't too bad but I would never own one unless it was free. Most companies are going ambidextres now.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I think they are ugly, but to each his own

 

[SGW42]

I don't like them on bolt actions because it's a different and more involved motion to move your hand to the bolt handle and rapidly cycle the action.

 

[shiftyer1]

I like the thumbhole stock if it feels right, BUT on a defense purposed rifle I don't care for it because I can grab a traditional stock or pistol grip quicker.

 

[Phaethon]

The VEPR seems to me to have a pretty distinctive buttstock and pistol grip though with a pretty large thumbhole; would it be unreasonable for me to pick one of these up and saw off the bridge between the stock and grip?

 

[451 Detonics]

Two people spoke of a regular stock being faster, I don't see it being slower to grab, nor do I feel it is slower on a bolt gun to use...and yes, I own both. I am as fast with my thumbhole stocked Mauser as I am with my standard stocked Ruger 77 in .308 as far as working the action is concerned. The muscle memory is slightly different but once learned it doesn't slow me down any. I find the thumbhole stock does place the trigger finger more in line with the trigger pull while a standard stock almost forces a more upward pull rather than one straight back...one reason the thumbhole stocks are popular with many benchrest shooters.

 

[WVRJ]

Everything's a tradeoff in one way or another.Thumbhole stocks seem to me to hold better,especially offhand.But they do make bringing the gun into battery and repeat shots with a bolt action a little slower for me.The more vertical pistol grip found on some of the target/varmint/ tactical stocks does a good job of aligning the finger with the trigger and hold almost as good as a thumbhole.I'm not one to worry about aesthetics,and I would think a thumbhole on a semi-auto would have to help keep it on target during fast fire.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

For sawing off the top part of the thumbhole on the AK, could it might decrease the structual integrety of the stock?

 

[Rembrandt]

Have a few thumb holes.....great for target rifles, bench rest shooting, and some hunting applications.....not the best ergonomics on hunting shotguns. Tried pheasant hunting with a Benelli M1 Super 90 w/pistol grip once, difficult to shoulder quickly.

 

[jmr40]

On a bolt rifle they are useful when shooting off a bench. For a hunting rifle to be carried a lot in the field they add unnecessary weight. They are not as strong as a conventional stock. Much slower in a situation where you must get off a quick snap shot or fire repeat shots.

On an autoloader such as an AR they are great. The negatives outweigh the positives on a bolt rifle. At least the way I use my rifles.

 

[jim243]

Thumbhole stocks seem to put the barrel on a higher plain to the shooters shoulder and improving accuracy. But I am not sure they are that much different than any other stock with a pistol grip on it. (???)

Jim

 

[doubleh]

Well, I love them---- on certain rifles. On other rifles I wouldn't have one.

 

[Fishbed77]

The VEPR seems to me to have a pretty distinctive buttstock and pistol grip though with a pretty large thumbhole; would it be unreasonable for me to pick one of these up and saw off the bridge between the stock and grip?

It would probably be illegal, if you don't do the other things necessary to keep it 922(r) compliant.