Author Topic: Best Stock? (Read 893 times)

Big Blue · « **on:** January 05, 2005, 03:20:44 PM »

When looking at the available options from H+R/NEF, what makes for the best stock on one of these rifles, hardwood, synthetic, or laminate? Another alternative is buying the rifle with the cheapest stock, and go to Gunstocks to re-stock it. What do you guys think? I'm considering the forearm pressure, and any change in the POI caused by stock to barrel tension. I remember Paul5388 posting about an accuracy problem caused by his synthetic stock, and the cure being a different wood stock. I guess this mostly concerns the forearm pressure and choice of material.
Don

noesnow · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2005, 10:49:04 AM »

Don,

I prefer laminate stocks for a VARIETY of reasons, stiffness, beauty, and durability being chief among them.

To my understanding, the NEF Ultra is the only model that comes with a factory laminate stock. If you found a caliber in this model you could be happy with, that would be the simplest, easiest answer ... f you are right-handed. The stock is monte carlo for righties, of course. I'm a lefty, so I'm SOL on that score.

Assuming you're right handed, if the Ultra doesn't work for you, just get the gun you want and ADD the factory laminate stock to it. Brownells sells the stock for $75. I don't know if they also sell the forend.

Maybe you're not a fan of monte carlo stocks. Me neither. Again, my preference is for thumbhole stocks for a variety of reasons, grip orientation and one-handed ease of weilding being chief among them. In this case, you could just go to Gunstocks Inc. and get a nice unfinished thumbhole stock and do the rest yourself. Ed at Gunstocks is selling his for about $100, and it appears to be a HIGH quality stock. Again, this is good only if you're righty. If not, Ed makes the bland-looking factory straight-comb stock. It will do the job and look decent in a laminate, but the factory dimensions are not going to win any stock design awards. (FYI, I just talked to Ed this morning. Likely in the next coulpe of months, he will be producing an laminate ambidextrous thumbhole stock for NEF rifles much like the "Smart Stock" for the Ruger 10/22". Wow -- I'm interested!!! :grin: )

If you've got a LOT of money to blow, just check out Wenig's. They make a laminated thumbhole buttstock for NEF handi-rifles for righties of lefties. Takes about 2 or 3 months. Cost is around $900. :eek: Kinda distressing when the gun itself costs $200, but an interesting option for some, I imagine.

Appears Gunstocks Inc. is the way to go, unless anyone else has a better idea. Get the barrel/finish you want, sell the factory stock on Ebay, and get the stock you want. On any two-piece stock/forend setups, the set is a crucial factor in precision, etc. In a Handi-Rifle, this is PARTICULARLY the case.

Big Blue · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2005, 11:02:52 AM »

noesnow,
Thanks for the reply. I'm sort of hooked on the .308 heavy barreled Survivor, but don't like that stock. The laminate would look great on it, or as you mentioned the Gunstocks Inc. stock. I think that's probably the best way to go.
Don

roostertails · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2005, 11:05:00 AM »

You can get unfinished custom stocks in a variaty of wood and laminates at a resonable price from Gunstocks Inc.
Here is a link to their handi page,
http://www.gunstocksinc.com/web%20pages/Plate%20Pic's/NEF%20stocks/Handi-rifle%20stocks.htm

Terrible Tom · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2005, 03:12:41 AM »

The newer Handi's have a laminated stock. It looks like the same old stained birch but it's laminated. My 'NU' s/n (2004) 22-250 has a laminated stock and it's not an Ultra. You can probably get one direct from H&R.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2005, 05:18:53 AM »

Here's a pic of my old 308 Survivor from last year I put a set of factory Cinnamon Laminated stocks on it...with the steel forearm spacer and steel trigger gaurd...it is a great looking little rig...my next door neighbor loved it so much...he paid me what I had in it...and then some...

Mac

Fred M · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2005, 05:48:46 PM »

This afternoon I send an e-mail to Gunstock.Inc. requesting some info on stock dimensions, since I could not find anything on their web page.

I was curious how they made the replacement stocks for the Handi's.
Since the Handi stocks have no pitch down, which is not good for recoil because the recoil pad bottom or what you call the toe digs into your shoulder.

I got a very nice explantion from Ed saying they will give you what you want by adding your request to the order. He says if not otherwise noted he supplies a stock with a 1" pitch at 20 " from the breech.

Myself I would want a bit more than that, and women would want at lest 1-3/4" pitch down.