Hi, getting ready for my first African plains game hunt next year. I will be buying a CZ 550 Magnum in 375 H & H. Opinions please on which stock design is better. Thanks. Roger

t

The straight American stock will result in less perceived recoil than the humpback, at least to most people; me included.

I agree with Will. Perhaps someone in Europe will enlighten us as to why the schweinbruk stock is popular (or if it really is) but I think that part of its appeal is that the folk over there use scopes with huge lenses. They need to because much of their shooting is done by moonlight, or so I have been told. Here we are used to much smaller tubes because in most jurisdictions, night hunting is illegal. Since in Africa you will be hunting in daylight, the American scope will be just as well lit and a lot cheaper so the straight stock will be more comfortable . . . and a LOT more familiar.

I much prefer the hogs-back stock. It performs the same function as a Monte Carlo comb and works well with open sights, 1" and 30mm scopes. For me, it distributes recoil far more comfortably, where the straight stock punches it all straight back into your shoulder.

BTW, I will be mounting Talley Detachable Rings and a Leupold 1.75 X 6 scope.

I'm guessing the reaon for that hideous hogback is the fact that europeans use those big 50mm plus objective lenses so they need to get their heads way up there in order to look through them. THe recoil is more manageable with the american style stock. jorge

Along those lines, can some reasonably knowlegeable individual tell me why some other European stocks have soooo much drop at the heel?
(trying to find a representative photo)

Tom

Just a guess, but it may be to put the recoil on the meaty part of your shoulder as a Monte Carlo stock would. I would go with whichever you prefer, you might as well enjoy the piece...you can always put a boot on the butt or add mercury inserts if the recoil is a real problem.