Guys, I am not partial to synthetic stocks. I just don't find them attractive. However, would love to have a Ruger Alaskan. Do you know of anyone that makes a suitable pepper laminate replacement stock for the Ruger Alaskan?

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/...ocks-Ruger-s/170.htm
http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/...tocks-Ruger-s/38.htm

either of the above stocks would work. I don't care for the JRS because the comb is too straight for me, and doesn't fit well.

The monte carlo fits better, IMO, and can be modified by lowering the comb and reshaping the cheek piece, and the end result would be more drop at the heal. If I just had to have the classic look, I would start with the monte carlo and reshape it.

KB

What needs done to install these on an alaskan? Would bedding or crossbolts need installed? I like the looks and the price. Another place for stocks is accurate innovations. Been talking to them and they are great people to deal withh. Custom stocks are a bit more but the quality is outstandind from what I've seen.

Oh yea, I forgot about Accurate Innovations. I have one of their stocks, for a Winchester short action, and I like it very much. The only reason I could justify the cost is because I bought it off an auction, and got a good deal. It's a new stock, with no blems.

In the Boyds, those that I have already have the crossbolts, or whatever it is they put in there for extra support. I'm thinking that the Alaskan barrel is a heavier contour than the std MKII contour, so the channel may have to be opened a little, which is a good thing, to get the fit right. I would have it glass bedded, but the only place it needs bedding is around the recoil lig, and just in front of there, and perhaps a little in the tang area. A little space or relief at the back of the tang is important too. The rest of the barrel channel should be free floated, IMO.

The only thing that I don't like about the Boyds is the slick finish. It needs checkering of some sort to help with the grip, IMO. There are mixed opinions about that - for one some say that laminates don't take checkering well, and it's a waste of time.

I know I wasn't asked, but I'll give my opinion anyway. If I wanted a tough stock, that has a great fit and feel about it, I would get a McMillan in the Mark II Classic style, and have it painted with a textured finish, to provide the extra grip. It has the molded in checkering anyway. McMillan will make it special for heavy recoil, if asked, by putting extra fill material in the mid-section, and they offer other nice features like piller bedding inserts molded in.

http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmil....php?subnav=branch2e

Scroll down to the Mark II Classic

Also, HS Precision makes a good fiberglass stock, IMO, if fiberglass is a consideration.

Whatever you decide, it will be hard to improve upon the Hogue for pure utility, toughness and it's grippy too. The only improvment I can think of there is to get one with the full Aluminum insert, in some other color than black. They make them in camo, and green and tan, etc. The full aluminum insert makes the stock very stiff, and a little weight in the forearm is a good thing IMO, with the heavy recoiling rifles.

I know they are uuugggly, but pretty is what it does, not so much how it looks. I believe that the Hogue on my 458 helps make the recoil more tolerable. I don't know that for sure, and don't know why that may be. One other thing about the Hogue is that the recoil pad seems too mushy for heavy recoil. It's fine with anything up to about 375 recoil, but I can definately feel it bottom out with the 458. I haven't replaced it yet, because I keep thinking I'll upgrade the stock to the full aluminum block insert verson, and then have some premium recoil pad installed on it.

KB

I thought about it some more. I mentioned earlier about buying a factory laminate stock that already has checkering. That will actually save money in the long run.

You mentioned a preference for pepper laminate. If you are gonna be picky, it's probably gonna cost you.

Although the picture in the following link shows a walnut stock, it is actually a brown laminate, with checkering. It may or may not need the cross bolts, but they can be installed. Otherwise, all this stock needs is to be inletted and glass bedded, and maybe an improved recoil pad.

I have two of these stocks, ordered from Midway, through the following link, and they are good stocks, if you like the Ruger factory contour.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=723845

I have stocks in all the brands that I mentioned above, except they are not all for the Ruger. I have the same style (monte carlo) Boyds for a Mauser action, and the A.I. stock is for a Winchester short action. Anyway, I like them all, and perhaps the McMillan the best.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
Guys, I am not partial to synthetic stocks. I just don't find them attractive. However, would love to have a Ruger Alaskan. Do you know of anyone that makes a suitable pepper laminate replacement stock for the Ruger Alaskan?

Purchase a current Ruger Black Laminate stock for their Sporter 338WM. That will fit the Alaskan. Properly bedded, it would work well and would look like the limited left handed Alaskan they made a while back.

Best

I missed the part about being left handed.

In that case:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=183169

I don't know if it's checkered, and Midway was no help with my questions re the brown stock. When it came in it was as described, not as pictured. The brown right hand laminate is checkered.

Anyway, the Midway price is a lot less than ordering it direct from Ruger.

KB