Are thumbhole stocks ok for magnums or medium calibers, or are they susceptible to breaking due to the recoil? Just from looking at them, it would seem you sacrifice some stregth by putting the hole in it. Thanks for your info. kcihak

I don't think that's a problem. The problem is that if the thumbhole doesn't fit you it's terrible.

Has a lot to do with the wood used. Laminates hold up very well. I have a thumbhole on a 300 Win Mag that has worked with no issue. On heavy recoiling rifles the do help disipate or distribute the recoil very well.

Thanks for the info mete and 30378.

Hello kcihak,

I use and enjoy thumbhole stocks on my varmint rifles. I have never seen a thumbhole stock on a benchrest rifle, but they may be out there. I think a magnum and medium caliber could impart to much stress on the strong hand web as opposed to stock breakage.

I once had a thumbhole stock on a Remington 3" 12 Ga.....worked beautifully!

Skeet gun? sporting clays? trap gun? field gun?

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Skeet gun? sporting clays? trap gun? field gun?

yes to all.....actually it was a field gun and I shot skeet, trap, and pheasants and ducks and geese with it!

My bro has a thumbhold (howa) 300 Win and 243. Its nice, and different, takes a bit of getting used to. The design makes them pretty strong, the top of the comb goes straight back, unlike normal rifles that dip down so there is extra support. Plus laminate wood is usually very strong. Heavy though. Never shot a synthetic thumbhole.

My bro did end up switching out his 300 mag to the hogue stock, not for disliking the thumbhole, just wanted to change it up a bit.

I'm glad someone has asked about thumbholes stocks. I am wanting to do something like that to a Lee Enfield. The idea is to have positive hand carry with the muzzle down. I haven't given it much thought yet - still busy with the length and caliber question!

Vapo,

I've been a trap and skeet competitive, sporting clays informal competitive, and shotgun hunter all my life and never saw a thumbhole stock on a shotgun. Ha Ha. I guess I've lived a sheltered life.

Kudus to you.

Sorry, not a fan. To my mind they belong on
10-22s, at best. They just don't look right, and if they don't fit right, they're extremely awkward.

Buliwyf,

I'm a trapshooter, too, Browning used to make a production BT100 with a thumbhole stock on it. Different looking, no doubt, I don't think I could get used to one on the trap range. It has been made on shotguns, though, in fact Remington is still making some of their turkey guns with thumbhole stocks on them, if you wanted to see a picture of a current scattergun with a thumbhole.

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Vapo,

I've been a trap and skeet competitive, sporting clays informal competitive, and shotgun hunter all my life and never saw a thumbhole stock on a shotgun. Ha Ha. I guess I've lived a sheltered life.

Kudus to you.

I've had nine surguries on my hands due to 30 years of Rheumatoid Arthritis....my right wrist bends about 1/10th the radius it should.....when one discovers that the thumbhole stocks require a lot less bend of the wrist it becomes the slickest stock ever invented. I got it routed by Fajens years ago and fitted and finished it myself.

I'm now considering one for my Browning Citori featherlite 20 Ga.....believe me...it's a grand investment for some folks!

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...believe me...it's a grand investment for some folks!

Would you be so kind as to post some pictures?

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Originally posted by 303Guy:

quote:

...believe me...it's a grand investment for some folks!

Would you be so kind as to post some pictures?

the gun was stolen from my auto many years ago....