Hey All, After considering a lever in 44, I'm back to thinking a standard 308 in bolt action. There are many reasons for this and I won't bore you with the details.

I handled a Savage with the fairly new laminated thumbhole stock in 308. It felt better that any rifle I've handled of late (Well, the Marlin XLRs feel pretty good, but that's another story).

I'm not sure about using thumbhole stocks while hunting deer. Anyone out there with any thoughts on this or experience?

The cartridge is great for what I want to do as long as I handload my own. I don't want to get stuck with a stock that's only nice on the range. Mayber thumbholes are just too new, maybe there are reasons they haven't been used on hunting rifles for the most part. I have no idea, that's why I'm asking.

Thanks again!

John

I too have considered a thumbhole for a Contender carbine that I deer hunt with but would that make the hammer awkward to pull back? Would it also hamper the on / off of the safety on a bolt gun? I would like to hear from others also.Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by JWK:
I'm not sure about using thumbhole stocks while hunting deer. Anyone out there with any thoughts on this or experience?

The cartridge is great for what I want to do as long as I handload my own. I don't want to get stuck with a stock that's only nice on the range. Mayber thumbholes are just too new, maybe there are reasons they haven't been used on hunting rifles for the most part. I have no idea, that's why I'm asking.

Thanks again!

John

Thumbhole stocks are not what I would consider a fast stock. They don't shoulder as fast as a traditional style stock. If hunting from a blind I think you could get away using a thumbhole but spot and stalking it might be a disadvantage. I'm sure you could learn to use it, but I'd hate to miss a shot on an animal because my thumb didn't find the hole as naturally as it wraps around a traditional stock.

Personally I'd pass on the thumbhole for hunting and get a pistol grip or more vertical grip instead. I believe it makes operating the bolt more of a chore and not nearly as quick if needed.

I used a thumbhole on a '98 for many years....I liked it and it worked very nicely....

see the thread on the gunsmithing forum for more information.

Perhaps if your hunting is out west where you can spot and stalk your quarry from a distance and then get into a solid shooting position, etc, the T/H stock may work for you. But, if you are planning on doing any hunting where the shots will have to be made quickly, the T/H sucks.
If you don't have access to a T/H stock, just pantamine taking your thumb out of the hole, pushing the safety off, and putting your thumb back into the hole, all the while you're bringing the rifle to your shoulder and trying to get a sight picture on a xxx that is passing thru a narrow opening in some thick woods. I've tried it and found it very ackward.

JWK

I used a thumbhole stocked 308 bolt as a work gun for several years.

When I first handled it I was not to keen on it.

It was a little slower on the follow up shots vs the Bolt rifle I had been using.

However, the more I shot it, and the more different positions I shot it from the more I liked it.

And I shot it a LOT, and from MANY different positions [several thousand rounds] from point blank to 800 yards, slow and rapid fire.

I am right handed, so when holding on to something with my left, with the rifle wedged somewhere the thumb hole stock is a lot more secure in my right hand.

The main negative of most thumbhole stocks, is that you cannot reach the safety with the rifle held in the firing position.

So there will be times, when firing might be required instantly, or not at all, depending on what transpires, where you will HAVE to hold the rifle in firing position, in the direction or the threat, or animal, with the safety OFF.

IF THAT MAKES YOU NERVOUS THEN DO NOT HAVE A RIFLE, THAT THE SAFETY CANNOT BE MANUPLATED, FROM THE FIRING POSITION, THUMBHOLE OR NOT.

No! It is too easy to break and may be awkward to fire with the other hand.

enfieldspares

With all respect, not all thumbhole stocks are fragile, and several of "My People" were left handed and shot a right handed thumbhole stock just fine.

Also on several occasions I shot my rifle left handed with no problems.

In fact, prone on bipod or bags, a right handed bolt rifle can be shot MUCH faster LEFT HANDED, WITH EQUAL ACCURACY.

And vice versa, if you understand what I mean.

quote:

Perhaps if your hunting is out west where you can spot and stalk your quarry from a distance and then get into a solid shooting position, etc, the T/H stock may work for you.

I used mine in the northern woods of Minnesota and Wisconsin.....no problem at all.

But the darn things don't carry via sling worth sour owl shit....

You can get a trigger guard with the safety blocking the trigger itself from the Harry Lawson Co. in Tucson. My Steyr Mauser .308 mounted in one of his stocks has that type of safety plus the FN style on the bolt as well. I keep the FN safety on until I get close to finishing my stalk, then turn that one off and rely on the Lawson trigger guard safety for the final stage of the hunt.
Paul B.

As a side note, a while back, I helped a friend sight in a Lawson Thumbhole stocked 300 Mag hunting rifle.
He had had it for several years, we were checking the zero.
It was an original just like you see in the Lawson adds. It was very lightweight with a very skinny barrel.

It was a SHOOTER. It shot VERY WELL.

450. I've had several rifles done by Randy Lawson and all have been tack drivers. I've lived here in Tucson now for 30 years, and I've tried a few of the local gunsmiths over those years and I'll just say that if I need anything done these days, Lawson gets the work. He ain't cheap but anything done right usually isn't.
Paul B.

JWK,

It's all a matter of comfort. Your particular hunting situation is what dictates how well you deliver the shot.
Do you have to carry the rifle a lot?
Do you hunt in a static situation?
Do you have range limitations aka tight visual quarters?

Shooting range situations, where the shot is deliberate and the position known are different from actual hunting shooting opportunities. I would take these questions into consideration and evaluate how successful I'd been with a conventional stock in your neck of the woods.

Both stock designs have good points and bad points. The safety accessibility issue is important, regardless whether you are hunting from a blind or whether you travel. Your comfort in taking the shot is important but safety is primordial, especially if you are in a group.

I'll be looking forward on your decision.

Tazzman.