Guys

I have most of the components for my 500 A2 on order, including a walnut blank for the stock which generates a question regarding the best stock shape to minimise recoil. By that I mean recoil upward, not back. I have a 450 Ackley and the stock has little drop in the butt and recoil straight back is quite acceptable. But recoil on my cheek bone is somewhat distracting as the muzzle flips back and knocks me about. I am interested to hear from others who may have overcome this with the heavier recoilers.

Thanks

Fergus

I would suggest to pick a straight classic design. Make it so the cheekpiece is absolutely paralell to the bore, but just so low that the bolt have enought space to go free when you work it. Make the stock a tad longer then usal to. So you have to go quite hard into it to have a nice view trought the sights. That way the rifle will not travel to far back during recoil.
Also, make the butt-end much larger than usual, and put at least a "Decelarator", but even better; a "Triple Mag" on it. (Both from Pachmayr.)
But the height on the cheek-piece depends on, if you are about to have a scope on it, or only iron sights off coarse.
The 500 is a nice shooter if the stock is made right, I think. I've tried both, in several kickers.
Anyway thats MY experience.
I guess RIP will attack me now............

I made my stock from scratch by gluing plywood and then shaping the stock. I bought the F990 medium size and made the but to fit it without sanding the F990 smaller. I made a drop of about 1 cm from the start of the cheak piece to the but. The start of the cheak piece is as high as to allow the bolt to cycle freely. I made it a litle longer than normal allso.

This works very well for me. There is some muzzle rise but not as much its bothering me. I have fired full 450 Rigby loads with this one and now I'm breaking in a 500A2 barrel with soft loads for a 695grain BMG bullet. I would make it the same meassurements again.

I'd take a good look at the stock design on the newer (less than 5 years old) Model 70s. The stock design is excellent, it was primarily designed for them by David Miller. jorge

Guys

Thanks for the input. A friend has a wildcat very similar to the 500 A2 - though its been a few years since I have shot it. I will have to put a few rounds through it with loads approximating what I plan to use in my 500 and remind myself how it feels. I will also have a good chat with my stock maker on some of these comments.

Thanks again.

Fergus

A thumbhole is best at taking recoil, but A-squares rig is probably the best overall. Of course both are butt ugly to most.

ALCON,

I just got the opportunity to wring-out my 500A2. I've read where some folks don't believe that A2's claim of their stocks reduce felt recoil; also, that they are less than attractive to the eye.
First, recoil reduction from the A2 stock is not a myth; end of statement.
Second, it is a beautiful piece for what it is ... a sledgehammer. It has no sleek curves, elegant checkering or masterful engraving. Those would be like putting racing stripes on a D11 dozer. It is a big piece of metal on a big chunk of nice wood that launches bricks at super-sonic speeds and can be purchased for less than the average American family makes in a year. If you can see the beauty of a 63ton armored vehicle... you can easily see the beauty in an A2 rifle.