Looking for a stock for a 458 WinMag, built on a mauser action. It's not going to be a traditional wood stock, so I have a few questions I don't know the answers to. I'd be willing to bet this was covered in the past, but I can't search today...

Do laminated stocks require reinforcing cross bolts?
If not required, are they recommended anyway?
Do the synthetic/fiberglass stocks require reinforcing, or just bedding?
Any synthetic stock recommendations?
Do the stocks with the small negative angle from heel to wrist along the comb really help with lessening the cheek smack from recoil - or would a plain straight comb be better?

If it helps, this rifle will only wear iron sights. No scope is planned at any time. I know there are a lot of cheap, crappy synthetic stocks around, so anyone who has used one with heavy rifles that can offer advise would be great to hear from. What works? What to stay away from? thanks, maxman

If you decide on a laminate, think about using a Serengeti stock. Not only do their laminates look like wood (no ply-wood appearance), but they build an awful lot of heavy hitters and are used to installing cross bolts (which they recommend), and glass bedding with the bolts. With a Serengeti stock, you can also determine your setup (drop at heel) appropriately for open sights. People differ a lot in how far they like to get down on a stock to see open sights, but unless you make your open sights REALLY high, it is hard to use open sights on a stock made for scope useage.
- mike

For an iron sighted gun, I want some cast off, a short forend, barrel band swivel, and some drop at the comb and heel, open at the grip..Ala an English rifle, H&H etc.

Cast off will definately aid in the reduction of recoil...My prefered stock design will split up the recoil about half back to the shoulder and the other half up..I like that..A very straight stock will drive it all back into the shoulder and some folks like this...I don't....

I think the American Classic design is fine for medium caliber rifles, but for big bores I like what the English did, at least that is the way it has worked for me...We are all built differently and that always has a bearing on how one likes his stocks...Many folks like the Monte Carlo, I don't particularly like the look but it works pretty darn well...Same goes for the humpback European design, ugly but it works for some...

I think that is something each of us has to determine for ourselves and the self rightous souls who swear that only the American classic is a proper stock, probably drove a Nash or Desoto for years....

Maxman:

I put together a similar project earlier this year. I built a .458WM on a VZ 24 Mauser action.

I, too, wanted only iron sights and a synthetic stock. After much searching and thought, I decided on a Bell & Carlson Medalist stock in tan web. I could not be happier.

The B&C Medalist has a full length aluminum chassis from the forearm past the grip into the wrist of the stock. My action fit perfectly into inletting and required only a little work around the tang and front ring. No filler just a little Dremel and file work. Of course, the barrel groove needed enlarging due to the .458 contour, 22" Douglas premium #5, I believe. I did have a barrel mounted recoil lug installed so that had to be inletted and bedded in the forearm. I did not bed the action as it fit perfectly according to my experienced gunsmith who did all the finishing work and bluing. No cross bolts are needed with this bedding system and barrel lug in my opinion.

As for sights, I used the NECG (Recknagel) adjustable Masterpiece rear and their H&H style banded front sight with pop up ivory night sight. The height of these sights combined with the straight/classic style stock and the proper cast off(for me anyway) allows the gun to be mounted perfectly for me.

You may be aware that Weatherby uses a version of this stock for the DGR in .378, .416 & .460WBY cartridges. If it can take these boomers it can certainly take a .458WM. I did add a 11 oz. C&H mercury reducer(Brownells) in the stock which probably helped reduce recoil but more importantly it improved the balance as I felt it was barrel heavy. The stock is not as heavy as others. Pachmayr Decelerator is standard.

Factory LOP is 13.5" and I added a 1/4" spacer to give it my personalized 13.75" LOP.

The support from B&C is first rate in my opinion. I called them and discussed my project with Dustin, one of the managers, and he provided valuable knowledge and advice. I planned on using a barrel band swivel however theirs came with a forearm stud. He said no problem for a special order and then told me it would be less expensive to go through Cabelas special order department than to buy directly from them. How's that for customer service? He then gave me Cabelas number and told me how to order it from them. It took about 6 weeks to receive. Give him a call at 602-225-6688.

Bottom line is that I am very happy with the stock and the project. The tan web B&C Medalist looks good with matte blue almost black metal and the iron sights I picked work great. It mounts easily and the sights are properly aligned for me. I don't know what the final rifle weighs but if I had to guess, I would say 8.5-9.25 lbs. Recoil is very mangeable but developing loads from the bench can be tiresome as any big bore can be.

I can't wait to try it on Cape Buffalo, hopefully next year.

Good Luck,

RCG

Those are the sights I am going to use as well. I haven't decided if I want to go with the banded front or their ramp front - a small detail. The Medalist is one of the stocks I am looking at, along with their Carbelite model. The Carbelite has the reverse slope along the comb so your cheek falls away from the stock during recoil - supposedly. I've never shot anything stocked like that so I have no frame of reference. They both look like nice stocks. A barrel band swivel mount will be standard equipment, of course. I might just adjust the size of the hole in the forearm after removing the standard swivel stud and epoxy in a 458 case head to cover it up. Mounted flush, it would add a small personal touch to it, and I won't have to special order anything.

I have half a mind to leave the bolt handle straight on this one. It will certainly keep it up out of the way, and I don't need it bent to clear a scope. I kind of like the old-school looks of the straight bolt handle anyway. Because of this, I was also looking at some of the laminated stocks - they can be had without any bolt notch molded/cut. Is a good bedding job all that's needed on a laminated stock? I might call up B&C to discuss options anyway. Thanks for the tip. maxman

I've got a 458 built on a Boyds JRS laminate stock that has held up very well. It has a small crossbolt (really more of a pin) with a second recoil lug on the barrel. The action and both recoil lugs are well bedded. The barrel is a little long for some (25") but it sure helps tame recoil and points very steady for me.





Dakota sights as I recall and a barrel mounted sling swivel.

I just got threw building mine. I put a #5 contour 21.5 in pacnor and bedded it in the orgional Ruger laminate. I had it fully glassed and have had no problems. I'll try to poast a pic.

Thanks for the laminate info. Yours looks very nice browningguy - can't even tell it's laminated from the pic. I do look forward to seeing yours too LILED. I think I will go with a laminated stock for a couple reasons: I can reshape/shorten/etc it at will, I can get one without a bolt handle notch rasped in, my choice of recoil pads, and a good bedding job with some internal pins (machine screws) at key points will be plenty strong. I do like laminates more than synthetics. They feel more like wood, after all. Here are the ones I'm leaning towards (both from Brownells):
stock #1
stock #2

Of the two, I like the first one better. It's got a better shape to it for iron sights - it appears the comb is lower. Plus there will be less shaping involved for me besides enlarging the barrel channel. Claimed weight is 2 lbs, 5 oz - which is not too heavy. Any opinions/experience on these? maxman