My 50 B&M weighed 9-1/2 lbs with an AI laminated stock. I put the rifle in a plain vanilla Winchester factory plastic stock. I did not do any bedding work at all, it just dropped right in.



Weight as shown is 8 lbs, without scope, 7 lbs.

I took it to the range for a test drive using some 450gr NF flat point solids at 2150 fps.

I really did not know what to expect, venturing into unknown waters here. I shot the rifle standing w/o the scope first, then put the scope on for subsequent shots.

Not too bad. The plastic stock takes some of sharpness out of the recoil impulse and the big, fat recoil pad helps ease shoulder thumps.
Physics, however, is still a harsh mistress and you have pay attention to form and technique when shooting, this thing will bite you if you don't stay focused.

With the scope on, given the amount of rearward movement during recoil, crawling up on the stock is not a good idea. From a standing position, with a normal head position on the stock for a good sight picture, I was getting close to getting some love taps from the eyepiece. No actual contact, but I could tell I was getting close.

Only put 14 shots thru it, we'll see about long term durability.

The scope had shifted in the rings a little bit prior to this in the AI stock, a testament to the sharp recoil impulse of the 50 B&M. I used JB Weld to secure the scope in the rings and all is well so far.

Michael, if you are offended by the plastic stock and suffer an attack of The Vapors upon viewing, my apologies in advance

Best, Russ.

Head Trauma
i did the exact same thing i broke 2 stocks and bought the AI Laminated stock and it made my light handy rifle a club. I have fired hundreds of rounds with my plain vanilla stock and no issues. I uses the Nikon 1-4x power scope with Leupod QRW mounts and put loctite on every screw and it has help up well. The rifle weights 6 lbs 12 oz without a scope. it definitely gets your attention but shooting free hand or off sticks its tolerable.
Chris

My .458 B&M has the same stock, "Ultimate Shadow" model.
Drop-in fit.
Accurate.
Proof here, the busiest target ever, informationallY,
4 shots in one hole at 50 yards, then I pulled the fifth, held down too hard on the stock on sandbags:





I broke the rules by using:
* a faster twist (1:10")
** longer throat at my request (.458 B&M throat is a secret)
*** a Leupold scope
**** and making the barrel a humongous long 19.75"!

It still shoots well in that Ultimate Shadow drop-in stock!
Mine is a Connecticut Classic M70 that originally came with a Tupperware synthetic stock as a 300 WSM.
I have since replaced the Leupold scope with a Nikon:

You guys are fortunate that you can use the OEM stocks with the "standard" U.S. LOP - approximately 13½".

I have OEM Winchester walnut, AI maple and a commercial laminate stock for my .458B&M. All have had the LOP increased to 14½" to better fit my long arms and neck and save trips to the ER. I did the same with my previously owned 458Lott RSM and have likewise had my Merkel 500NE DR stock also extended to the 14½" LOP.

Life would be simpler - and less expensive - if I could use the "standard" LOP, but it just doesn't work well for me on large bore, high recoiling rifles. 416 and under seem to be manageable with the standard LOP.

BTW, Brian (SSK) advised me the OEM Winchester synthetic stocks could not be lengthened enough for my fit.

Never a problem.Use slip-on pads and make LOP what you want on a 13.5" routine factory stock.
My LOP is 14.5" with bolt action and 15.5" to front trigger of my Merkel 470 NE.
A 13.5" stock easily becomes a 14.5".
A 14.5" stock easily becomes 15.5".
It does not worsen recoil either. Makes me shoot better.
Only drawback is extended pinky finger appeal is lacking.

I have small, medium, large, and X-large leather slip-on pads that I dye different colors and can adjust LOP with different homemade inserts.
The rubber slip-on pads work great too, all sizes and varieties on hand.
IIRC, I use one of the Pachmayr Decelerator rubber slip-ons over Ultimate Shadow butt.
Black and tan ain't bad.

Leather ACTION brand slip-on pad I dyed black and custom cut on other side to accommodate cheek piece,
on a CZ Kevlar,
plus thin foam insert added for LOP:



Pachmayr Decelerator rubber slip-on pads are neato:











Old LmbSaver slip-on that has not melted, yet, helpful with the thin Ruger No. 1 buttpad on a 450 NE that used to be a .458 Lott:



A 14.5" LOP McMillan and a 13.5" LOP McMillan with slip-on pad, works for me. Both rifles are .500-caliber.



ACTION brand leather pad not dyed, original color:



Merkel 14.5" LOP becomes 15.5" LOP, with two different leather slip-ons:



Another dyed ACTION pad:



Galco pad as sold color:





Take off pad for cold weather shooting in a heavy coat.
Add pad for T-shirt shooting. No PAST pads neeeded at the range for extended shooting sessions.

RIP-

Thanks for the suggestion and all the pics.

I have never been a fan of the rubber slip on pads as I find them to be ugly and they will cause discoloration on wood stocks if ignored, are subject to tears in the thorn bush and eventually rot away. I do like the looks of the GALCO leather pads you use. Are they available in different sizes? I'll have to look them up, as I think I can get a Winchester OEM synthetic. Although at this point, 3 stocks for my B&M are more than I'll ever need. Do you use any other brand of leather pad?

ACTION (or Action-Products) brand and Galco brand leather pads are the best.
I just pick them off the rack whenever I see them in gunshops.
Tried to find them once on internet and failed at first attempt, tried again, see below.
Galco is prettiest color out of the package, and has most sizes, S, M, L, and X-L.

http://www.traphappens.com/action-products

http://www.amazon.com/Galco-Recoil-Pad/dp/B00LAC8ZUY

http://www.bestgear.com/galcor...aPoL8CFeIWMgodbz0AVg



New color, even better: Dark Havana

"The Galco Recoil Pad - recoil protection.

This Galco slip on Recoil Pad slips snugly over the butt of your gun and is held in place with an overlapping hook and loop fastener. It is constructed of dark havana leather and a 1/2" thick shock absorbing gel, which reduces felt recoil up to 50%.
Length is heel to toe.
SM - 5" length and 1 1/2" width
MED - 5 3/16" length and 1 1/2" width
LG - 5 5/16" length and 1 5/8" width
X-LG - 5 1/2" length and 1 13/16" width
Available in Dark Havana"

quote:

Michael, if you are offended by the plastic stock and suffer an attack of The Vapors upon viewing, my apologies in advance

Russ.....

Not offended by the Ultimate stock at all. Fact is, I LOVE THOSE THINGS for many applications. I have several B&M rifles set up on a permanent basis with those stocks, which include the camp duratouch stocks too. Then I sent several of the black ultimates up to a place in Virginia close to Brent to have them camo both in a desert tan and SNOW WHITE camo

I have one stainless 458 B&M with 18 inch barrel set up, snow camo pattern, for nothing but ALASKA........

Recoil, yes, these are light. Until you get to heavier bullets and loads for buffalo, elephant + they are not a problem at all. When shooting heavy loads however the bolt comes back and knocks the bark off the back side of my trigger finger. In the past, duct tape when shooting, ON MY FINGER, solved that, but recently a B&M chap did a jam up job of grinding the bottom side of the bolt flat and it works great, I have some photos back home I can post of what he did to solve that problem.

As for the stock holding up, I have had those stocks in 458s for a long time, and good to go, some 50 B&Ms but I have not shot 1000s of loads in those stocks in 50s, but I can't see a reason that there would be a problem with them. They are plastic, not expensive, I have been paying $49.95 from CDNN and have lots of them. I have a 416 B&M 18 inch gun and that is all it has ever known and I love it, talk about handling great and light to carry, very very nice............

M

quote:

Originally posted Michael458:
... When shooting heavy loads however the bolt comes back and knocks the bark off the back side of my trigger finger. In the past, duct tape when shooting, ON MY FINGER, solved that, but recently a B&M chap did a jam up job of grinding the bottom side of the bolt flat and it works great...

Rounded top with flat bottom is exactly how the bolt handles were delivered by FN with their commercial M98 Mauser actions starting around 1950...

quote:

Rounded top with flat bottom is exactly how the bolt handles were delivered by FN with their commercial M98 Mauser actions starting around 1950...

Exactly correct, and when I get home if someone will remind me I have photos I can show of this on the Winchester, it looks good and solves that finger issue..... Then its just a bit of recoil with that stock with the heavy bullets to contend with. Fact is, I never paid any attention to the actual recoil, my finger was hurting too bad to worry with that...

M