What is your opinion of the new Remington M700 VL SS Thumbhole? I am thinking about ordering but wonder about fit of thumbhole stock. I've never owned a thumbhole stock but am interested.

Thanks.

Buliwyf: That stock fits me to a "T"! I love it!
It looks great and works well in the field and at the range.
Now as far as you "ordering" one. I do not see them listed in the Remington 2,006 catalog and they are not listed in the 2,007 on line Remington catalog!
The only place I have seen these Rifles is inside various Sportsmens Warehouse Stores - on their racks.
And they sell pretty quickly!
I think the Sportsmens Warehouse People ordered up a bunch of these for themselves! The first batch they got back in 2,005 sold out so quickly that another batch was ordered and these to, leave their shelves rather quickly! I went to three different Sportsmens Warehouse Stores last week (in Federal Way, Washington in Spokane, Washington and in Missoula, Montana) all three stores had NONE of these Rifles on their shelves! Whereas in early December of 2,006 each store had them.
I think I recall someone claiming the cabelas chain stores have (or had!) these Rifles - I don't know that for a fact.
Good luck in your ordering (search for?) one of these!
Do you have information that contradicts my observations? Have you seen these Rifles on store shelves in other stores? Do you know a place they can be ordered from?
Again I wholeheartedly endorse these stocks for all around Varminting and for range work!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Hello VarmintGuy!

I have only seen the M700 VL SS Thumbhole in the 2007 hardcopy catalog. I thought it was a new product for 2007.

I was hoping for some feeback before I got serious about running one down. Thanks for commenting.

Last October, I actually got to hold one. Remington guy was a Sportsmans Warehouse in Austin Texas with one. They actually produced and sold a very limited few. Pretty much like any other stainless 700 with what looked to me as a Boyds stock. Finish was nice. Probably a real good varmint rig. I sure wish they had one in a 243 or 6mm.

I was thinking the same thing about the Thumbhole stock in .243 or 6mm. I guessed maybe recoil on the thumb web from an extended shooting session was the limiting factor?

Buliwyf: You have seen a hard copy catalog - then I believe it is available.
Good for Remington - I hope it sells well for them!
I tried to find a Remington catalog all last week at numerous sport shops but no luck.
The word was they would be out just after the Shot Show!
Which is now.
Thanks for the update, and this - what calibers is the 700 VS SF II available in according to your catalog?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I believe it is a Boyds stock. The 22-250 fits me perfect; a bit heavy so it's not for walking all day with, but more accurate than I am. You do hold it a little differently at the bench; my best results are to let it recoil freely.

AZ223, that is exactly the rifle I'm talkin bout.

VarmintGuy, my 2007 catalog says the Remington M700 VS SF II is available in 204 Ruger, 220 Swift, 223 Remington, and 22-250 Remington.

I'd better get busy looking for a Thumbhole model which is chambered in .204 Ruger, 223 Remington, and 22-250 Remington. Beggars can't be choosey so I'll take what I can get.

Buliwyf: Good luck and I personally hope you find one in 204 Ruger!
I just can't over-emphasize how happy I am with my Varmint Rifles in caliber 204 Ruger!
Again best of luck with your new Rifle whenever you get your hands on it.
And thanks for the update on which calibers that new cataloged Remington 700 VL SS will be available in!
Personally I wish it were also available in 243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, 260 Remington, 222 Remington Magnum, 222 Remington, 221 Remington Fireball, 17 Remington AND 17 Remington Fireball!
But I digress.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

That stock is a Boyd's thumbhole, so if you can't find one of the ones you want, but you can find a varmint caliber you want, you can order that stock thru Boyd's finished or unfinished.. it is about $80.00 unfinished before shipping...

it is also available in a grey laminate...

and if you don't mind waiting, you can even get it in about 15 different laminate colors.. that usually takes about 3 months wait....and run about $150.00 unfinished... finishing them takes about 2 leisurely hours sanding it ( which I do watching TV,, with a towel underneath to catch the dust)... then you put a coat of tongue oil on it, and then let it dry overnight, and then add a coat of poly urethane the next day or so and let it dry overnight...

you can go nuts and do multiple coats like some do, but that is pretty redundant in my book...


here is a link to the Ruger 77 Mk 2 thumbhole I did for a friend in Montana.. this is not the varmint version, but it is in one of the optional wood laminate patterns...

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2095745046

cheers
seafire

Thanks seafire. That takes the pressure off.

Cheers,

For a bench gun or a Pdog gun where you're set up for a while, they are great. They are too heavy for a carry rifle and if you're planning on using one on a deer or elk hunting rifle where you may have to do some quick safety manipulations, you might want to try getting you thumb out of the hole, flipping the safety off, and putting your thumb back into the hole a few times before deciding. I tried the Boyd stock on a deer rifle for a season and it was just too ackward for me. I do have one (came with it) on a XR-100 and one on a VS 22-250 that I shoot Pdogs with.

Hi Buliwyf:


I own several different types of thumbhole stocks and like them all. The ones you are looking at are made by Boyds. They have two types of the style you are looking at. The first is what they call the Ross Thumbhole. It has the standard forearm. The other is what they call the Varmint Thumbhole. It has a beavertail forearm with vent slots in the forearm. They normally come in either brown or black laminate. There are more colors if you want to pay extra for them.

The Ross Thumbhole sells for $77.94 for the unfinished and $159.84 for the finished. The Varmint Thumbhole sells for 84.49 for the unfinished stock. They might need some minor fitting and I would have mine glass bedded.

Of all the stocks I've ordered, Boyds needs the least amount of fitting. My personal favorite thumbhole is Richards Microfit Wildcat stock. They look wild but fit like a glove when fitted to you. Below is a link to their web sites


Boyds Gunstocks, http://www.boydboys.com/


Richards Microfit, http"//www.rifle-stocks.com/

If you don't mind doing a little work yourself, you could end up with something really special!!


Catch you later,

The Big Dog