Question for the experts/ gun nuts on AR.

I've got a couple of builds I'm starting to think about. First up will be a 9.3x62 or .404.

I really like the idea of using a mauser action for these calibers, but have a strong personal preference for an American classic style of stock with a shadow line cheekpiece vs a british express style with the pancake cheek piece.

Do you guys view that as a negative in any way, feel it would be a better rifle it it was done british style (let's say in the eyes of someone buying it later). I get that it is a matter of personal taste, but curious if there is any general bias against putting a traditionally mauser caliber and action in an American style stock?

Thanks

Your gun, your likes...build it to suit you. All of mine or on American Classic stocks.

Griffin & Howe style, as American as you can get.

Heck no build it your way !
i love rifles and guitars. I have my tastes you have yours.
My tastes generally lead to american cartridges in model 70s Euro rounds in mausers.
But to each his own my friend.
...tj3006

The advantage to a custom build is that you can build it like you want, USA style, British style, German style, French style, or even your own style.

I like the British oval cheekpiece and not the German pancake type. But many, and perhaps most, of the British rifles being built today have had a teardrop (for lack of a better word) shape.

For example, this is a Holland & Holland rifle built in 1993. It is typical of most of their bolt rifles. No pancake.

This is a welcome and ,to me,refreshing look at stocks. I ,for a majority of one, prefer the 'American' style to the British style stock. I particularly dislike the aborted forearm on British rifles. I prefer something I can hang on to with out resorting to wrapping my sweaty fingers around a blued barrel. My current rifle being built on my Sarco/Dumoulin action will have a Boyd 'classic' stock with some modifications - a Neidner buttplate and grip cap and a contrasting wood forearm tip. It will be an American design for an American, built by an American gunsmith on a Mauser action in 7x57 caliber. The barrel will be an American Krieger 8.5 twist. I have said for years that US Gunsmith's are and have always been second to none on earth. And I don't think that opinion is influenced by the fact I was trained at an American gunsmith school where they taught us to make American style stocks and complete rifles in the American style.

my customs are all pretty much the American Classic stock.

It better suits my upper body shape.

That, and the fact that the style is hard to beat for eye appeal.

ISS

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
my customs are all pretty much the American Classic stock.

It better suits my upper body shape.

That, and the fact that the style is hard to beat for eye appeal.

ISS

I cant argue with your first statement but the second is opinion only.

10generation,
The quality of the end product will have the greatest impact on your enjoyment and on its value in the secondary market. That said, my preference is for consistency of concept. I'd either build an American classic for an American cartridge or a Continental classic for a Continental cartridge. Early on, I had some rifles built that had inconsistent styling and I don't really care for them now. Most custom rifles loose half their value upon delivery because most custom rifles have design or construction issues.

My 2 cents worth.

quote:

A Mauser with an American Classic Stock

Generally I prefer something along the lines of British styling, like out of the Ralf Martini shop,

Yet I would not say no to something like this:

http://www.echolsrifles.net/im...0WinchesterLarge.jpg

that would look awfully good at my house. It could even stay in the living room...

ISS

Thanks guys.

Forrest's comment struck me.

I think that is part of what I'm wondering - I can build whatever I want, but I want to appreciate the rifle over time, and want my kids too as well.

Might be that consistency in design will appeal more to me over time.

Would your kids be more appreciative of the style of stock you had the rifle built with or the fact that whatever the style chosen, it was your hands which rubbed the little bit of blueing off the barrel here and there or on the floorplate or it was in your hands when it received little dings here and there while you carried it afield?

To a point style be damned. If I want to have a piece of walnut carved up for me it should fit me perfectly and however that comes out if merely a reflection of my physical traits.

quote:

Originally posted by Dall85:
Your gun, your likes...build it to suit you. All of mine or on American Classic stocks.

Bluefish,

I have my grandfather's pre-64 model 70 (.270) and the best part is knowing that he carried it back in the 50's and my son (who was named after him and knew his great grandfather well) will carry it in the future.

Thanks guys for the advice.

Forrest nailed it down..For a 9.3x62 or 64 I would lean towards a mild Germanic build such as the J.P. Sauer..

For the 404 Jefferys I would build a severely British stock with short forend, perhaps a Prince of whales grip, but at least longated, set up to be usable with both irons and scope. a shadow line pancake cheek piece is always nice, A Silvers recoil pad, this is just for starters, but the metal work would follow the same practice.

The bottom line is YOU must build it like YOU want it, not what somebody else likes.