One of the local Guild members was kind enough to offer me some constructive criticism about the length of my stock pistol grip.

I'm sincere here as I don't have a problem of constructive criticism from one of the masters. It's always welcome! One should consider himself fortunate to get such advice.

I'm now interested in more opinions as I'm going to rework my stock (the second photo) based on the feedback I get here.

I found this photo from Roland on the classifieds.....a very handsome stock....and a prime example of a much shorter length of pistol grip.

Which stock do you prefer based solely on the pistol grip length feature.....all else aside.

Grip style is of the Weatherby era. Change the angle to come out on a line a couple of inches with a point at the top of the butt end. Have about a zero to no more than 3/16 in. radius behind the cap If you are trying to make a classic style shape the wooden cap like a metal one. A little more detail to the under cuts at the front of the comb will change things for a better appearance.

Use the monkey see and monkey do method. Look at others stocks on AR and pick what you like. Everyone has their own likes and mine are described above.

Without hesitation I would prefer the shorter pistol grip .

What Les said.
Regards, Joe

Definitely like the first stock much better. As mentioned above the second stock, (shape), looks very much the loads of inexpensive weatherby type stocks available from Richards Micro-fit and other as well as many of those stocks on old "quasi-custom" sporters you see all the time on the acution sites for a few hundred bucks..

Of course this is not to take away from you your stock which looks very nice..only to suggest that the style is not particularly appealing to me.

JC

Vapo,

Love the figure in the wood of your stock. I'd say if you like the grip then leave it the way it is especially if this is your rifle. I prefer the pistol grip looks in the top photo, but comfort while shooting is more important to me than the looks.

I would have to say find your own style that you like.

I like the top photo.
Butch

Enlarged or flared pistol grips scream 1960s garage gunsmith wanna-be. Today's styles are much more subtle.

I do like the "shorter" configuration.

LOL....seems unanimous....

Now for the bad news.....I just went to my gun cabinet and counted eight rifles made of the same pattern.....but three of them yet to be checkered.

I truly agree with the "Weatherby" style comments but usually associated that with monte carlos and trapazoidal forends. To me '60s style included white spacers and these were easy to "say no" to as they really weren't pleasing at all.

So now it's off to the drawing board to try to fix three stocks in keeping with the modern style.

Thanks to all for the honest comments.

The real question is whether you are going to have enough there to change them without running out of room for your hand!

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
The real question is whether you are going to have enough there to change them without running out of room for your hand!

And this is the critical factor for your stock. If you hold the stock in a ready to fire position, where is the bottom of your hand touching. This will give you more imformation than our combined preference for the shorter grip.

Von Gruff.

Dollars against donuts, the stock in top photo will result in less felt recoil. Reason: it will permit recoil energy to be transmitted in more of a straight vector. Take a look at the stock on a Don Allen era Dakota 76.

Also, fewer hurt fingers.

Pain is not a Good Thing.

Good hunting.

The open style grip is so much moore apealing. If done right it makes the rifle look like it is going fast even when sitting still.

Top photo.

I like the grip in the top photo better, but I prefer virtually everything else in the bottom photo.

I shortened the grip on a GAG rough turned stock once.

BEFORE:


AFTER:


I may even finish it oneday

Terry

Vapo, I guess I make the tactless response of responding to a question with a question, but...

Everyone seems to like the more classic 'open' grips, i.e. the top photo. I wonder what contributes to best accuracy, shootability?

I like more closed grips, and several of the sniper style stocks that I have on some of my rifles, like my TRG 22 are more 'closed'. This leads me to believe that this style contrinbutes to more accuracy???
I think both styles can be attractive, but in the end, I guess it's just what looks good to you, as they are both probably pretty effective. I like something like the second one better, but maybe just a little more aeshtetically pleasing...

I prefer the Wby stock for both looks and shooting. But note I said Wby stock not Wby style stock.

The second stock does not seem to match up the way a Wby does.

So in this case I prefer the look of the top rifle but would still prefer the bottom rifle for shooting.

As an aside it is interesting to show non shooters different rifles where they have no pre conceived ideas.

Can't seak about Americans but the Australian will go for a Mark V Wby every time and doubly so a Crown Custom with inlays.

But there is one that tops the Wby. We used to have made in Australia and alloy stock for bench guns. It was roughly the shape of the early Rem 40X, with the wide forend tapering up to the barrel/stock line but the stock was skelton in forend and butt. The forend had two rails on the bottom and two at the top and a vertical join and horizontal join about midway.

Painted blue, stainless action and Number 5 barrel, non shooters loved it, thought they were from star wars.

Another rfile I found non shooters like a lot were the Rem 700 stainless in those grey and cream laminated stocks.

I believe it depends on what we prefer the rifle to use.
For a real (big game) hunting rifle , where snap shots and any shooting positions are demanded ,the classic"open" grip is not only better looking but more useful.
Those who make long sessions on the bench feel more comfortable with the "closed " form.

Like TC1, I shortened a grip on a GAG also. Actualy the grip length got longer by shortening the grip and moveing the grip cap rearward to the toe line, removeing excess foward wood, making the length of grip actually longer and even more open.
Looks like you could do the same thing to that stock vapo

I like the more open grip to look at but I still like my Hogue overmolded with it's closed grip to shoot. I had it explained to me once that if you shoot offhand with your right elbow up you will probably like the open grip. If you tend to pull the right elbow down then the closed grip will be more comfortable. I have both styles but given the choice I'll take the 338 with the Hogue every time. By the way, nice work Vapo. DW

Dog,
Its the shorter grip for me. I may be imagining things but I feel it keeps my head down on the rifle helping to ensure proper sight picture.



"Back off man..I'm a scientist"

When it comes to grip length, I think the grip should be long enough to accomodate all the fingers of the shooter's hand (that is, the three which will reside on the grip), plus a bit (for gloves, etc.). If, because the shooter has very large fingers (my banana fingered son-in-law would be a good example. His wedding ring fits nicely on my thumb), the grip has to be made longer, then the area behind the grip needs to be made deeper so the grip doesn't hang down like a reproductive apendage.
As to open vs. closed design, this is influenced by shooting style as well as by what the builder prefers. If a shooter holds the rifle with elbow high, an open grip will fit very well. In the prone position, where the elbow is down, a more vertical (closed) grip will be more comfortable. Again, the physiology of the shooter will influence grip shape as well as size.
On a rifle with considerable recoil, the grip is better located a bit further away from the trigger guard. This would seem to indicate a more open grip since this is the best way to move the hand to the rear while still looking good. Moving a vertical grip back can look OK as long as one is careful to not over-do it and avoid a grip with a double radius.
Keep in mind, I'm not a real stockmaker but I've looked at real stockmakers' work and have started to reach some conclusions. Regards, Bill.

I have large hands and much prefer a longer grip. That is, when i see a rifle with a real short grip it does not even look functional to me. However, I also much prefer Monte Carlo stocks so I don't have to scrutch my shoulder up and head down to shoot. Not every stock fits everybody.

quote:

Not every stock fits everybody.

If that ain't the truth.....

Fit is definitely an issue to me as my right hand is fairly deformed and I'm right handed.....I formerly made thumbhole stocks as they were easiest for me to hold. I graduated to the classic style but still require a fast curl in the pistol grip.

I couldn't work with the stock in the first photo for anything.

At issue here (for me) is only the length of extension of the pistol grip past the main branch of the stock..

I'm going to try to make an entirely different grip cap and scrap the flared cap I've been making.

Rifle fashions come and go. What the others have said about fit goes. Which gives you most control over your rifle ?

This grip is 3 7/8 inches from the center of the trigger to the front of the cap. My 7 lb. 7X57 Mexican has a little more drop on the comb and the toe for my style of shooting. Ebony cap and tip on the Turkey plain walnut stock. If I understand your question it was dealing with the type of caps you are installing. The classic style needs to be more like my first post. If I were making the Weatherby style I would have a Monte Carlo cheek piece. To each his on style. No one is wrong it is just your personnal choise

quote:

Originally posted by heavenknows:
Without hesitation I would prefer the shorter pistol grip .

Same here.

From the rear of the trigger guard to the end of the pistol grip and how it joins the stock at the comb and at the bottom, I like the top pistol grip in the top photo best.