I recently acquired the gun shown below. I traded a CZ shotgun (NIB that I won @ Ruffed Grouse Society banquet) plus some $ for it at my local gunshop. There are always neat and odd used guns there.

I already have a 1956 m-88. This one is a 1970. Two questions...

(1) The stock ia an aftermarket, I assume. I want to sell it and replace it with a colored laminate drop-in sold by RR of Optunia Stocks in Sask., Canada. He posts on AR and has nice stuff. Any idea what I should ask for the stock? It has a Decelerator pad, cheek piece, rosewood (?) cap and what I call a "Bavarian" hump(sounds bawdy). Checkering is great, some small dings in the wood.

(2) Re: muzzle brake...were they commonly added? It's only a .308. It will mostly be used by my wife who can shoot a .375, but I'm thinking this thing is gonna be LOUD, plus have some blowback. I'll of course shoot it first, but will probably have MB removed. Bad idea? This gun will be used for hunting, not really concerned about future value.

Any suggestions are welcome. I am obviously no gunsmith but I enjoy BLR's, 99's, Finnwolf's, and 88's.

It looks like the former owner of that rifle was sensitive to recoil. The Muzzle brake (not factory), the butt pad (not factory), the check piece (not factory). Overall it's a nice looking rifle.

Replace that butt pad with something thinner and it might be the perfect rifle for your wife.

Being post 64 and already modified, it has little if any collector value. It is the perfect gun to modify as you please!

Check about the stock for RR. There has been a lot of negative stuff about him on the Canadian forums. I haven't seen him post for a while, so don't know all the story.

I hear you,I was in touch last May BEFORE I got this gun and now no reply from either his website or email. I'll keep my fingers crossed, I really liked those laminated Win. 88 stocks on his website!

joester; Unless the work on that stock was poorly done you probably shouldn't be too eager to replace it. There is ample wood in the butt to improve the profile by re-shaping a bit on the bottom line and at the rear of the Monte Carlo. It would improve the appearance and the Monte Carlo and cheek piece may make use of the scope a little easier for her. Adjust length to suit her and refinish.

I'd leave the muzzle brake on. Yes, it's only a .308 and your wife has shot .375 rifles in the past. But I've noticed that the less my wife gets beat up by recoil, the more likely she is to enjoy a day of shooting. And besides, you're supposed to be wearing ear/eye protection when you're shooting anyway, right?

I would also vote for having the butt portion of the stock reshaped and fitted to your wife. Maybe it is just the angle of the picture, the butt looks large, which would also help reduce felt recoil.

if it's for the wife let HER shoot it and tell you what she want's done to the rifle.
otherwise it just becomes something she don't care about too much and you can't touch it.

My wife has shot dozens of rifles. She's lucky (and so am I!) she's a natural behind the scope. We both want to restock & refinish this particular rifle. Make it into a nasty weather hunting rifle. Alberta Canuck was kind enough to inform me of some possible stock options (pun intended!) Good shooting to everyone.

Before you get rid of the stock,mount a scope and see how it shoots.You might change your mind about investing in another stock.