A smith is building me a .416 Taylor on a Vz24 98 Mauser action with a stainless Pac-Nor barrel. After reading many posts on this forum and looking for a synthetic stock for this rifle, I am thinking of the Bell and Carlson Medalist, because it has an aluminum bedding block as well as cast-off built into the stock to help with recoil, and Brownell's dealer price is under $200. Anyone have any thoughts on this or any other affordable synthetic for a .416 on a 98 Mauser action? I hear good things from Peter Viljoen about H&H stocks made in RSA, but don't know if they are available in the USA.

Sorry I can't help you with your stock question, but your post looked so lonely that I decided to add something to it. I'm considering doing the same thing you are doing, except probably with a different barrel.

I've had a Bell and Carlson stock on a M70 for about 14 years now, and I have been very happy with it. The only wear is has is where the camo paint job has flaked off in small patches which is understandable as it has been a working gun on quite a few occasions. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

I'm also thinking about a 416 Taylor on a VZ24 action so I'm curious what all is being done to yours. When I get closer to decision time I'll decide whether I want to go with an Adams & Bennet barrel, have ER Shaw do it, or possibly a Walther barrel. Haven't decided whether I want this to be a cheaper gun that will give acceptable hunting accuracy or something I spend a few bucks on, as it will probably be the biggest centerfire I'll ever own.

I wish this were the most pressing project in my life right now but unfortunately it is about 199th or 200..... But feel free to talk about what you are having done to yours, and what you plan to use it on.

Thanks for your post, Mark. I started with a surplus Vz24 from Big 5 ($59.95). I will have the smith true the lugs, install a Timney trigger, install a M70 style wing safety, tweak the rails and drill and tap for Leupold QD mounts. I have specified the barrel at 25 inches, as I prefer to have a bit too much barrel than not enough, and I believe the length will help with recoil as well as add a few fps to velocity. I plan to mount a Leupold compact 2.5X scope at first, and when I can afford it, I will add a single, fixed shallow-vee rear and a large ivory bead front. I would like to use this gun on Cape buffalo or water buffalo in Australia some day, but for now, I will probably shoot more gas-checked hard-cast RCBS 365-grain FPs through it than anything, and mostly at paper and possibly mule deer. My thinking is that if I shoot this rifle consistently for a couple of years, learn to master its recoil and get to the point where I shoot it accurately from any field position, I will be ready for a hunt in Africa or Australia. I also have a soft spot for efficient wildcats, which is why I also shoot a .338-06.