Anyone familiar w/ MPI stocks?

I had planned to restock an M70 416Rem w/ either a Brown Precision "Alaskan" or a Rimrock. Rimrock told me today that it wouldn't fit their stock.

Brown is still on the table but a gunsmith (w/ experience on big bore M70s) suggested the MPI "Dakota".

Never heard of it, anyone w/ input??

Thanks

MPI has been making stocks for a lng time and to my knowledge makes them for about anything you desire. I have used them for fifteen years or longer. I currently have one on my Bauska actioned 505 Gibbs and like it a lot.
I am suprised about Rimrock not putting one on your M-70 416 as I have one on mine. I know they are busy and maybe you will need to install it yourslf.

GaryVA, I have a take-off Safari Express barrel and a M70 Rimrock here, and I was measuring it for fit and the Rimrock forend will fit no problem.

If they were referring to the under-barrel lug, then it would be a simple deal to inlet it yourself, or cut it off for that matter.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
MPI has been making stocks for a lng time and to my knowledge makes them for about anything you desire. I have used them for fifteen years or longer. I currently have one on my Bauska actioned 505 Gibbs and like it a lot.
I am suprised about Rimrock not putting one on your M-70 416 as I have one on mine. I know they are busy and maybe you will need to install it yourslf.

I had their tech over the phone. He said they've inletted their stock for the 375 M70, but that the 416 had a different contour and that it would not work. He had their stock in hand and I had my rifle w/ dial calipers giving him dimensions he requested over the phone. After rechecking the dimensions I gave him against the stock, he again said it would not fit the stock in the area of the barrel shank at the start of the contour. It sounded like he was trying to figure out how to make it work.

Maybe I'll phone them again.

quote:

Originally posted by free_miner:
GaryVA, I have a take-off Safari Express barrel and a M70 Rimrock here, and I was measuring it for fit and the Rimrock forend will fit no problem.

If they were referring to the under-barrel lug, then it would be a simple deal to inlet it yourself, or cut it off for that matter.

I sent Rimrock an email requesting clarification/verification on the M70 416Rem.

I did a search on "MPI" and from what I see so far, it appears that many hate this stock w/ a passion. The gunsmith I spoke to has no problems w/ them though. I think he uses them often.

MPI is uglier than my in-bred cousins....
might work, but sent the one I got back... was nice and light... but would have DOUBLED in weight to finish

jeffe

I have used the MPI blank on several rifles. It is nice and light. However the blank takes a lot of work to finish. I have never tried their finished stocks.

I have an MPI stock on my Whitworth Interarms 300 Win that I had built in 1989. It's a tough stock, but they do take some work to finish. The finish is Poline epoxy paint and the thing is a rugged stock.

I have had good luck with the MPI. I have had four Brown Precision crack in the wrist.

I have one that I bought in 1985 for a left handed Savage sporter that is still going strong. I finished it myself and have repainted it about 5 times since then.

I remember that Saeed had posted that he had bought some a couple of years ago and they were absolutely terrible with warped forends and horrible inletting.

Fjold, she looks as good as the first time I saw her.

Have two, both finished by MPI. Very rigid-satisfied--would consider another, particularly for a LW application. One, on an M-70, finished very light at 19oz including the pad.

Will say, however, that MPI farmed them out to two different contract smiths who finished them. One was well done--the other was not cut to specified length and the safety (Browning FN action) wasn't inletted properly.

Both were Dakotas IIRC

quote:

Originally posted by GaryVA:
I sent Rimrock an email requesting clarification/verification on the M70 416Rem.

Just an update,

Jim Borden called and I gave him my barrel measurements over the phone. He compared this to an M70 375H&H and his stocks that were in the shop.

The shank on my factory 416Rem barrel is 1.222" and is approx 1.9" long before it starts the radius. Mr. Borden indicated that this was more than his camo stock could take, but that his solid exterior finished stock might just squeak by. The big bore Winchesters that he recalled stocking had shanks between 1.18" to just under 1.2". I think he measured the 375 in his shop at 1.18".

He is definitely a nice fella to deal w/ and I'm going to give him a shot at the rifle. If he can't fit it he'll send it back.

458Win and free_miner, what's the diameter of the shanks on your M70s???

Thanks,
Gary

Gary, My 2004 M70 375 H&H (LH, Blue steel) measures 1.220" right in front of the receiver ring.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?C...Custom&Number=635446

scroll down there is a pic of an MPI stock (at least they say it is)

THAT IS SHOCKING!!!!

If that is for real, I do not understand why any competent smith would risk using this product on a rifle w/ their name on it. If there is another explanation (such as they did this at the gunsmith school) that fella posting the pic should be called on it.

The man who recommended the MPI is well thought of and has a #1 reputation. Must be that MPI sends him a better product than others (like the gunsmith school). WOW, I never thought anything like that would ever be allowed out the door of a reputable business.

Interesting picture, but both of my MPI stocks had foam filled cores in both the forend and buttstock areas.