Favorite stock upgrade?

[T-Dozzer]

Looking to upgrade the stock on a Howa 1500. Its a long action. I have a few Boyd's stocks and they are ok. Was hoping to find a Bell and Carlson, but their only option is the Weatherby type.
Any other manufacturers I should look at?
This will be a hunting rig & need to be bedded. I would prefer to keep it light.

[jay.sharkbait]

McMillen or Manners

[huntandjeep]

McMillen or Manners

[Antlershed]

Really like my Manners stock. 

[wsmnut]

I've done a couple McMillan stocks and would do more.  Excellent in letting and very light weight.  Check out the speckle tone granite finishes available.  Pebble like grip is excellent for cold and wet weather.

[b23]

Put a Manners T2 on a Howa LA when I had it re-barreled to a 6.5-06AI and though I sometimes wish I'd gone with one of their lighter stocks, I sure can't complain about the quality.  If I had it to do all over again, would probably go with one of their MCS stocks.  I've got a few MCM stocks as well and they are top quality, too.

[CAMPMEAT]

MDT Chassis www.mdttac.com are on sale right now.

Orias Chassis too..Killer Innovations.com


Simple, cool designs, made out of high quality aluminum and Cerakoted..

[carpsniperg2]

I run more McMillen then Manners but they are both quality stocks. You wont go wrong with either.

[jay.sharkbait]

Hunting with chassis guns isn't that great IMHO.

They are very heavy. 5lb with a Magpul buttstock.

It's like carrying a wet ice cube.

I love carrying wood stocked rifles or composite.

[CAMPMEAT]

Hunting with chassis guns isn't that great IMHO.

They are very heavy. 5lb with a Magpul buttstock.

It's like carrying a wet ice cube.

I love carrying wood stocked rifles or composite.

One of mine weighs 12.6 lbs...

[jay.sharkbait]

Hunting with chassis guns isn't that great IMHO.

They are very heavy. 5lb with a Magpul buttstock.

It's like carrying a wet ice cube.

I love carrying wood stocked rifles or composite.

One of mine weighs 12.6 lbs...

Just the chassis?

[CAMPMEAT]

Hunting with chassis guns isn't that great IMHO.

They are very heavy. 5lb with a Magpul buttstock.

It's like carrying a wet ice cube.

I love carrying wood stocked rifles or composite.

One of mine weighs 12.6 lbs...

Just the chassis?

No, everything.

[7mmstalker]

If you have used Boyds stocks I will assume that wood is OK.
The current trend toward aftermarket upgrades that turn a sporter hunting rifle into a bench rest or sniper rifle is lost on me. The results are excellent for accuracy, certainly an important feature. The shapes, and sometimes weight, of this style do not lend themselves to field use so much. The fit (on the bench) of a Mcmillan or Manners stock with a vertical grip is fantastic, but the slender size and light weight of a properly fitted "factory style" wood stock can provide excellent accuracy improvement and still be easy to carry and quick to the shoulder in real world hunting situations.
The most recent stock "upgrade" I have done was to retro- fit a Rem 700 that came with a tupperware factory stock. After a bit of searching, a clean, walnut, BDL stock from 1980-1990 era was acquired and some extensive upgrades made to that stock to improve  stiffness and weather resistance.
The wood stock has a built-in weakness in the magazine area, wood sides are thin and the recoil lug transfers all of the push right ahead of this thin "box". Thin carbon fiber rods were inlaid with bedding compound, on the inside surface along the sides of the action, after removing about 3/32" from the barrel channel, a carbon fiber strip 1/2" wide bedded into the bottom of the channel, still allowing enough space for a floated barrel. Aluminum pillars bonded in the action mounting holes to increase the strength and allow consistent torque. Finally, thin fiberglass cloth in the final layer of bedding compound under the action, further stiffening the wood in the thinnest part of the stock.
Although far from a "plug and play" operation, the results are the best of both worlds. Composite stock rigidity and stability, beauty of classic walnut grain and skip line checkering!
It is not the equal to some of the excellent aftermarket upgrades suggested, but the rifle can group 3/4" using 165gr Nosler Accubonds.
The jawbone in the pic was from a caribou taken at a lasered 294 yds. That's a long shot for me,standing, leaning against a tree.

[jackelope]

Hunting with chassis guns isn't that great IMHO.

They are very heavy. 5lb with a Magpul buttstock.

It's like carrying a wet ice cube.

I love carrying wood stocked rifles or composite.

One of mine weighs 12.6 lbs...

Just the chassis?

No, everything.

From a regular hunting standpoint, hiking around all day with a 12.5# rifle sucks.

[hunting4sanity]

I have a Manners MCS-EH2? that I put on my 300RUM, I'm happy with it, but it was a little slick until I had it painted and added some texture to the paint. The only other thing is that when something on my pack rubs on it or hits it, there's a plastic-hollow sound to it. The McMillan that a friend used might have been the one I used, if I had seen his sooner. I just picked up a rifle I had built by Oregunsmithing in Pendleton, he makes his own stocks (Pendleton Composite Stocks) and in just looking at it and handling it, I think it's my new favorite.