who makes the better stock?

craiger40 · Sep 23, 2008

fellas,

Who makes a better stock H.S. precision or McMillian?

Iam was really thinking of a McMillian A-4 or A-5 but H.S. precision has a a full bedding block. I will be putting this stock a Remington 700 . The McMillian is about $200 more but if it results in more consist shots then oh well. I have no experience with either company so any backgound will be appreciated.

Thanks,
craig

6ppcar · Sep 23, 2008

I think the Bell & Carlson Medalist is the best stock. Yes, i have used the two that you mentioned.

JD338 · Sep 23, 2008

McMillian holds a military contract. Their A-4 and A-5 are excellent but you will most likely have a long wait. H.S. precision also make an excellent stock and they would be my pick.

JD338

FOTIS · Sep 23, 2008

Flip a coin.............

Antelope_Sniper · Sep 24, 2008

I also own both.
In my opinion, the HS prescision seem to be a stiffer more duarable stock. I've managed to chip my Mcmillian, but not the HS precision, which has had much rougher use. Although it might be easier said then done, you may wish to get your hands on both and just see which on feels better to you.

Guy Miner · Sep 24, 2008

Replaced the HS Precision stock on my precision rifle with a McMillan and have never been sorry.

McMillan gives you a LOT of choices as far as different stock styles, length of pull options, different recoil pads, weight of fill options, etc... I also like their molded-in colors. Interestingly the Marines used McMillans on their M40A1 sniper rifles, some for quite a few years, and they held up very well. When the Marines developed their newer sniper rifle, they went with a newer design of McMillan stock.

HS Precision is not a bad stock - particularly for a hunting rifle. I like 'em and wouldn't object to having one again. In fact I kept the old one, just in case I wanted to use it on another project someday. Sometimes that aluminum bedding block works perfectly with the Remington receiver, sometimes it too needs to be bedded. Also, quite a few of them have an off-center barrel channel, that sometimes needs to be hogged out a bit to free-float the barrel evenly.

Both are decent stocks, but I believe the McMillan is superior, and worth both the wait and the extra money.

Regards, Guy

Antelope_Sniper · Sep 24, 2008

And for you Winchester shooters, you will still have to bed either one, block or no block.

6ppcar · Sep 25, 2008

Here's a simple test. Set your gun up on sand bags front and rear. Look through your scope an put it on a target. Now , don't touch the stock or gun an gently tap the pistol grip and the rear of the stock with your index finger while watching the cross hair in your scope.
The stock that does not make the cross hair bounce will be the best stock because it has the best deaden affect, or no vibrations .

Guy Miner · Sep 25, 2008

"The stock that does not make the cross hair bounce will be the best stock because it has the best deaden affect, or no vibrations ."

Well, that's one criteria - and a good one. There are others that may be more important for a hunting rifle:

Fit of the stock to the shooter. This to me is very important, and one reason I like McMillan so much - many different models of stocks, and they can be customized with different lengths of pull and even adjustable cheekpieces if so desired. I specified mine with a 14" length of pull, and I love it!

Weight of the stock. Perhaps this is to be a rifle for hunting the high mountains afoot - a light weight rifle might be very important. On the other hand, if a lot of long range shooting is contemplated, then a heavier stock might be more important. Again, here McMillan offers different weight fills in the same stock.

Durability - some rifles get a real torture test during their lives. I know McMillans are seriously tough stocks. Doggne near Marine proof. To me, the HS stock with its thin shell and foam core, simply doesn't have the same level of strength as the hand-laid fiberglass stock by McMillan, but I don't have any hard data to support that. It's an impression only. Both have been in service in wartime with our snipers and have done well. Likely tougher conditions than what most of us hunters will put them through.

To me - what sets the McMillan above the HS Precision is simply that one is truly a custom stock - laid up by hand for each shooter, while the HS Precision is a high quality production stock. Nothing wrong with either choice, but that's the choice.

Also - have you considered a good laminate stock? Some really nice ones are available...

Regards, Guy

6ppcar · Sep 25, 2008

Good points Guy, maybe i should have said with all being equal, especially fit.There's know doubt that a good wood stock that is properly bedded can shoot just as good as anything out there.