McMillin stocks/hunting in the desert.

[Fobos]

I have finally found a rifle stock that seems to meet my requirements. But before I consider forking over that kind of $$$ for a stock, I wanted to see if anyone here has experience with the brand, or better yet, this specific model.

www.mcmfamily.com/mfsinc_n/a5/product.html

If I choose this stock, it will go onto a Remington 700 that will be used for hunting antelope and elk in the open desert. (My AR-10 just wasn't meant to knock down big game at those potentially extreme distances.)

Once I have picked out a stock, you all can help me choose a caliber. ;D

I have it narrowed down to .308 (as if I need a 4th .308 in my collection), the 7mm Mag, and the .300 WSM. My experience with the .300 WinMag makes the .300 WSM awfully tempting, but I'd like the reduction in recoil afforded by the 7mm. The .308 is probably my favorite rifle caliber, but its trajectory isn't as flat as the other two I'm considering.

I've got more than a year to put this rifle together, so I'm in no real hurry to spend money on the wrong gear....

[TMan]

Wow, I looked at the price of the stocks, and I can see why you want to be sure before you buy. Personally, I only have two rifles with synthetic stocks. I like wood better (looks and feel).

Opinion: if this is the stock you really want, don't settle for less, even if you have to wait longer to get it. If you buy less, down the road you will wish you had gotten the better one. I always wanted a Nikon F. As a kid, they were selling for $440 in the US with a 50mm F1.4 lens. I could have gotten one in Vietnam for $160. I didn't, and I've never owned the Fx body. I've had 3 other AF bodies, and they all work with all my lenses, but they weren't an F.

[5ontarget]

It looks like you have done your homework on stocks. I have no experience with it though. What I do know is a well designed stock will feel much better and reduce recoil much more than a poor design. (duh) Where I'm heading with this is that with a stock of that quality, I'd bet the larger recoiling loads/calibers will be more managable compared to the traditional Rem 700 stocks.

I'm a fan of the short magnums. I think they will continue to gain in popularity, and in the number of calibers offered. The actions of the guns can be made shorter, meaning the overall length of the gun could be shorter/lighter, or the barrell can be made longer. Of the calibers you've listed, I like the 300WSM the best, and the 7mm mag next, for long range big game. The .308 is a good round, but for big game at longer distances, I'd go with the more powerful choices you listed.
The question for you is do you want to shoot another caliber, or keep life simple and get another .308.
Since we're kind of on the topic, have you looked at 7mm WSM, .338WinMag or .338 Remultramag or maybe .325WSM? Going the opposite direction of the short mags, there's the venerable 30-06, or if you want to go really big the 375 H&H, or the .416 rigby, .458 WinMag, .505 Gibbs. (just for laughs)

How'd you decide on the Remington 700 action/bbl?

["DoubleAction"]

I read a review of one mans project, using this stock. It's a very good read for approaching this project, although I'm not sure if the idea of of big game hunting is the modivator.

www.mcmfamily.com/mfsinc_n/a5/reviews.html#dream

[Fobos]

admin said:

I read a review of one mans project, using this stock. It's a very good read for approaching this project, although I'm not sure if the idea of of big game hunting is the modivator.

www.mcmfamily.com/mfsinc_n/a5/reviews.html#dream

A good read indeed.

That guy built a precision rifle that I wouldn't want to use for hunting. It weighed in at over 15 lbs, and there is a 12 lb cap on the legal weight of loaded hunting rifles.

I do plan on building one like that one of these days. I'd love to have a tack-driving .308 bolt gun.

[Fobos]

5ontarget said:

I'm a fan of the short magnums. I think they will continue to gain in popularity, and in the number of calibers offered. The actions of the guns can be made shorter, meaning the overall length of the gun could be shorter/lighter, or the barrell can be made longer. Of the calibers you've listed, I like the 300WSM the best, and the 7mm mag next, for long range big game. The .308 is a good round, but for big game at longer distances, I'd go with the more powerful choices you listed.
The question for you is do you want to shoot another caliber, or keep life simple and get another .308.
Since we're kind of on the topic, have you looked at 7mm WSM, .338WinMag or .338 Remultramag or maybe .325WSM? Going the opposite direction of the short mags, there's the venerable 30-06, or if you want to go really big the 375 H&H, or the .416 rigby, .458 WinMag, .505 Gibbs. (just for laughs)

How'd you decide on the Remington 700 action/bbl?

I'm still considering the caliber... .308 and .30-06 would be easy on the shoulder and the wallet. But I'd like to have the trajectory afforded by the 7mm Rem Mag or .300 WSM. I had a .300 Win Mag that kicked my Hillary every time I squeezed the trigger, so I never practiced sound fundamentals while shooting it. I'd like to take it down at least one notch from the .300WM.

THe Remmy 700 (I'm going with the SPS DM model) is just a great rifle. With a little trigger work and some good optics I should be able to tag elk and antelope at a pretty good distance. I also considered the Howa and Weatherby Vanguard (which is basically just a Howa) as a good platform to build up a good long-distance rifle, but decided that it would be cheaper to start with something that will perform well right out of the box.

[Fobos]

Alright... tentatively, I'm going with the 7mm Rem Mag. I'll get my hands on a 7mm bolt gun and put in some range time. Recoil will make or break the decision.