260 REM BUILD - STOCK IDEAS

[Marine24]

Making progress on my 260 Rem build. Model 12 varmint action and Criterion match 24" stainless barrel should ship today, along with upgraded recoil lug and barrel nut. I've already received my optics (SWFA 5-20x with medium Seekins rings on a Talley picatinny base) Rifle will serve both a target/range and hunting purpose.

I've had good experience with the Manner's T3 in this dual-role type of rifle. I like the wide forearm, raised cheekpiece and palm swell, plus the weight of 2.6lbs is a good compromise. Problem is I'm debating on doing something different and looking at a thumbhole stock.

Manner's T-5 caught my eye and is only .1 lbs heavier. Cheekpiece is not as high as the T-3 but I can adjust that with a stock pack or lower rings. Looks like a comfortable rifle shooting from a bench or prone, but curious how well it does carrying in the field and ability to quickly mount the rifle for an offhand shot. Muscle memory can overcome a lot, but like a shotgun, the fit of the rifle plays a major role in snap shooting.

Given its design, might be a square peg in a round hole situation and not ideal to have the T-5 serve both purposes, but curious if anyone has an experience using any thumbhole stock in a hunting rifle.

[MarkCO]

I have my Rem700 .260 in an AICS chassis, which is a thumbhole stock. My rig is like 18 pounds, but the thumbhole was no issue for me. One buck Pronghorn at 680 yards and several deer. I certainly prefer to set up with it than still hunt with it.

[Marine24]

At 18 lbs, I can understand why.

Just realized the rifle has a tang mounted safety, which may take some adjusting too with a thumbhole stock

[offgrid]

A stock to consider made here in Colorado. The action inlet is CNC'd for a perfect 1-1 fit, more of a U channel opposed to a V.

The rilfe pictured/24" medium palma contour barrel weighs 11.25lbs. The balance is very good. The carbon version pictured isn't on his website.

http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu356/b529/Bighorn65x47008_zpsd4398b17.jpg (http://s663.photobucket.com/user/b529/media/Bighorn65x47008_zpsd4398b17.jpg.html)

http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu356/b529/5dff9aa1-de5d-48f7-9b08-d6d643903af0_zpseab95cd0.jpg (http://s663.photobucket.com/user/b529/media/5dff9aa1-de5d-48f7-9b08-d6d643903af0_zpseab95cd0.jpg.html)

http://www.xlrindustries.com/

Kyle the owner of XLR is a great guy to deal with.

[XC700116]

Making progress on my 260 Rem build. Model 12 varmint action and Criterion match 24" stainless barrel should ship today, along with upgraded recoil lug and barrel nut. I've already received my optics (SWFA 5-20x with medium Seekins rings on a Talley picatinny base) Rifle will serve both a target/range and hunting purpose.

I've had good experience with the Manner's T3 in this dual-role type of rifle. I like the wide forearm, raised cheekpiece and palm swell, plus the weight of 2.6lbs is a good compromise. Problem is I'm debating on doing something different and looking at a thumbhole stock.

Manner's T-5 caught my eye and is only .1 lbs heavier. Cheekpiece is not as high as the T-3 but I can adjust that with a stock pack or lower rings. Looks like a comfortable rifle shooting from a bench or prone, but curious how well it does carrying in the field and ability to quickly mount the rifle for an offhand shot. Muscle memory can overcome a lot, but like a shotgun, the fit of the rifle plays a major role in snap shooting.

Given its design, might be a square peg in a round hole situation and not ideal to have the T-5 serve both purposes, but curious if anyone has an experience using any thumbhole stock in a hunting rifle.

For shooting discipline, I'd say keep the general feel as close to your other rifles as possible so you have less muscle memory to fight when you switch from one to another. But I also get wanting something a little different from one to the next as well. But if you're liking the T3 now, honestly I'd stick with it, it's not as if there's a deficiency in the system there.

[Marine24]

Read some good things about the XLR chassis. Guy in Australia just picked one up and mounted his 260 Rem in it. Impressive results at 1200 meters.

May be too big of leap for me on a dual purpose rifle but a definite in a dedicated long range rig. Hard to argue with the results folk are getting with them.