Understanding the Benchrest Stock’s Role
Essential Characteristics for Benchrest Success
Precision. It’s the holy grail of shooting sports, the driving force behind the relentless pursuit of tighter groups and smaller scores. In the realm of benchrest shooting, this pursuit is taken to an almost obsessive level. Every component of the rifle, from the barrel to the trigger, is meticulously selected and tuned to squeeze out every possible bit of accuracy. And at the heart of it all, providing the stable foundation for this pursuit, lies the benchrest stock.
This article will delve deep into the world of **Benchrest Stocks For Remington 700**, providing a comprehensive guide to help you choose the perfect stock for your precision rifle. We’ll explore the critical features, the various types available, the factors to consider, and some of the leading manufacturers in this demanding niche of the shooting world. Ultimately, the goal is to equip you with the knowledge to make an informed decision and elevate your shooting performance. Remember that the quality of the rifle is directly impacted by the **Benchrest Stocks For Remington 700**.
Benchrest shooting, often called the “game of inches” (or even millimeters), demands absolute consistency and precision. The shooter, typically seated at a bench, uses specialized rests to eliminate human error as much as possible. While a skilled marksman and quality ammunition are vital, the stock plays a crucial, often underestimated role in achieving the highest levels of accuracy. It’s the interface between the shooter, the rifle, and the rest, providing a stable and consistent platform for each shot. Without a well-designed and properly fitted stock, the potential of even the finest barrel and action will be significantly diminished. Choosing the correct **Benchrest Stocks For Remington 700** will directly impact the shot.
A Solid Foundation: The Fore-end’s Design
Several key characteristics define a top-tier benchrest stock. These features are not merely cosmetic; they are critical for ensuring repeatable accuracy:
The fore-end of a benchrest stock is perhaps its most critical feature. It’s the point of contact with the front rest, and its design directly influences the stability of the rifle. A good benchrest stock will feature a fore-end that is wide, flat, and typically parallel to the ground. This design maximizes the surface area in contact with the front rest, providing a stable platform that resists movement during recoil and eliminates the potential for the rifle to “roll” or shift under pressure. This stability allows for more precise aiming and consistent shot placement. Look for fore-ends that are not only wide but also robustly constructed to minimize any flex or vibration.
Adaptability: The Adjustable Buttstock
The buttstock of a benchrest rifle is far from a simple piece of wood or composite. It’s a highly adjustable component that allows the shooter to tailor the rifle to their specific physique and shooting style. Key adjustments often include:
Length of Pull (LOP): The distance from the trigger to the buttpad. Proper LOP ensures comfortable and consistent shouldering, which is critical for maintaining a stable shooting position.
Cheekpiece Height: The vertical adjustment of the cheekpiece allows the shooter to align their eye perfectly with the scope’s reticle. This proper eye relief is crucial for consistent sight picture and reducing parallax.
Cant Adjustment: Some benchrest stocks incorporate a cant adjustment that allows the shooter to slightly tilt the rifle in relation to the horizon. This can be used to compensate for wind drift or to optimize the sight picture.
Material Matters: Selecting the Right Construction
The material used in a benchrest stock profoundly impacts its performance, weight, and overall characteristics. Different materials offer different advantages and disadvantages, requiring careful consideration. When considering **Benchrest Stocks For Remington 700**, material selection is key.
Wooden Wonders: Wood, often laminated or solid, remains a classic choice for benchrest stocks. Laminate stocks, constructed from multiple layers of wood glued together, are particularly popular due to their inherent stability and resistance to warping. Solid wood stocks, while beautiful and often lighter, can be more susceptible to environmental changes. Wood offers excellent vibration damping properties and allows for easy customization through shaping, sanding, and painting.
Fiberglass Fortitude: Fiberglass stocks are known for their stiffness and durability. They are generally less affected by weather conditions than wood and can be more cost-effective. Fiberglass stocks are often lighter than their wooden counterparts and can be molded into complex shapes. They also tend to transmit less vibration than some other materials.
Metallic Muscle: Aluminum or metal chassis systems represent a more modern approach. These systems offer exceptional rigidity and modularity, allowing shooters to easily swap out components like handguards, buttstocks, and pistol grips. The precision of machining ensures tight tolerances, contributing to overall accuracy. Metal chassis tend to be heavier but offer unparalleled stability.
Composite Creations: Advancements in materials science have led to the use of advanced composites, such as carbon fiber and other reinforced polymers. These materials offer an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, making for incredibly stiff and lightweight stocks. While often more expensive, they can provide a significant advantage in terms of overall balance and stability.
Weighty Matters: Balancing Performance and Stability
Weight is a crucial factor in benchrest shooting. While a heavier rifle can be more stable and absorb recoil better, excessive weight can lead to fatigue and make the rifle more difficult to handle, especially for longer matches. Benchrest stocks are designed with strategic weight distribution. The fore-end needs sufficient mass to withstand barrel vibration, while the buttstock should be balanced to create a stable platform. This balance is critical for maintaining consistency throughout a shooting session. The right **Benchrest Stocks For Remington 700** balances weight distribution and precision.
Perfect Fit: The Art of Inletting
Inletting is the process of precisely fitting the stock to the rifle’s action and barrel. The accuracy of inletting is paramount. A poorly inletted stock can create stress points, leading to inconsistent accuracy and potentially damaging the rifle. High-quality benchrest stocks are typically precisely inletted to ensure a perfect fit, minimizing stress and maximizing the rifle’s potential. Bedding, which involves using a special epoxy compound to create a custom fit between the action and the stock, further enhances accuracy and stability.
Understanding the Popularity of the Remington 700
Why the Action is Prevalent
The Remington 700 action has become a cornerstone of the shooting world, especially within the aftermarket arena. Understanding why it’s so prevalent is essential when discussing **Benchrest Stocks For Remington 700**:
Vast Availability and Support: The Remington 700 has been in production for decades, leading to a massive aftermarket of parts and accessories. This means an abundance of readily available benchrest stocks in every imaginable style, material, and price point. This level of support makes it easier to customize and refine your rifle.
Inherently Accurate Foundation: The Remington 700 action, with its design and robust construction, is known for its accuracy potential. With the right barrel, ammunition, and stock, it can achieve exceptional results.
Modular Adaptability: The Remington 700’s design lends itself well to customization. Its simple construction allows for relatively easy modification and upgrading of components, including the stock.
Exploring Different Stock Styles
Classic Lines: Traditional Benchrest Designs
The world of benchrest stocks is diverse, with a wide range of styles to choose from. Here’s a look at some common types:
Traditional benchrest stocks often feature a sleek, minimalist design, prioritizing functionality over aesthetics. These stocks are typically made from wood or fiberglass and feature a flat, wide fore-end, a fully adjustable buttstock, and a minimal amount of unnecessary material.
Materials: As mentioned above, wood (especially laminate) is very prevalent in this style, but high-quality fiberglass is also very common.
Manufacturers: Many established stock makers, as well as custom stock builders, specialize in traditional benchrest designs. The key is quality craftsmanship and precise inletting.
Rigid and Ready: Fiberglass Options
Fiberglass stocks offer an excellent balance of performance, durability, and affordability. They can be molded into a variety of shapes, allowing for different design variations. The stiffness of fiberglass helps reduce vibration and promotes consistent accuracy.
Benefits: Fiberglass stocks offer a lightweight and cost-effective solution.
Design Variations: The options for customization in the materials, shape, and look are plentiful.
Manufacturers: Look for companies specializing in fiberglass and composite stock manufacturing.
Modular Mastery: Aluminum/Metal Chassis Systems
Aluminum chassis systems represent a more modern and technologically advanced approach to benchrest shooting. These systems are often fully adjustable, allowing shooters to fine-tune every aspect of the rifle.
Benefits: The high level of rigidity, the modularity, and the potential for customization are the primary benefits.
Integration: These chassis systems are designed to accept a variety of Remington 700 actions, barrels, and other accessories.
Manufacturers: This market is rapidly expanding as more shooters recognize the benefits of an aluminum chassis.
Cutting-Edge Composites: Composite Stocks
Composite stocks, often made from carbon fiber or other advanced materials, represent the pinnacle of benchrest stock technology. These stocks offer an incredibly high strength-to-weight ratio.
Benefits: These offer exceptional stiffness and minimal weight. The result is greater stability and less impact on the shooter.
Considerations: Composite stocks are typically more expensive than wood or fiberglass options. Availability may also be limited.
Manufacturers: Several manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of composite stock technology.
Navigating the Selection Process: Essential Considerations
Purpose-Driven Choice: Shooting Disciplines
Choosing the right benchrest stock is a process that requires careful consideration of several factors:
The specific discipline you compete in will influence your stock selection.
Heavy Varmint/Light Varmint: The “Heavy Varmint” class typically has weight limitations, influencing the choice of materials and design. “Light Varmint” has much lower weight limits.
Group/Score Shooting: Consider the needs of both.
Budgetary Boundaries: Balancing Cost and Performance
Benchrest stocks can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Set a realistic budget and choose a stock that offers the best value for your needs. Remember that a higher-quality stock can be a long-term investment, providing years of consistent performance.
Barrel-Friendly Design: Barrel Profile Compatibility
Ensure the stock you choose can accommodate your barrel profile. The barrel channel must be large enough to accept the barrel without any contact. Consider the fore-end’s design and how it supports the barrel. The best **Benchrest Stocks For Remington 700** will fit the barrel in the best way possible.
Customization and Control: Adjustability Features
Adjustability is crucial in benchrest shooting. Look for stocks that offer a full range of adjustments, including length of pull, cheekpiece height, and potentially cant adjustment. This adjustability allows you to fine-tune the rifle to your specific shooting style and physique.
Precise Assembly: Inletting and Bedding
The quality of the inletting, the precise fitting of the stock to the action and barrel, is essential. If you are not confident in doing this yourself, consider a stock that is pre-bedded or hire a professional gunsmith.
Important Reminders: Care and Maintenance
Easy Cleaning: Cleaning the Stock
Once you have chosen the right **Benchrest Stocks For Remington 700** and installed it, proper maintenance is crucial to ensure longevity and consistent performance.
Clean your stock regularly. The cleaning process will vary depending on the material of your stock. For example, wood stocks can be cleaned with a mild soap and water, while fiberglass or composite stocks can often be cleaned with solvents.
Regular Inspection: Looking for Damage
Inspect your stock regularly for any signs of damage, such as cracks, scratches, or loose screws. Address any issues promptly to prevent further damage or performance degradation.
Proper Storage: Keeping the Stock Safe
Store your benchrest rifle in a safe and secure environment. Avoid exposing the stock to extreme temperatures, humidity, or direct sunlight.
Where to Find Excellent Benchrest Stocks for Remington 700
(This section should include a brief list of manufacturers, without numerals, along with descriptions and specialties. This information is for illustrative purposes, as the actual companies and product details change frequently.)
(Manufacturer Name): Specializes in custom laminate wood stocks for benchrest shooting, offering a wide range of designs and finishes. The company is known for its attention to detail and precise inletting.
(Another Manufacturer Name): A leading producer of fiberglass benchrest stocks, known for its innovative designs and use of advanced materials. The company offers a wide selection of options for Remington 700 rifles.
(Another Manufacturer Name): Offers a high-performance aluminum chassis systems designed for benchrest shooting, providing exceptional stability and modularity. Their chassis are known for their precision and ease of customization.
Concluding Thoughts
The choice of a benchrest stock for your Remington 700 is a critical decision that can significantly impact your accuracy and success. By understanding the essential characteristics of a benchrest stock, exploring the different types available, and considering the factors discussed in this article, you can make an informed decision. Remember to prioritize stability, adjustability, and quality construction. By investing in the right stock, you’ll be well on your way to achieving the highest levels of precision in the world of benchrest shooting. Finding the right **Benchrest Stocks For Remington 700** takes time and effort, but the result is a more precise and enjoyable experience.
Resources for the Dedicated Marksman
(Include links to reputable websites for benchrest shooting, manufacturers’ sites, and forum discussions.)
Always consult with a qualified gunsmith for any installation, modification, or repair work on your firearm. Safety first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best material for a benchrest stock? (Answer: It depends on your budget, shooting discipline, and personal preferences. Wood, fiberglass, aluminum, and composites all offer advantages.)
How important is inletting? (Answer: Very important. Precise inletting ensures a proper fit and maximizes accuracy.)
Should I bed my action? (Answer: Yes, bedding your action helps maximize accuracy and stability. Consider professional gunsmithing.)
What are some of the key adjustments to look for in a benchrest stock? (Answer: Length of pull, cheekpiece height, and, optionally, cant adjustment.)
