I ordered an MDT Field Stock for my son's CZ-455 during the Black Friday sale. I just got around to putting the rifle, originally a 27" Ultra-Luxe, in the new stock Monday. Then I did a quick range session with the rig.
I am quite impressed with the stock - certainly an upgrade from the Tupperware stocks Tikka likes to use (I can't speak to CZ's synthetic stocks beyond saying I handled a 457 in a LGS and it felt like a toy). @Mark_Dorman did a nice review of this stock (for a 10/22) back before Christmas.
Of interest to potential buyers is that my son's 455 shoots significantly better in the Field Stock* than it does in the original stock or the Boyd stock from a long-gone 455 Tacticool. It doesn't shoot quiiiii-te as well as my Bartlein-barreled Vudoo at 50 yards, but I'm impressed. I haven't had time to take it out further yet; the goal for this rig is to use in a little 100-yard-max monthly match.
A few other notes:
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* Late edit: I need to qualify this statement. Last time I shot this rifle, it was in the "Tacticool" Boyd stock - and when I removed it, the screws were not very tight at all. So the improvement may be more minimal than first impression. I never shot the rifle in the original walnut Ultra-Luxe stock. I will say that the long dwell time of standard-velocity ammo in the 27" barrel makes it imperative that a SOLID follow-through is held, otherwise a near-imperceptible movement will cause a significant flyer.
I am quite impressed with the stock - certainly an upgrade from the Tupperware stocks Tikka likes to use (I can't speak to CZ's synthetic stocks beyond saying I handled a 457 in a LGS and it felt like a toy). @Mark_Dorman did a nice review of this stock (for a 10/22) back before Christmas.
Of interest to potential buyers is that my son's 455 shoots significantly better in the Field Stock* than it does in the original stock or the Boyd stock from a long-gone 455 Tacticool. It doesn't shoot quiiiii-te as well as my Bartlein-barreled Vudoo at 50 yards, but I'm impressed. I haven't had time to take it out further yet; the goal for this rig is to use in a little 100-yard-max monthly match.
A few other notes:
- I tightened the stock screws to 40 inch-pounds. None of the squishy feeling I've encountered in other synthetic stocks (urp Tikka).
- The whole rig, with SWFA SS fixed-16x scope (~24 ounces with rings), weighs in at just under 10 pounds. Stock weighs just over three pounds.
- The rifle balances in front of the mag well - not bad for a pencil barrel (albeit a long pencil barrel).
- "Conventional wisdom" is that a thin barrel usually performs better with some support under it. I tried both ways - putting a block of stiff foam between barrel and fore-end at different distances in front on the tenon. For this rifle at least, best performance was with the long, thin barrel free-floating.
- I considered posting this in the Bolt Action Rifles forum because, were I to have any use for a new Tikka - awesome rifles but horrible plastic stock - I'd pretty much jump at one of these. But then I have no experience with the Field Stock's long-standing competition from KRG et. al. or its Oryx brother.
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* Late edit: I need to qualify this statement. Last time I shot this rifle, it was in the "Tacticool" Boyd stock - and when I removed it, the screws were not very tight at all. So the improvement may be more minimal than first impression. I never shot the rifle in the original walnut Ultra-Luxe stock. I will say that the long dwell time of standard-velocity ammo in the 27" barrel makes it imperative that a SOLID follow-through is held, otherwise a near-imperceptible movement will cause a significant flyer.
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