B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

[Kevin1]

It’s only slightly off center. But if you look carefully, you can tell.

Questions:

-Is this common?
-Does it affect shooting? I get the impression that it does make the recoil less linear.
-Is this an easy fix, or the stock needs to be replaced

I just dropped an email to email@bellandcarlson.com to see what the deal with this is.

 

[ken226]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

I had a B&C Tactical Medalist and the bopod swivel wasn't perfectly centered either.

If its only slight off, it wont hurt anything. It's not going to effect accuracy.

It it really bothers you though, you can remove the stud, fill the hole with glass resin and redrill it. Not really a big deal.

I filled and redrilled mine because im obsessive/compulsive.

 

[Kevin1]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

I’m not much worried about the accuracy. I’m more concerned with the follow-up shots, as I suppose the rifle’s recoil won’t be in a straight line.
B&C replied to my email and said I need to call and then send back the stock. That’s probably what I’m going to do. I just hope they’ll send me a good one and that it won’t take 2 month.
At the same time the swivel is only off by maybe ¼ “. If that’s the tolerance on these stocks, and if most people can leave with it, I might not have to send it back.

 

[ken226]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

Ok, yea i'd definitely have a problem with 1/4 inch. Mine was off by just over a tenth. I wouldn't have been able to sleep if it was off by 1/4.

Glad to hear they are going to take care of you. If you don't mind, follow up when you get it back, id be interested to know how long they took.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

I wouldn't bother contacting B&C's customer service, it sucks. I've known for a long time that their stocks aren't perfect and always have imperfections but until I bought a medalist for my weatherby vanguard I had never had a problem from the imperfections.

My vanguard stock came with the typical imperfections so I just ignored them. It had a pressure point built into the forend so I removed it and began using it. About a month ago paint starter flaking up on the top of the cheek piece where no solvent had been and were the stock had been covered by a stock pack so there's no way something made contact. The spot where paint flaked was the exact size of a thumb print and was in a convenient spot to grab it so I think somebody picked it up before painting that had eaten too many chicken nuggets. I contacted B&C and they asked for pictures of the entire stock as I had mentioned the other imperfections as well. I sent them a few pics and they saw that I had "modified" the stock by removing the pressure point and denied warranty for a problem at the other on of the stock. Thats like a car dealer not fixing your air conditioner because you have aftermarket wheels.

The inlet was also out of spec as the bolt handle rubbed the paint off of the rear of the relief when it was properly seated against the bedding block. I didn't realize this until after I had contacted B&C. Not that big of a deal though since the paint isn't flaking from around it but it's another example of poor quality.

I covered the spot with JB weld so it wouldn't flake anymore and chalked it up as a lesson learned. I will not buy another B&C product. HS precision makes a better product for a little more money. Never have I had to bed a HS because the aluminum block was out of square or relieve a barrel channel because it was crooked. I've also never had paint peel from an HS or had all the little imperfections as I've had in all the B&C stocks I've bought.

 

[Kevin1]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

Tonight, I’ll try to measure exactly how off the swivel is. With no bipod mounted, you can barely notice it. When you mount a bipod it becomes more obvious. So it might actually be less than ¼”.
In addition, I have mounted a Harris #9 Bipod Adapter Flat Fore-end to mitigate this problem.

I’ll poste the measurement and pics tomorrow to see what you guys think.
The thing is that beside the swivel, everything else is just perfect on this stock.
My savage 10FP dropped in perfectly and the finish on the stock is very good. I didn’t need to modify the stock at all (I didn’t even drill the stock to put the trigger guard screw, as the trigger guard is pretty solid with just the one action screw).

I’m afraid that they send me back a crappy stock. But at the same time I would expect those guys to double check everything twice before sending a new stock.

 

[groundhogbuster]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

Funny, I'm just the opposite. I have used hsp stocks for many years, and had flaking problems, barrels off center (Even the M24's in the sand box are off center) But neither have affected accuracy, and neither have needed bedding. My next build is gonna be a bugholes, and I am telling him not to bed it. if it needs it, I'll do it later. but my BC's have been perfect, and read the posts here and you'll find their cust service is very good. I mean a guy bought a stock, took material out of the channel for a heavier profile, knocked it over and cracked it and they fixed it. Hsp won't offer to fix any of the paint problems I've had, but the get ceracoated, or rattle canned anyhow so no probs.

 

[Kevin1]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

A little difficult to measure, but here’s a pic.
So what do you think?
Is this within the normal tolerance or needs to go back?

 

[Kevin1]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

I called and they gave me a return number. So I’m sending this back.
From what I understood, they are going to repair my stock and send it back within 2 weeks.
Actually I prefer this to getting a new stock as my current stock is flawless (except the swivel off course).

 

[groundhogbuster]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

If it bothers you at ALL! Send back. I like to get what I paid for and nothing less. As long as your happy.

 

[Kevin1]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

They send me a new stock within 2 weeks. Everything looks good now. Great customer service.
Quick questions, if I apply the same torque as before (65 lbs/inch on both screws), do you think it will give the same accuracy as before, or will have to developed a new load?

 

[Goodwood]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

Accuracy should come back if you torque to the same specs as long as the stock is not "interfering" any way the old one was not. If the new one is free of the barrel and you get good contact on the receiver and aluminum bedding block of the stock, you should be good to go.

 

[seanh]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

Next time, get a higher end stock...B&C is low end so you get what you pay for

 

[kurt]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: seanh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Next time, get a higher end stock...B&C is low end so you get what you pay for </div></div>

not everyone has a grand to spend on a stock and b&c is far from low end. Shit happens even with the best it is how it is dealt with that makes or breaks a company. I would say b&c handled this great

 

[Goodwood]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kurt</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: seanh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Next time, get a higher end stock...B&C is low end so you get what you pay for </div></div>

not everyone has a grand to spend on a stock and b&c is far from low end. Shit happens even with the best it is how it is dealt with that makes or breaks a company. I would say b&c handled this great </div></div>

Without wanting to start a fight, I think I'll have to say I agree with Kurt.

You DO get what you pay for. But when I cannot afford to put a McM, Manners, etc, on every gun I own, I've had pretty good luck with the Bell and Carlson.

For a fraction of the cost of the top names, I think they make a quality product with few issues (like the swivel problem the OP had, and it was dealt with fairly well I think).

 

[seanh]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

No doubt that B&C handled it well...I just have a different outlook on quality vs what I pay. If I paid a fraction of the cost of a high-end stock, I'd expect a proportional reduction in quality.

In this case, I'd just make the repair myself and move on. The time it took to make a call, write the post etc...I could have simply fixed the problem and been at the range.

Affording the higher end stuff is easy, just save longer...

 

[Goodwood]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

Amen to that!

I much rather shoot than deal with a stock issue. Especially when it means the gun is going to be down for weeks or months.

I think I expect a certain amount of imperfection with a $200.00 - $300.00 stock when compared to one of two or three (or more) times the money. I have been lucky to not have an issue that was beyond what I can handle given the expectations you should have when buying a less-expensive stock like the B&C.

I would love to save for top-shelf stuff on every gun I build, but I think I have a serious issue with "rifle attention deficit disorder" or RADD. By the time I save enough money to build a really nice rifle, three more have appeared at home. This perpetual multiplication of firearms cuts into my allotted shooting funds significantly! Therefore, there will probably always be some place for Bell and Carlson stocks on some of the guns I own.

 

[Kevin1]

Re: B&C Medalist: Bipod Swivel not centered. Big deal?

The bipod swivel is still not perfectly centered. It’s much better than before. You can’t tell it’s not centered just by looking at the swivel. You only notice it’s slightly off center once you actually mount the bipod.
I’m going to keep this the way it is, as it doesn’t really bother me. I assume this is an acceptable tolerance and I’m fine with this.

I think that those who consider that B&C is low end, are just stock snobs.
Keep in mind that Les Baer uses B&C medalist stocks on their $3500 Tactical Bolt Action Rifle (guarantee 10-shot groups at ½ MOA)