Boyds Tacticool Stock review/ 700 SPS Varmit 308 (Pic Heavy)

[ole'soldier]

In my search for information I found practically nothing on this stock with regards to a 700. People ask the question but no answers is typical, just references to the rimfire versions. So I was impressed enough to put this out there for anyone else who may have given this a thought.

This is my 3rd stock from Boyds, one Thumb-hole stock on my daughter's Marlin and my Savage Mark ll TR came with a Tacticool stock. I was debating between a B&C Medalist Style 2 and 3 along with this stock. Being partial to wood, I kept coming back to this. So let's get started...

Most people normally comment on the soft wood that you find on the rimfire versions and I can say you don't have that here. Yes it's a laminate, but much beefier/ heavier as well. Unlike the rimfire version, you get a Monte Carlo comb, you get a different forearm (rounded beaver tail that feels good in my hands). The tang area is different also, like a McMillan. The inletting was very clean, very snug on the bottom side. Someone made a reference to the wood being a heavier(read thicker type) grade on a different forum, certainly feels that way but I have no spec sheet to say otherwise.

I was able to drop in the action and bottom metal without any trim work at all, that impressed me. The stock for my daughters rifle was that way as well. The barrel was floated and not touching. I could fit 2 sheets of paper w/o issue under it. This stock was designed for a bull barrel so my heavy barrel was right at home. The only thing I did was bed the recoil lug area and about 1 1/2 in front of the lug to give a little extra support in that area.

Tomorrow I'll take it on its maiden voyage. I reload for 223 but don't have all my gear yet to do 308 so I have some 150gr SP Monarch Brass ammo that I'm going to run through it for now. Aside from that I added a mag-extender, 20 MOA base, and a bolt lift kit. I'm impressed with this stock.

Hope it helps someone out.


700 SPS Varmit 308
Blackhawk 20 MOA Base
Burris 30mm Rings (med)
Bolt Lift Kit
Mag-Extender
Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50
Blackhawk Pivot Bipod

 

[ole'soldier]

More Pics..................

 

[Beaveralum]

Thanks for the detailed pics. I have been seriously eyeballing this bad boy to replace the factory stock on my savage. This beauty looks like a much better option for me than a $550+ McMillan. Any range report findings??? Thanks!

 

[ole'soldier]

I didn't make it out like I thought I would. This weekend looks to be about right to test it. The weather here has been nice all week. I know the feeling on stock options. I like the JAE stocks but the price don't like me at this point. Same with McMillans. The real test will come when I can make custom loads and I think that will probably be a December thing once I get Christmas out the way for the kids, until then, factory ammo. Speaking of Christmas, I walked in Home Depot today and was thrown off seeing the Christmas trees in full force.

 

[Beaveralum]

Yeah I know the feeling Target stores in my area have Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas displays. Once you start hand loading you will notice a drastic difference in groups vs. factory stuff, my groups shrunk down quite a bit. And its a good feeling when you pull the trigger on loads that you have put the time and effort into developing. I think with the addition of pillars and a bedding job I think that tacticool stock will be a winner at a fraction of the cost of some of the others. But, it will have to wait till Christmas has come and gone before I can even think about starting a new project!

 

[akmike47]

I just wish these were made of a harder wood other than that I like mine.

 

[ole'soldier]

I just wish these were made of a harder wood other than that I like mine.

I like this version better than the version on my Mark ll TR, now on that one I do wish the wood were harder. I bought the heavier bottom plate for it. I was hoping to get out to the range today but woke up to rain. My club had its annual meeting yesterday at the range so that was a no go for shooting. I'll try again next weekend.

 

[ole'soldier]

I finally got to take it out Saturday and find out how my bedding job turned out and the day turned into a surprise. My club (Bayou Rifles Inc) had a HP Palma Match 800/900/1k that day that I wanted to sit in and just spectate. I wasn't sure if this was the type of match I was looking to get into and there were only 6 guys shooting that day. A championship match took place this morning that I didn't attend.
I only had 145gr Monarch ammo with me that day and I had done a rough zero at 100yds earlier during the week but ran out of light so this rifle had around 20rds through it. The match director surprised me when he said he would let me get in after the 800yd leg was shot while one set of guys fell back to the 900. I felt/was out of league with the ammo I had but that didn't phase anyone there. It seemed to challenge them to find some dope that would be close for this round considering velocity wasn't printed on the box.
Well Barry(Match Director) took on the role of spotter for me and had me on paper at 800yds in 3 rounds. I don't know what ballistic solver he used and was too excited to ask (just shut up and learn something). Winds were terrible, full frontal, 7-9mph average with gust up to 19mph. With regards to the other shooters, I was surprised to see what I had been reading come to pass, the 155gr Scenar was king that day and being able to make bulls-eye hits in that wind was incredible, guys with good support especially. Anyway, when we got to 900 my 145gr wasn't reliable. Barry told me the cold bore barely made it but after that I was hitting the lane number so that's where we stopped.
I went and shot a few more rounds after the event to establish I had a good zero and then shot a few 3 round groups at 100. The results are below in the pic. The middle I basically used for sight in and then the top left/right and bottom right were the groups with the Monarch ammo.
I'm impressed with the way this turned out. This was the 2nd time out with the rifle, cheap ammo, no established dope but getting to shoot it at 800yds was incredible. I didn't mention the name of the bedding kit I used and it is Pro Bed 2000, picked it up from Midway.
I'm definitely ready to do some hand-loads for this rifle and see how it turns out. I have a 20" AR that's sub-moa at 100yds and 200yds using Varget with Hornady 55gr SP BT's. I'm looking for similar results and better from this 700.

 

[TroyMN]

That looks like a very nice stock. So what am I missing that stock is only $109? I am not a shooter that depends on his weapon like some. If the weapon needed life and death reliability or I was a serious top level competitor then $800 stock $2000 scope $300 bases and rings could be justified. This is just a fun hobby for me and trying to learn the basic long range skills.
I have a Houge Rubbermaid stock on my stock .308 SPS tactical now. I bedded it at an angle to give the forearm the 1/4" of clearance it needed so it would not touch the barrel under flexing. I still think the idea of a more rigid stock might improve my ability to shoot off a bipod. What's the recoil pad like, the Houge one is pretty plush...
It is only 2.85 lbs, then B&C A5 is almost 5 lbs, so it is not too heavy. Similar weight to HS Precision. If you bed the action anyway do you really need a aluminum bedding block? The Archangel AA700 stock I also considered because of the features, detachable magazine included, aluminum block is an option, adjustable stock. It just looks too "sniper" for me and the bipod blows.

 

[Scimitar]

I can see one of those with aluminum pillars and correct bedding being good enough. Probably going to have to try one just for the hell of it. And I already have a stock.

 

[ole'soldier]

That looks like a very nice stock. So what am I missing that stock is only $109? I am not a shooter that depends on his weapon like some. If the weapon needed life and death reliability or I was a serious top level competitor then $800 stock $2000 scope $300 bases and rings could be justified. This is just a fun hobby for me and trying to learn the basic long range skills.
I have a Houge Rubbermaid stock on my stock .308 SPS tactical now. I bedded it at an angle to give the forearm the 1/4" of clearance it needed so it would not touch the barrel under flexing. I still think the idea of a more rigid stock might improve my ability to shoot off a bipod. What's the recoil pad like, the Houge one is pretty plush...
It is only 2.85 lbs, then B&C A5 is almost 5 lbs, so it is not too heavy. Similar weight to HS Precision. If you bed the action anyway do you really need a aluminum bedding block? The Archangel AA700 stock I also considered because of the features, detachable magazine included, aluminum block is an option, adjustable stock. It just looks too "sniper" for me and the bipod blows.

The stock is nice, the stock is also heavy or shall I say the rifle is heavy but not too heavy I can't shoulder it which is what I was going for. A stock heavy enough to take recoil, light enough to still shoulder it. This stock with shipping was about 125 bones. I did bed it. I didn't have to sand out the barrel channel, and mine is a 26" Heavy barrel. The butt pad isn't the softest I've felt. Shooting from a bench feels like nothing to me. Shooting it prone on Saturday it was hitting my collar bone a little, nothing to make me stop or remember once I got up, but a quick reposition, and digging the bipod into the dirt a bit kept it steady where I didn't care.

This is a laminate, you don't "need" an aluminum bed in it, laminates don't get affected by the weather like straight up wood. I bedded the action, no pillars. If the wood was as soft as the rimfire version I would see the need. I also looked at the Archangel stock with the alum. bed. The advantage I thought was detachable mag, but I have AR's for that and I hate the cost of the mags. I used a mag extender, I get 7 shots as a result, almost double from the standard 4.The main concern is I like to shoulder the rifle and the box mag would cause me to extend my grip farther out which I don't like.

Look, life and death, this stock can handle that; hell, the factory stock can handle that. Top competitor, I've seen a guy on another forum use this stock as a base to turn it into a B&C Medalist A5, I probably would just buy the A5 but I also enjoy working with my own hands so I appreciate his work. I think in this case you get more than what you pay for. I like wood. I like the advantage laminates have over straight wood stocks and when you bed it you can enhance it. My groups with low end ammo where pretty surprising. Maybe I'll toy with a chassis system but I like this style of stock and it doesn't have the weight of a chassis. B& C stocks where the others in consideration. The A2 and the A3, couldn't make my mind up. This stock has what I like in both, offers a better forearms than the A3, with the hook you get from the A2, sort' of.

 

[ole'soldier]

I can see one of those with aluminum pillars and correct bedding being good enough. Probably going to have to try one just for the hell of it. And I already have a stock.

I considered the pillars but felt the wood with a bedding job could handle it. Saying that, I believe you would probably have an advantage with the pillars and you'd have a stock that is a bit unique. Time will tell if I need to add pillars but I listened to some of the ole' timers go at it on other forums and it's pretty clear that bedding, pillars, both, front recoil lug only, tang vs no tang, everyone has their own way and swears by it. The advice I followed was bed the front of the action to slightly in front the recoil lug, leave the tang alone. If I got that wrong I would be creating an additional stress point. Try that and see the results. Take it further if needed. I did and I like what I see so I'm good. I don't believe you'd be disappointed and no, I get nothing from Boyds, just like helping the underdogs when I can.

 

[Magstang1]

I've been eyeing one for my CZ 453 for a while now. Hopefully Santa brings me one this year.

 

[ole'soldier]

^^^Well worth it^^^^^

I was eye balling the Mark ll TR for sometime due to the stock. People often think I'm shooting a suppressed centerfire when they see it.

 

[GhostRanger]

Thanks for the review on this. Was debating getting one and this made up my mind. Will be inletting mine for a PTG BDM though. Should look good.

 

[ole'soldier]

Thanks for the review on this. Was debating getting one and this made up my mind. Will be inletting mine for a PTG BDM though. Should look good.

I was eyeballin' the Wyatt's DetMag. It would have been a drop in for the B&C if I'd gone that route. That system is supposed to fit the factory stock as a "drop in" so I thought there was a snowballs chance it might fit the Boyds...... I haven't ruled out a detachable mag yet. If you go through with the stock and Mag, you gotta' post the results. There isn't much on this stock and the only one I could find was on a Savage with a blind magazine.

 

[GhostRanger]

I was eyeballin' the Wyatt's DetMag. It would have been a drop in for the B&C if I'd gone that route. That system is supposed to fit the factory stock as a "drop in" so I thought there was a snowballs chance it might fit the Boyds...... I haven't ruled out a detachable mag yet. If you go through with the stock and Mag, you gotta' post the results. There isn't much on this stock and the only one I could find was on a Savage with a blind magazine.

Will do. Both ordered today. Not sure when I will get time to inlet everything. Went with the PTG as it has bedding pillars with it. As well which is why I went with boyds instead of b&c or choate.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

 

[M.rolen]

I have one on a 308 and 223 700 both guns shoot well once i pillar bedded them.

 

[markymark]

Thanks for the info on these ! I've been thinking of these as an upgrade on my SPS Tac 308. I would really like this better if it was unfinished, ( kind like a nice stain on wood stocks, ). How is the textured paint, and would it sand / strip off like regular paint, or is it something special ?? Thanks guys, nice write up !!

 

[M.rolen]

The finish sanded off really quick for me didn't even try any stripper but I bet it would take that finish right off

 

[Phantom309]

Here's mine on a 700 sps varmint. I pillar and glass bedded it, but haven't had much time to shoot it.

 

[JMGlasgow]

That is an interesting option. They even do that stock for a Savage FLCP-K (lefty). Might have to try it.

 

[GhostRanger]

Here it is. Pillar and action bedded. Inlet for ptg dbm bottom metal. No shots yet but love it so far.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

 

[Mortarman0341]

Can one of you guys actually weigh your stock? I see the 2.85 on the web but I wondered if it was right.

I don't think there is any stock that would be stiffer or more stable than this after the above mentioned pillers, which may or may not be needed, I will err on the side of caution and put them in.

This will most likely be my next stock, thanks for the good info.

mortarman

 

[JMGlasgow]

Here's mine on a 700 sps varmint. I pillar and glass bedded it, but haven't had much time to shoot it.

Who did you get the pillars from? Could you post some pictures? Are they difficult to install?

 

[Phantom309]

I actually used the smallest brass plumbing nipples I could find. They are just a bit larger ID than I would have liked, but they seem to work fine. You can pick up ready made pillars online, but I was in a hurry.

 

[ole'soldier]

Here it is. Pillar and action bedded. Inlet for ptg dbm bottom metal. No shots yet but love it so far.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

Looks good with the box mag. I also have 2 of those exact cheek pads(Allen Company right?), one is on my SPS and they feel damn good actually. I finally got to shot mine in my first F T/R comp and was pleased with its performance. The stock absorbed a good bit of recoil, I have no complaints with this system nor do I regret the purchase.


To Phantom309: I wanted to do a snakeskin type of pattern but may just go with a different color. Seeing yours that way is giving me ideas again.

To Mortarman0341: I'll see what I can do about weighing just the stock. I haven't taken the stock off in some time. I only weighed the rifle as a whole.

 

[ole'soldier]

Can one of you guys actually weigh your stock? I see the 2.85 on the web but I wondered if it was right.

I don't think there is any stock that would be stiffer or more stable than this after the above mentioned pillers, which may or may not be needed, I will err on the side of caution and put them in.

This will most likely be my next stock, thanks for the good info.

mortarman

Dude, I'm 3.04lbs on my digital food/postal scale. I did take a little bit of wood from the lug area and bedded the lug area back to the front of the mag area. That probably accounts for the slight weight gain.

 

[JMGlasgow]

I have one on the way for my lefty savage. And I'm going to order one for my 111 hunter as soon as I get the bottom metal for it.

 

[Mortarman0341]

Dude, I'm 3.04lbs on my digital food/postal scale. I did take a little bit of wood from the lug area and bedded the lug area back to the front of the mag area. That probably accounts for the slight weight gain.

I was sure it would be heavier. Thanks for checking, that is pretty close to factory claims.

 

[ole'soldier]

I was sure it would be heavier. Thanks for checking, that is pretty close to factory claims.

It combined with the rifle itself I think was almost 13lbs when I weighted them as a whole(bipod and scope incl.), more like 12.7ish if I remember correctly. It's well balanced with the 26" heavy when you shoulder it.

 

[Dak]

Archangel 700

That looks like a very nice stock. So what am I missing that stock is only $109? I am not a shooter that depends on his weapon like some. If the weapon needed life and death reliability or I was a serious top level competitor then $800 stock $2000 scope $300 bases and rings could be justified. This is just a fun hobby for me and trying to learn the basic long range skills.
I have a Houge Rubbermaid stock on my stock .308 SPS tactical now. I bedded it at an angle to give the forearm the 1/4" of clearance it needed so it would not touch the barrel under flexing. I still think the idea of a more rigid stock might improve my ability to shoot off a bipod. What's the recoil pad like, the Houge one is pretty plush...
It is only 2.85 lbs, then B&C A5 is almost 5 lbs, so it is not too heavy. Similar weight to HS Precision. If you bed the action anyway do you really need a aluminum bedding block? The Archangel AA700 stock I also considered because of the features, detachable magazine included, aluminum block is an option, adjustable stock. It just looks too "sniper" for me and the bipod blows.

I have archangel aa700b beding block its heavy and the bipod isnt great. over all it is great it stiff as the high priced stocks. i removed the bipod fitted a rail and installed my harris bipod. the feel is great feeds every time. For the money its great.