Help with Bell&Carlson #6560-02 stock

[IPSC]

Guys:

I purchased and installed a B&C model 6560 Medalist ( full aluminum chassis) stock on my Howa 1500, 20" heavy barrel rifle. Stock is wonderful in fit and finish, no issues.

Here is a representative pic from a Midway ad, to help visualize what I'm asking.--->

Bell Carlson Medalist Varmint/Tactical Rifle Stock Howa 1500 Weatherby

I have small hands....I'm a small guy ( 5'-8", 150 lbs). Notice that the "curve" of the pistol grip starts off rather flat and horizontal right behind the receiver, and continues straight back ( like a gun with NO pistol grip) for quite some distance before it drops down into pistol grip shape. With my small hands, there is quite a reach to the front-side of the trigger, and the "cocked" position of my hand has me pulling both BACK AND UP with my trigger finger ( not as much straight back as I can do with other rifles I have). The awkward position also forces the contact of my finger to be more on the finger-pad SIDE than right on the finger pad center.

What can be done?

Since this is a full aluminum chassis, I think the only solution is to reprofile this area of the grip, as long as I don't compromise strength offered up by the aluminum channel or tube that runs back/down behind the receiver. Also...something like a Tyler "T" grip ( as used for revolvers) attached to the front of the pistol grip might get my hand in better contact with the trigger. Like pics here?--->

https://www.google.com/search?q=tyl...ATX64DICw&sqi=2&ved=0CDsQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=532

Trigger shoe?...

I'm pretty bummed about this (otherwise) incredibly good stock.

 

[roggom]

Are you trying to wrap your thumb all the way around the stock? Try resting your thumb along the top or along the side of the stock.

In this video you will notice Ryan's thumb position, it is on top and along the side. Allowing your hand to be more in a vertical position and closer to the trigger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9VTMzCiZtE




If that is a no-go, you can look at the RAT grip system Rat Grips | 877-339-4747 | Carbine Grip System

 

[IPSC]

Ryan Cleckner's videos are awesome.... true enough, I tried that and it helps....but doesn't get me too far. It's as if I should be resting my thumb on some kind of right/upper ledge that isn't there. Maybe I can grind out one and do some bondo work to refinish the stock. Might work. If you look "down" onto the stock, it's also very fat left-to-right in that area making a good grip problematic for small hands. I guess the stock was simply designed for ( normal?) 6'-2" guys weighing 220 lbs.....

I'm thinking of "slendering" the grip area hoping that the embedded aluminum frame that still runs thru the grip....could give me adequate strength without breaking the stock. As a point of reference, the Tupperware factory plastic stock for my Savage MKII trainer, has a grip that drops down much sooner (fore and aft) and I can get a good grip and finger placement on the trigger with that one. That stock, however, is truly too small in all dimensions and seems built for kids. I might find myself awkwardly in-between these two body types to get real comfortable.

The RAT grip looks interesting and is something I found some time ago ( but lost the reference since then). Thanks for the reminder !!!!

EDIT---> went back to the Cleckner video...and wow !..... noticed something I hadn't seen before. Sure, I recall this video and saw his thumb along the top or right of the stock. But here's the kicker....look real close at timeline 2:59 to 3:11....his whole hand seems to be along the right side of the grip allowing his trigger finger to better reach the trigger face, and having a more vertical grip position.

Awesome....thanks for the hint to look at this again !!!!

 

[roggom]

His fingers are still around the grip, but his thumb is alongside his fingers, almost exaggerated. I have been shooting that way for a while, it take some time to get used to but after a while becomes second nature.

 

[IPSC]

No doubt his fingers wrap around the grip but his hand placement is very far "right-and-vertical" ( no "thumb-over" affect)....so much so....that his hand is now allowed to placed more vertically than would otherwise be allowed if he followed the grip contour. I guess I'm saying it's an "exaggerated" thumb-on-right side of stock, such that his hand is only gently touching the right side. I might try that. I need to remember this gun is being shot supported with either front bag or bipod...and the rear on a squeeze bag or such, the shooting hand has not much need to "hold-on" but serves only to release the trigger with a light hold., or only pushing straight back onto the shoulder with the non-trigger fingers against the pistol grip. Might try that. Thanks !!!! It is also possible that Cleckner is placing his hand on the right side of stock in such a way to push left onto his cheekweld, too (???). If so, he needs more right side hand placement for that too.