Re: McMillan A5 for F/TR
I have had good success with my A5 but I'm going to a PR&T stock this year (when I finally get a barrel for the build that is 15 months and still not together). Right now I've rechambered the rifle I shot last yr with my new reamer and I'm going to start doing load work in the next few weeks.
If you use an adjustable pod then I like that the back of the A5. The back of the A5 isn't as flat as a target stock, but it is very near to the plane of the barrel, the recoil cycle is pretty close to on the target. The hook can present a problem until you figure it out, you do have less surface to let ride back.
I fought with my Edgewood rear bag the first half of this yr, and I can tell you every match that we fought I lost. When I finally got it hard enough and the ears soft enough that I wasn't doing any squeezing at all things got good. My system with my A5 is to put the index finger of my left hand across in front of the ears and ease the stock up till the hook touches my finger. Same place every time, but you have to be able to adjust the pod to get dead on.
If your rifle is a dedicated F class rifle get a dedicated stock, if it doesn't have a 30"+ barrel and you may want to use it for other stuff get the A5.