When I load a harris bipod on my sako A7 range rifle, the stock noticeably curves away from the barrel. I don't think it ever makes contact with the barrel. I'm getting the urge to dump it and replace it.
I'm pretty sure its a B&C stock of some sorts. When I replaced the bottom metal I found that the stock does have an aluminum bedding block. The fore end is solid and has its date code in the channel like a standard B&C.
I'm looking at the McMillan HTG but are there other options? I know B&C and boyds make stocks.
It's quite common for a rifle stock to yield/deflect when its put in a loaded condition. A bipod firmly planted on the ground with a 200lb man behind it and leaning on it will make just about anything flex. So long as the rifle isn't producing off call shots because of it, then its really not an issue.
One has to think about how the receiver's relationship with the stock works to partially resolve this. The two pieces firmly squashed together form a more or less symbian relationship. The stock acquires support from the receiver to resist being distorted when loads are applied and the action benefits from being tightly fitted so that its not disturbed erratically from one shot to the next.
Its been my experience that so long as the gun isn't producing flyers in this condition, just continue to shoot it and enjoy life. If you want a different stock, then that is fine too, but realize that all of them will flex and yield to some degree.
Now, as far as me charging a premium rate for the work we do at LRI:
One needs to understand that I typically do not receive a completely finished stock from a vendor. I buy my stocks as blanks straight out of the mold. Whenever possible I don't even want paint or primer on them. Doing so puts the stock at roughly 1/2 of what you guys pay. We literally do everything short of making the thing. All the inletting, all the fitting, all the accessory installation, and all the finish work.
It does cost more than buying a cookie cutter "whatever", but the price isn't nearly as ridiculous as its often made out to be. Truth be told I kinda lose my ass on this work as its tedious and very easy to screw up. -Even with the equipment resources I have. The long and short of it is that you can expect to pay roughly 2-3 hundred dollars more for a stock that we fit from the ground up. We do our very best to offer something very few can replicate and if that resonates with you, then the additional cost is typically pretty easy to rationalize. If your involvement in this hobby is governed by an accountant mindset then there are more affordable options.
All this tactical stuff is great and all, but to put things into a whole new perspective: A hand carved wood stock can easily run north of $10,000. Very easily in fact. The 2015 Sniper's Hide Cup gun I donated cost me almost $50,000 by the time I was done with it. Thats parts, infrastructure to make it, and the human capital investment.
Custom does not come in a box.
