Advanced Marksmanship Why use thumbhole stocks?

[Anchor Zero Six]

Re: Why use thumbhole stocks?

Really the only "Tactical" rifles that I know of that employ a thumbhole are the AI,CZ and Walther.

CZ 750 I have no comment on but at the price point I'm not going to put it in the same class as the others and IMO its clearly heavily inspired by the AI.

Walther WA2000...really? Do we even need to talk about this, who here is shooting one? If I recall the number made was around 200 and only 10 were ever imported into the US.

So lets just say you are primarily refering to the AI stock. In this case the thumbhole is a product of design. Remove the skins and tell me another way to maintain the strength and rigidity of the stock without making it a thumbhole. There are other considerations factored into the design of a working rifle that are not weighted as heavily when designing a target rifle.

Having said that I hate the small grip of the AI but since building it up with a heavy application of riggers tape it fits my hand just find now. To me the less than ideal stock shape was offset by what the rifle as a whole offers in terms of features.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Why use thumbhole stocks?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NineHotel</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Downzero</div><div class="ubbcode-body">



Precision shooting for me is all about comfort. When we talk about NPA, what we're really talking about is a state of absolute comfort...when the shooter is so comfortable behind the rifle that it basically drives itself. </div></div>

Exactly - about comfort. That is why us prone sling and coat shooters say, "if it is comfortable you are doing it wrong. Prone is not for sissies." </div></div>

Fair enough. I can't bag on your sport too often, because it is awfully tough...

But that's why your target is twice the size of ours.

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: Why use thumbhole stocks?

Really - I shoot a 1 MOA 10 ring in international smallbore prone. What sport are you in that uses a 1/2 MOA 10 ring?

 

[deadly0311]

Re: Why use thumbhole stocks?

Down Zero i heard some bench rest shooters say the exact same thing at the last match i went to, but the misses that they had didnt exactly back up their statement very well, but ill be damned if they didnt miss those "freakin huge" targets quite a bit

 

[rankroddin250]

Re: Why use thumbhole stocks?

I have since given my thumb hole stocked 243 to my little brother but I loved that rifle for deer hunting! Seems 100% more stable to shoot off hand than with a regular stock. Every one is diferent but it sure worked to steady my wobbles.

 

[JRose]

Re: Why use thumbhole stocks?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deadly0311</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I heard some bench rest shooters say the exact same thing at the last match i went to </div></div>

I have a hard time listing to criticism of someone who has to clamp their rifle in a vice to shoot...

 

[rlw]

Re: Why use thumbhole stocks?

it is personal preference i think i would chose what ever i feel confident/comfortable with and i would give up a little speed for better accuracy and on a full size rifle you would have to take your entire hand off the grip to cycle a round any ways

 

[wadebrown]

Re: Why use thumbhole stocks?

I have to discount what Norm said about thumbhole stocks or anything else, after reading what Norm Chandler claims about the XM-3 were and about 2,000 rounds of experience with it. I am not dissing the 18-inch barrel but his claims about it.