Bell & Carlson Stocks - Style 4 M40 vs Style 2 Vertical Grip

[LMNO]

Hey All,

Need some help deciding on a stock.

Recently picked up a Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308. I am planning some future upgrades, one of which includes the stock. The gun is a bench shooter for now but someday, I may try my hand at hunting.

I am currently looking at the B&C Medalist in two flavors. The first is the Bell & Carlson Tactical Medalist Style 4 M40 Long Range and second one is the Bell & Carlson Tactical Medalist Style 2 Vertical Grip.

I like the idea of the Medalist Style 4 being more traditional and very light weight. However, I am not sure if the light weight is a good idea with the recoil of a .308. I like the look of the Style 2 Vertical Grip, however I am not sure what the pros and cons are for the vertical grip itself when it comes to my intended uses. Price is not an issue, as both are on sale right now for $249.97.

Any info, tips and experiences with these two stocks would be very much appreciated. Or if you have another stock you would like to recommend, that is fine too.

Thanks,

[Jarhead]

I would recommend two rifles, one Target 700 SPS the other a lightest possible barrel / stock for hunting. Eventually I would replace existing stocks to H-S, one Target Grade and the other the lightest for hunting.

Both Remington's

[LMNO]

Thanks for tips Jarhead. You are absolutely right about having two separate rifles. This Remington will be the target bench shooter.

[Packy14]

Hey All,

Need some help deciding on a stock.

Recently picked up a Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308. I am planning some future upgrades, one of which includes the stock. The gun is a bench shooter for now but someday, I may try my hand at hunting.

I am currently looking at the B&C Medalist in two flavors. The first is the Bell & Carlson Tactical Medalist Style 4 M40 Long Range and second one is the Bell & Carlson Tactical Medalist Style 2 Vertical Grip.

I like the idea of the Medalist Style 4 being more traditional and very light weight. However, I am not sure if the light weight is a good idea with the recoil of a .308. I like the look of the Style 2 Vertical Grip, however I am not sure what the pros and cons are for the vertical grip itself when it comes to my intended uses. Price is not an issue, as both are on sale right now for $249.97.

Any info, tips and experiences with these two stocks would be very much appreciated. Or if you have another stock you would like to recommend, that is fine too.

Thanks,

I bought two B&C and wish I never did...terrible build quality and finish...both fully adjustable medalists.... Sold both after finally making them work and would never buy another.

[LMNO]

I bought two B&C and wish I never did...terrible build quality and finish...both fully adjustable medalists.... Sold both after finally making them work and would never buy another.

What did you end up switching over to?

[Thanatos2203]

The assertion that two different rifles for two different purposes is a good one but budget doesn't always allow for two rifles. Depending on your optics set up and style of hunting, one rifle can serve both roles just fine. Weight is more of an issue with hunting if you expect to be hauling the rifle around. If you are driving in an ATV on a ranch, long range hunting, or sitting in a tree stand then who cares?

If you want one rifle to serve dual purposes, the long range style stock or a more traditional sporter/hunter style will be more universal. Pistol grip style stocks are nice on the bench but I usually shoot prone and am personally less of a fan of them.

I have a B&C that I am very happy with. They are on the bottom end of the "high grade" stocks, so they are not going to be as nice as the HS Precision, McMillan, etc offering but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with them. They are very rigid, and have a nice lock up with a touch of bedding material. If you are interested in an HS Precision, ebay is the place to look as a lot of lightly used and factory take off listings.

If you do go the two rifle route don't limit yourself to just Remington's as you will be missing out on the market's better offerings.

[Packy14]

What did you end up switching over to?

Ended up selling both rifles. Woulda gone accuracy international new style. Opted to scrap long range shooting altogether.. If my SCAR 17 can't hit it I don't need to.

[yankee-pete]

I put the Medalist Style 2 w/vertical grip on my R700 Varmint. It is all kinds of cool. I really like the stock.

[LMNO]

The assertion that two different rifles for two different purposes is a good one but budget doesn't always allow for two rifles. Depending on your optics set up and style of hunting, one rifle can serve both roles just fine. Weight is more of an issue with hunting if you expect to be hauling the rifle around. If you are driving in an ATV on a ranch, long range hunting, or sitting in a tree stand then who cares?

If you want one rifle to serve dual purposes, the long range style stock or a more traditional sporter/hunter style will be more universal. Pistol grip style stocks are nice on the bench but I usually shoot prone and am personally less of a fan of them.

I have a B&C that I am very happy with. They are on the bottom end of the "high grade" stocks, so they are not going to be as nice as the HS Precision, McMillan, etc offering but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with them. They are very rigid, and have a nice lock up with a touch of bedding material. If you are interested in an HS Precision, ebay is the place to look as a lot of lightly used and factory take off listings.

If you do go the two rifle route don't limit yourself to just Remington's as you will be missing out on the market's better offerings.

Thanks for the helpful info Thanatos. Right now, I am just an occasional bench shooter, as I only get out to the outdoor ranges like twice a year or so. Hunting is something that may or may not ever happen, but I have heard great things about several brands, especially at the entry level for those who may shoot their guns once or twice a year. I like the Rem 700 I have, but Ruger American and the Savage rifles look good.

I'm glad you brought up your experience shooting prone with the pistol grip. I've never shot prone but now I have an idea of what to expect.

I am interested in the B&C stuff due to their price point, but after reading some of the earlier responses, I did more searching online for reviews (that's either good or bad lol). I did read a few things about them breaking, but the posts were from like 5 years ago. All of the recent reviews on Midway have been positive. I did check ebay for the HS stocks and there are quite a few auctions happening. Maybe if I score a good deal on one, it may not be bad way to get a feel for what I like. Thats what really makes me nervous about replacing the stock, I've never tried any aftermarket stuff before.

Ended up selling both rifles. Woulda gone accuracy international new style. Opted to scrap long range shooting altogether.. If my SCAR 17 can't hit it I don't need to.

Man those Scar 17s. I hear so many good things about them. Hoping to try one someday.

I put the Medalist Style 2 w/vertical grip on my R700 Varmint. It is all kinds of cool. I really like the stock.

Thanks for the feedback yankee pete. Do you shoot yours on bench?

[Packy14]

Thanks for the helpful info Thanatos. Right now, I am just an occasional bench shooter, as I only get out to the outdoor ranges like twice a year or so. Hunting is something that may or may not ever happen, but I have heard great things about several brands, especially at the entry level for those who may shoot their guns once or twice a year. I like the Rem 700 I have, but Ruger American and the Savage rifles look good.

I'm glad you brought up your experience shooting prone with the pistol grip. I've never shot prone but now I have an idea of what to expect.

I am interested in the B&C stuff due to their price point, but after reading some of the earlier responses, I did more searching online for reviews (that's either good or bad lol). I did read a few things about them breaking, but the posts were from like 5 years ago. All of the recent reviews on Midway have been positive. I did check ebay for the HS stocks and there are quite a few auctions happening. Maybe if I score a good deal on one, it may not be bad way to get a feel for what I like. Thats what really makes me nervous about replacing the stock, I've never tried any aftermarket stuff before.



Man those Scar 17s. I hear so many good things about them. Hoping to try one someday.



Thanks for the feedback yankee pete. Do you shoot yours on bench?

Most of the BC stocks are heavy as hell, so hunting is not going to be very fun. Unless you are really into precision, there are many other rifle options, specifically semi auto rifles at are plenty accurate and offer hit ability to 500+ yards. For me I chose SCAR but there are others

[Sig Marine]

LMNO. I sent you an email but thought I'd post in the forum as well.

Stock shapes, grip angles and palm swells vary from model and manufacture and it's sometimes a difficult task making a choice when examples are not present for you to shoulder. As others have mentioned, different grip angles work better for different applications AND they will vary from shooter to shooter. For me, there is a HUGH difference between a traditional grip, pistol grip and a vertical grip. The traditional grip, for me, works better in a hunting or in multi-positional shooting because the elbow of the shooting arm can vary its position without affecting the grip. The vertical grip, again for me, is best for shooting from a bench and prone because the elbow is, or almost, horizontal. The pistol grip is sort of in the middle but the usual opinion is you either hate them or love them. They are very much like an AR and if you find them comfortable, the pistol grip will probably work for you. Like some shooters, I don't wrap my thumb around the grip when I shoot so the grip angle on most chassis with a pistol grip don't work for me. There are a couple of chassis that have a vertical grip, see the KRG X-Ray and the Whiskey 3, where one can get comfortable but most are not my cup of tea. I much prefer a vertical grip if given a choice.

Just as important as the grip angle is the amount of palm swell the grip may have. The HS Precision stocks from the take-off Remington 5Rs and 700Ps have a traditional grip angle and a fairly large swell. The B&C is suppose to have a smaller palm swell which makes it a little more comfortable for those with small or medium hands.

Another thing to consider when looking a stocks is the angle of the stock where it rides/sits in the bags. Many have a tapered bottom which is easier to make small elevation changes but if using the heavy "rabbit-earred" bags, they don't ride fore and aft as well as the flat bottomed ones. For that application, usually bench work or F-class when using a front rest, the flatter bottom stocks are a little better. Not saying one cannot shoot well with the angled bottom, it just takes practice and I do think they allow better adjustment when shooting prone from the bipod.

Hope this helps...Sig Marine

[Thanatos2203]

Most of the BC stocks are heavy as hell, so hunting is not going to be very fun. Unless you are really into precision, there are many other rifle options, specifically semi auto rifles at are plenty accurate and offer hit ability to 500+ yards. For me I chose SCAR but there are others

I have never heard anyone complain about the weight of B&C stock EVER until now. They are not heavy at all, balance and weight of the rifle is going to be far more dependent on barrel length and profile as well as the optics.

"Plenty Accurate" is a relative term. SCAR's are great (albeit expensive) rifles but they are not going to compare to the accuracy and range of a good bolt action set up. They are also not featherweights. I don't think they fit the presented philosophies of use here very well. They make phenomenal tactical rifles for close to medium range engagements, but when we are talking bench rest and hunting bolt action is king. Semi auto 308's are expensive to buy and expensive to feed.

[Packy14]

I have never heard anyone complain about the weight of B&C stock EVER until now. They are not heavy at all, balance and weight of the rifle is going to be far more dependent on barrel length and profile as well as the optics.

"Plenty Accurate" is a relative term. SCAR's are great (albeit expensive) rifles but they are not going to compare to the accuracy and range of a good bolt action set up. They are also not featherweights. I don't think they fit the presented philosophies of use here very well. They make phenomenal tactical rifles for close to medium range engagements, but when we are talking bench rest and hunting bolt action is king. Semi auto 308's are expensive to buy and expensive to feed.

I said unless your are looking for precision. I would hunt with a SCAR without any concern over accuracy, that comes down to the shooter and glass, within range of the rifle you are using and the ammo ballistics. My Rem700 in B&C was over 12lb without glass.. no one is lugging that around far to hunt with. Read what I wrote before commenting.

[Thanatos2203]

I said unless your are looking for precision. I would hunt with a SCAR without any concern over accuracy, that comes down to the shooter and glass, within range of the rifle you are using and the ammo ballistics. My Rem700 in B&C was over 12lb without glass.. no one is lugging that around far to hunt with. Read what I wrote before commenting.

I read exactly what you wrote.

Hunting accuracy and bench accuracy are two totally different things, since the OP said its primarily going to be a bench gun I would guess that they are looking for REAL precision. Your rifle was 12 pounds naked because of the barrel length and profile...not the stock. The SPS tactical is around 7.5 lbs with the factory stock installed. Remove the old stock and add a new one and you are not playing around with big weight differences here. Its not as light as some designated hunting rifles, but its light enough to serve as one. I would also guess that it is lighter than the SCAR.

When someone asks about a $250 stock in their price range and you come on talking about a $2,700 rifle it seems like you are missing the point of the thread. So do not accuse me of not reading before I comment.

[NapalmCheese]

The gun is a bench shooter for now but someday, I may try my hand at hunting.

I'd bet 20 bucks that you'll never go hunting.
Just buy the stock that works best for you from the bench and don't worry about possibly, maybe, perhaps, someday hunting. If you do ever go hunting, borrow a gun or lug your bench gun around until you figure out that hunting is fun and you want a dedicated hunting rifle.