I'll be buying a new Tikka today and I'm looking for a stock. This will be a hunting gun so I'm looking for something light. I thought I read on here a while back that Manners was making a lightweight hunting stock that was less expensive than their other stuff but I can't seem to find anything on it now. Are there any options other than B&C for less than $300? Any thoughts on the B&C? I'm open to all suggestions! Thanks.

Boyds. I love my B&C but you can get a laminate from Boyds for alot less than $300. It won't be quite as light, but its hard to find light, rigid, and cheap.

Manners MCS-EH1 is a vertical grip and is 26 oz. But it is $550 like the rest.

I have B&C on 3 of my Tikkas. Love them. I bought a McMillan Sako hunter for nephew. It took 5 months and cost over $500.00, but man is it nice!! It is grey marbled and the gun is Stainless Steel. It is beautiful. Got'ed all from Stocky's stocks.

McMillan Game Scout. They have drop in ready for $395 or can do custom inlet for abou $500 and ships in 2-4 weeks.

I have a Boyd's on another one and I love it. I finished it myself and it looks awesome. I'm wanting something lighter than that on this one though.

Ok, thanks. I don't know why I was thinking that I read about a cheaper one. Oh well, it's only money, right? So you'd suggest the EH1 over say the EHT? I guess I had just envisioned a more traditional style stock. I know that this is right up your alley so will you please tell me why the vertical grip is important?

I'm just a little concerned about the weight of the B&C. I mean, it's only +/- 6oz heavier than the Manners but I'm just wondering if I'll be kicking myself later because I didn't just go ahead and spend the extra money to get it lighter. I wonder if I'd ever feel that extra weight if I happen to go on a trip into the mountains. Probably not I'm guessing.

I'll have to read some more on this one. Thank you.

Piggybacking off of the OP...

I was looking at fitting some Boyds thumbhole stocks to a couple of my T3s - they're way below the price point y'all are throwing around. Am I missing something? Any pros or cons on those?

I have the B&C on my Sako A7 which is about the same as the Tikka T3. It is a nice stock for the $ but McMillan and Manners are definitely nicer.

That is a steal on the Mcmillan that Redsnake recommended. Those stocks are usually $500+ with a fairly long wait time. It is a much higher quality stock than B&C. If you want lighter weight, a carbon fiber stock from Manners or Mcmillan is the way to go. Both should be $600ish.

If you want a laminated stock Boyd's is definitely the way to go. I have one on a 7mm Rem Mag and it is awesome. However, if you want something lightweight you will want to consider something else.

I got an EMail from Boyd's late last week announcing a $99 Sale on select stock styles & rifles that included T3's.

This was for the base no frills price, and included the SO extra cost options & color's in the selected rifle & stock style, that are normally $129.95 these days. Several other rifles too, and some of them have various stock styles.
Ron

Vertical grip is way more ergonomic. Hold your forearm level with the ground, elbow at your side, make a fist. Now point your trigger finger . Your trigger finger is on the same plane as your forearm. That would be using a vertical grip rifle stock.

Now make a fist again, thumb on top, rotate your wrist so that the tip of your thumb is pointing to the ground. Now point your trigger finger. That is the traditional grip rifle stock.

Better ergonomics yield better trigger control. Better trigger control yields tighter shooting.

Now that makes sense! Thanks.

See what McMillan has in stock or in the sale section

I really like the EH-1 I have one on my 280AI and another one just finished should be here Friday. Fit and Finish is awesome and I do prefer them over my Game Scout stock.

I wouldn't get a B&C for a Tikka-I picked one up a few months ago from Redhawk and it fit terrible. The barrel channel was terribly crooked. I called both B&C and Redhawk; both said they have had a lot of Tikka stocks returned recently; evidently others have experienced the same. B&C wasn't clear as to what they are doing about it, if anything.

Exactly my experience with 2 different B&C stocks for t3 lites. The last one I went ahead and had bedded, which straightened it out pretty well, but by the time you do that you're near Mcmillan money so I wouldn't recommend it.

If I do another T3 stock upgrade I'll either go cheap with a boyd's or just spend the money for an McM or Manners. The Boyd's wont be light though, and I'd probably just paint up the factory plastic instead if it's a hunting rifle rather than buying a laminate.

If you go Manners, I'd recommend buying one that's in stock ready to ship. I've been waiting forever for a custom ordered EHTA for my CTR...

Very interesting. Thank you for the heads up.

Installed a B&C on a T3 last year, dropped right in, fit perfect, shoots as well or better than with the factory stock. Must be a recent quality issue with B&C.

Red snake, where'd you pick up the game scout?

This has been my experience as well. I have two T3's that I put in B&C stocks and they fit and floated perfectly. This was last 2014 with the last one and 2013 for the first.

No Bueno if it's a recent development in qc with them.