I picked it up today and am now looking forward to getting a stock on it. I am looking at the bell and Carlson medalist or an hs precision varmint. I think i'm going to install 2 piece bases to hold up the sig Tango 6 I am putting on top of it. This is what I decided to do instead of getting the magpul 700 package. I am looking forward to getting it put together. I will post up when I am able to start shooting.

sounds like your are well on your way to a real shooter, keep us posted

I've got the B&C Medalist 2 on my 260 setup. Shoots great but it's pretty heavy. If you're mostly target shooting or stand hunting it'll work fine, but if you plan to take long walks with that rifle you might want something lighter.

Very cool!!

Texan, have you looked at anything lighter that you felt like would be a good stock? The hs precision shows to be a little lighter than the B&C. I have looked at the hogue stocks but I'm not sure I am a fan of the rubber coating and the flexible forends on them according to some reviews that I have read. It is going to be used for target and hunting from a stand primarily. My 10 year old may appreciate the extra weight, though he does pretty well shooting my 06!

I wouldn't recommend going too light on the stock with a heavy barreled rifle. It can throw the balance off. And also make sure the forend is long enough for good support. Some stocks are lighter weight because the make the forend shorter. Some of the Hogue stocks work fine. There are some of them that have very flexible forends and stocks. I do not know the difference in the models on which one's are flexible and stiff. I have a Hogue on my Rem 700, and it's very solid.

Also, I would recommend having the action bedded in the stock you select. It will provide a solid platform to allow the rifle to shoot better. With your barreled action and quality stock (bedded), the rifle should shoot easily sub moa. All the little items, like bedding and a trigger job, will add up to be very beneficial for accuracy.

I didn't really look for anything lighter since my setup is primarily for long range target use. I did kill a doe with it last year at 80 yards. After the shot I had to laugh - 14 lb rifle, $2500 scope, zero drama.

I really like the rubber coating on the Hogue, it gives me a much better grip. Yes, the ones without the aluminum chasis can be flimsy, those with the aluminum are very solid. Good bedding, good trigger and good loads (see Chad if you don't load your own) and you should have a sweet shooter.

P_102

I have looked at the hogue stocks with the full bedding block, they are right at the same price as the Bell and Carlson so I was thinking I would just go with that one. I keep looking at the hs precision varmint though, I like the way that one looks for some reason! I am encouraged by you guys telling me this will be a seeet shooting rifle. I have an older howa 30036 that I picked up a couple of years ago. I think the guy got rid of it because it wouldn't group very well. It was in a plastic Choate stock which was touching the barrel in several places. Once I got the Drexel out and cleaned the trigger up some it became a pretty good gun! I have a fixed 6 power SWFA SS on top of it. I still need to put that one in a better stock as well, but the 308 is gonna take priority for a little while now.

I ordered an hs precision varmint stock from Stockys and it should be delivered to me by the end of the day Friday! I am going to try to go through the break in recommended by Howa and put some shots on paper this weekend. If I do I will post them up here.

I have been looking at scope bases and doing some reading about 2 piece vs 1 piece bases. I am considering going with a 2 piece steel base set set up to accommodate picatinney style rings. I like the idea of having a little more clearance for dropping shells in the top. I have a UTG Steel 1 piece pic base that I bought online for around $14 for my howa 30-06. It has worked perfectly at a tenth of the cost of the name brand steel 1 piece bases! It even has a cutaway section over the port to increase the clearance. Unfortunately they don't appear to make one for a short action Howa. Anyone with experience in this area have a reason the two piece bases wouldn't be a good idea?

I have a Howa like yours with a 20" threaded barrel that I had bedded into a Bell and Carlson stock. Its a bit heavy, but its a 1/2" rifle. I think you will be happy with that rifle once its set up.

I think so too. I am waiting on a 20 moa base to put on it now. I have a friend with a 20" accuracy international and we are going to set up and see what different velocities we get out of the same ammo for the extra four inches. The first box of ammo I put through it was fun.

My Weatherby Vanguard uses the same bases as my Remington 700, maybe Howa is the same....P_102

It is my understanding that the 1 piece bases for the long action Remington and the long action Howa/Vanguard are interchangeable. The short action 2 piece bases are also interchangeable, but the one piece bases are not interchangeable as the distance between the rear and front sets of holes are spaced differently on the Remington and Howa/Vanguard actions. It would be nice if they were the same, we would have several more options to consider!