I have owned some type of Remington 700 rifle for more than 40 years. I enjoy the smooth action and excellent accuracy of these rifles. My most recent addition is a Remington SPS Varmint rifle with 26-inch barrel. I am pleased with the operation and accuracy. In fact, this is the single most accurate Remington rifle I have ever owned, but I still want to make it even better. This is a serious hunting rifle with much to recommend. With the Hornady ELD .308 loading, the Remington consistently groups less than an inch for three shots at 100 yards. The only drawback was the stock. The fit wasn’t what I would have liked it to be.
The standard stock has good features such as dual sling swivels so that I may mount both a bipod and a sling, but overall the stock leaves much to be desired, despite the rifle’s easy accuracy, so the ugly stock had to go. I was also interested in addressing recoil control. A 10-pound .308 Winchester isn’t a hard kicker, but recoil adds up after a long-range session. Along the way, I fitted a Huber match-grade trigger. The results were excellent, but I still felt that somewhere there was a better fit for me.
Like most of you, I looked to something I had had good results with in the past. Hogue’s Overmold stock was the answer. I have previously used this stock on tactical rifles and found it exceptional. The Hogue Overmold stock features a full-length CNC machined aluminum bedding block. The rubber stock has a bit of give in recoil, and the bedding cannot be bested for an accurate fit. As a point of interest, I actually dropped the stock on the butt pad on the porch to test spring and bounce back—it has plenty.
The rubberized stock has many advantages. A hollow stock may be noisy, and the Hogue isn’t. The fit to the action is excellent. It wasn’t difficult to remove the trigger guard and magazine base plate and then slip the action into the overmolded stock. Fit on the Remington 700 action was snug and precise.
I tapped the stock into position and had a custom grade fit. I really like the feel of the Hogue stock. The appearance is much better than the factory stock. The rubber finish, for lack of a better word, has a tacky or grippy feel. It looks and feels as if the finish will be durable.
My Remington SPS Tactical rifle with Hogue Overmold stock has been in use for some time, and I am certain the new stock will give long service as well. This stock does not harden as some rubber will over time. Solvents and gunpowder or gun oil do not affect this stock.
This is an ideal stock for use in all climates. It will not swell in a hot and humid climate as wood will, and it will not harden at low temperatures. This addition definitely makes for a better feeling and handling rifle. It is also much nicer in appearance.
As for accuracy and shooting advantages, the stock weighs a few more ounces than the factory stock and absorbs recoil better. There just isn’t too much give in recoil. The reinforced recoil lug is strong and should aid in repeatable accuracy. The stock is completely free floating.
The rubber stock is mated to a fiberglass chassis and aluminum bedding. The rubber is bonded to the inner stock in an outstanding bonding process that ensures function. The stock is supplied with two sling swivels forward and rear.
I especially like the thick recoil pad. As mentioned, a 10-pound .308 Winchester may not seem like a hard kicker, but after firing a few dozen cartridges and testing handloads in the course of a single day, recoil becomes cumulative. The increase in accuracy is incremental. I find the great advantage is that accuracy comes easier with the new stock and remains easier as time goes by after firing greater amounts of ammunition—particularly at ranges of 200 yards or more. In short, the Hogue Overmold stock is a tremendous addition to the Remington rifle. It is available for other makes as well.
Do you own a Remington 700? Have you changed out the stock? Share your answers in the comment section.
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