How much can a Boyds barrel channel be opened up?
Looking to get a Boyds Prairie Hunter for a build in progress. Will be using a CBI in either heavy sporter or light varmint.
Can the Prairie Hunter be opened up to accept a heavier barrel without losing too much strength? Not going to be a bench gun but don't want paper thin side rails either.
Thoughts?
Re: How much can a Boyds barrel channel be opened up?
mattri, read this!
https://www.boydsgunstocks.com/Articles.asp?ID=149
Varmint Contour: - called out as BBC on the models we offer, these are generally a heavy contoured barrel that can be put into our varmint thumbhole design stock. You cannot fit a varmint barrel into our Classic, FT or Prairie Hunter design stocks unless you are willing to give up the 'flats' or rails on the top and sides of the forend. The stock will be safe to use but cosmetically unpleasing to look at.
Bull Barrel: This barrel is usually a straight contour, usually 1" or 1.250" in diameter. Inletting of barrel channel will be needed on our BBC stocks or on our heavier forend stocks i.e. Varmint Thumbhole.
Re: How much can a Boyds barrel channel be opened up?
Ive opened up a ross ft for a mag contour from mcgowan with no prob. The side rails only had maybe 1/8-1/4" left of flat surface on top but it worked. Kinda looked odd to me tho cuz the barrel seemed to be sitting above the channel and not in it if i wanted to free float it. You may be better off getting the varmint one IMHO.....
Brian
Re: How much can a Boyds barrel channel be opened up?
Thanks for the replies. Definitely not interested in a thumbhole, that seems to be all Boyds offer in the varmint style. Guess I'll have to do a little more digging.
Re: How much can a Boyds barrel channel be opened up?
Ive had a duramaxx before amd really liked it....but they are only for SF. Wish they would make them in CF.
I have a vlp that is really nice....i like it a lot and its the DBM version. Look into those. Jim sells them but those might be the blind mag ones. My mag co.tour barrel looks pretty good in it for it being a varmint channel. Theres plenty of room in case i ever want a varmint barrel.
Brian
Re: How much can a Boyds barrel channel be opened up?
Good to know thanks- should have mentioned its a long action, stagger feed blind mag well.