Long post but there's a reason.
Have been messaging with Sage Rat Shooter on the LRT and am going to share my experience. I had decided to get the LRT before reading of his brother's satisfaction with the same stock. Got mine for Christmas but too much going on to replace the factory stock with which, btw, I was able to produce 1/2 MOA gps.
Had read Sage Rat's comments of needing to notch for the "L" bracket and some Dremel work so the trigger guard would fit. I chose to replace the trigger guard instead of modify the inlet (inlet is for 12BV guard). Ordered the trigger guard from Gun Shack on a Saturday morning and it was in my mailbox on Monday afternoon (TX to WA)!
I had a tough time getting the magazine in the LRT, it was really tight, in fact I had to tap it in place with a 4oz ball pein hammer and wood dowel. Once I got it situated I put the action back in and torqued screws as recommended. It took a tremendous amount of force to get a round into the magazine, and doing so dented and scratched new brass. Glad I used factory rounds instead of some of my handloads (Nosler and Peterson brass).
Knowing it should not be this way, I removed the action and started my diagnosis. I also made contact with Stocky's customer service to let them know of my issue, and initially, was a bit disappointed in their reply as they told me the LRT was not designed for the model 12 and blind magazine with the "L" bracket. No such information was posted on their website, instead all the information indicated the LRT was made for Savage 10 - 16, either 4.40" or 4.27" action screw spacing, with internal blind magazine and in my case, the center feed blind mag with heavy varmint barrel.
This started several emails with Stocky's and my analysis revealed the problem, which is simple to correct. I should note, the current LRT does indeed come with the "L" bracket notch AND steel pillars.
There were two problems with the magazine well it was too narrow and too short. In addition to that, the "L" bracket notch was also too narrow which caused the "L" bracket to sit on top of the notch rather than down inside it.
To determine corrective action I grabbed my trusty 6" caliper and measured both stocks. Here are the results:
Factory plastic
Mag well length - 3.155"
Mag well width - 1.038"
Depth @ front of mag well to center of barrel channel - 1.059"
Depth @ rear to center of "L" bracket notch - 1.175"
"L" bracket notch width - .560"
"L" bracket notch depth - .138"
LRT
Mag well length - 3.181"
Mag well length between "buttons" - 3.127"***
Mag well width, front/middle/rear - .980"/.972"/.970"***
Depth @ front of mag well to center of barrel channel - 1.043"
Depth @ rear to center of "L" bracket notch - 1.125"
"L" bracket notch width - .494"
"L" bracket notch depth - .155" - .160"
*** Obvious problem areas. The red arrows in the stock comparison picture below point to what I call "buttons".
Even without the follower and "L" bracket I had to squeeze the magazine to start it in the well and it was still hard to push to the bottom. It literally dropped in the well on the factory stock.
My solution was to remove material from the rear "button" since the rear of the magazine is supported by the "L" bracket. The front "button", however, had a shelf for the front magazine tab so I didn't want to alter that area at all. I used some 80gr paper on a small block square edged block to carefully remove material measuring frequently until the length matched the factory stock. Then I set about widening the mag well using the same block and 80gr until I could slide the magazine in with very light finger pressure.
I noted in a recent reply to another member Fred recommended shortening the "L" bracket so it didn't extend over the pillar, well it did on the LRT so I followed his advice and shortened it.
Because the "L" bracket originally didn't seat in the notch, I was only getting maybe 2 threads contact on the rear action screw. Between widening only the rear portion of the notch and shortening the "L" bracket I now have full thread contact as before.
So, about 20 - 30mins of sanding and a few minutes of delicate work with a small chisel, my blind mag slides in place nicely, I can load a round with one finger, and my LRT fits my 12FV like a glove, and, unlike before, I can also slide a sheet of printer paper all the way to the barrel nut.
I can absolutely recommend this stock for the 12FV.
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