Wildcat

[260 Rem]

I wanted to shed a pound on a hunting rig so had Wildcat
Composites make a lightweight stock ...aluminum pillars / stainless sling studs / thin recoil pad ...epoxy bedding. Turn around was quick (2 weeks) and end result is very nice fit and finish. Scoped rifle is 7.5 lbs.
Stiller Predator Action, 24" #2 Kreiger CM barrel ... 8 twist ... 6.5 X 47 L, Holland recoil lug, Rem 700 mag box & bottom metal, Jewel trigger. Leupold 4 - 12 X 40 with AO. Used the barrelled action in a different stock to hunt with a couple of years ago and it was about a 1/2moa (agg) shooter which I hope to improve with some Berger 135gr Classic Hunter bullets. I painted the barrel with some Krylon to take off some shine and prevent rust but plan to replace it with some Endura epoxy paint.

[Smokinyotes]

That looks really good. Was the stock finished or did you have to do it yourself?

[260 Rem]

Everything done by wildcat. The paint has a bit of texture so is not slippery.

[duceman]

stu is the man! nice build.

[260 Rem]

No doubt he has the lightweight (with no flex) figured out. I also fondled a couple of his VarTac stocks ...both less than 25oz before pillars/studs/bedding... They are a very good design/shape.

[sns2]

Very nice, James!!

[Dweb]

Incredible !

That's sharp

[rem338win]

I've used Wildcat blanks on a few customs and they are super stiff and feathery.

That's a great rig for lots of stuff.

[Beeman3]

Looks very nice. I did a similar build last winter. Dipped my stock Kuiu Verde 2.0. Finished at 8.0 lbs exactly with a Z5 5-25x52 BT.

[Don_Parsons]

Awesome build 260.

I hope my build comes in at 8 3/4 lbs using the Ver-Tech design from Stuart, super nice fellow. I'll have to wait and see.

It's ready to go he said, just need to get it fitted.

Don

[58thecat]

One pound lighter than my build

Nice rig there eh!

[260 Rem]

I should add, that a contributing factor to my decision in choosing the Wildcat is the relatively flat bottom on the forestock which will resist torque roll (a bit better than a U shape) when it is shot from a front rest ... given that +95% of my shooting is off a table.
It also looks like my barreled BAT action will fit in the stock. Just need to confirm with a bit of measuring on the recoil lug. The BAT is about 1/2 lb heavier than the Stiller.
One other thing to mention is that I requested no epoxy bedding forward of the recoil lug. First, I think barrels shoot best (in a wider range of temperatures) without any contact under the shank, and second, it makes installing a bit heavier contour barrel a no fuss job. (I had Stuart leave an extra few thou clearance in the barrel channel). That way, when I get drawn for Elk, I can maintain weight by screwing on a 22” #3 Kreiger chambered to 308 Win.

[markg]

That is a very nice rifle. What a beauty.

[Cement Bench]

better than you deserve,

just kidding nice stuff

you could even try silly wet with that gun now

Cement Bench

[runnin'wild]

Originally Posted by 260 Rem

I should add, that a contributing factor to my decision in choosing the Wildcat is the relatively flat bottom on the forestock which will resist torque roll (a bit better than a U shape) when it is shot from a front rest ... given that +95% of my shooting is off a table.
It also looks like my barreled BAT action will fit in the stock. Just need to confirm with a bit of measuring on the recoil lug. The BAT is about 1/2 lb heavier than the Stiller.
One other thing to mention is that I requested no epoxy bedding forward of the recoil lug. First, I think barrels shoot best (in a wider range of temperatures) without any contact under the shank, and second, it makes installing a bit heavier contour barrel a no fuss job. (I had Stuart leave an extra few thou clearance in the barrel channel). That way, when I get drawn for Elk, I can maintain weight by screwing on a 22” #3 Kreiger chambered to 308 Win.

Do you mind me adking whats a stock like that worth? I 'm thinking about upgrading

[260 Rem]

I will PM that info. Best advice is always to check with the seller.

[sillyak]

How much did the stock itself finish at?

My SA Rem 700 was 17.2 oz as a sanded and filled blank and 19.8 oz finished with bedding, paint and pad.

[260 Rem]

Finished stock is 21.6oz. There are pics/details on Wildcat Composites Facebook page. I understand blanks vary a bit in weight.
I chose the heavier of the two available (about 2oz) and opted for the lighter burger at McDonalds instead of the Quarter Pounder....being a good decision given that I saved by avoiding the cost of longer belt

[sillyak]

Originally Posted by 260 Rem

Finished stock is 21.6oz. There are pics/details on Wildcat Composites Facebook page. I understand blanks vary a bit in weight.
I chose the heavier of the two available (about 2oz) and opted for the lighter burger at McDonalds instead of the Quarter Pounder....being a good decision given that I saved by avoiding the cost of longer belt

That's a good finished weight. I used a flip flop as a recoil pad, which only weighed 0.3 oz, hence why mine is slightly lighter. They are superb stocks. I love my rifle mainly due to the stock.

[Nyksta]

How much fitting does this require or is it all ready when you get it?

[Kurt505]

Very nice!

[260 Rem]

Originally Posted by Nyksta

How much fitting does this require or is it all ready when you get it?

You should check with Stuart. You are straining my memory of the blank. I think it was inletted except for the recoil lug pocket. I assume you could also have the lug pocket inletted, but in my case, I was using an aftermarket Holland lug which is tapered and thicker than the standard Rem lug. In any case the action would require epoxy bedding to insure proper fit. I understood the blanks had composite pillars but I opted to have Stuart install aluminum pillars and do the epoxy bedding rather than tinker with that myself. I have done both alum pillars and bedding myself as it is not difficult, but for the little extra he charged, it was not worth the worry of buggering up.
The rough blanks need to be finish sanded, have sling studs and the recoil pad installed ...and painted.

[260 Rem]

After digging through my “neglected” stash of barrels chambered on the Stiller action fitted in the Wildcat stock, I am confident I have enough to keep me busy until spring. A 6 Dasher, 30 BR, and three 6.5 X 47s fit without modification. I also ran an old ‘47 light Palma contour into KSA today to have it cut and turned down to a #2 Kreiger contour. Should keep me busy ‘till spring
I started shooting the ‘47 and can say the lightweight stock makes it a bit more lively.

[bigbaddad]

Great looking rig. Stu has my Model 7 right now. Having it dipped in ASAT and sprayed with his textured clear. Can't wait!

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Don_Parsons]

I can't wait to get my long action seated into mine.

Awesome to have a local fellow like Stewart do this for us, he's been busy filling orders in the USA as well.

Don

[260 Rem]

Good to hear that Stuart is getting lots of stock orders. I told him about a Robertson Long Range Hunter with a keel behind the handgrip and he seemed open to new designs. No doubt he does good work.

[Beeman3]

I would like to see a Manners EH1 or McMillan Game warden/Game Scout style from Wild Cat.

[6mm rem]

That’s a very sharp looking rig. I like that finish a lot!

[260 Rem]

Had 15 loads left from my deer gun (so changed out the barrel to Dasher - also a #2 Kreiger) to get an idea of potential consistency in the Wildcat stock. In the HS Precision sporter stock I always had a reasonable expectation of sub-1/2” five shot groups at 100M.
First day out only fired 6 shots before the wind drove me away from the bench. Gave it another go about noon today when the temp was -12C which is similar to that expected during the white-tail rut season. Paper speaks to the results of the three (3 shot) groups. The flier I seem to be getting is up front and I suspect occurs when the recoil sets the stock in the rear bag because subsequent rounds fall pretty close together.

[Pathfinder76]

Is there flutes at the comb nose of that stock? There also seems to be a lot of drop from the pictures. Is that the case or just the angle? Thanks.