Hey everyone, quick question from Spain

[Stutzen]

Hey everyone, I’ve been lurking around here for ages but never actually registered.

Got a question and hoping you guys can help. My dad’s always loved the look of stutzen-style rifles, and when he finally got a manlincher luxus stutzen it turned out to be a letdown. The grouping was terrible and it just frustrated him.

Now, for his 70th birthday I’d love to get him a stutzen rifle (that i’ll keep for his grandchildren), but I’ve got two options: either buy a used one (new models are all over €3,500) and hope it groups well, or use his Remington 700 in .30-06, not sure of the exact model, but it’s pretty short, wooden stock, and it groups perfectly. I was wondering if it’s possible to get a stutzen-style stock made for it, and if swapping stocks would mess with the grouping.

Thanks a lot, looking forward to contributing here and sharing some of my own adventures too

 

[DieJager]

What I would do is go the the biggest gun site in Germany. Can't say the name per forum rules I think. But it begins with a E and ends with gun.

Lots of used Stutzen rifles for bargain prices. You can always ask if there have information about the grouping. Most of them use and international handler and will ship to Spain. Otherwise they know a company who does that, no problem.

 

[Mekaniks]

 

[Nyati]

Check gun and hunting forum Armas they have second hand stutzens on sale, you may even be able to shoot them.

It may be cheaper than having a stock made for the rifle.

 

[Lan856]

You are welcome.

 

[ChooChoo404]

CZ 550 MS in his favored caliber.

I shot an elk in Utah at 425m lasered.

Naturally that was with the set trigger.

Best modest priced rifle you can buy.

Just sold one and it hurts a bit.

Suerte!

 

[Ridge Runner]

Welcome to the forum.

As for restocking the Rem 700 with the full length wood stock. Free Float the barrel and the accuracy of the Rem 700 won't be affected. You will just be changing the looks, not the dynamics involved with the ballistics of the rifle.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Welcome to AH Stutzen!

 

[grand veneur]

Hey everyone, I’ve been lurking around here for ages but never actually registered.

Got a question and hoping you guys can help. My dad’s always loved the look of stutzen-style rifles, and when he finally got a manlincher luxus stutzen it turned out to be a letdown. The grouping was terrible and it just frustrated him.

Now, for his 70th birthday I’d love to get him a stutzen rifle (that i’ll keep for his grandchildren), but I’ve got two options: either buy a used one (new models are all over €3,500) and hope it groups well, or use his Remington 700 in .30-06, not sure of the exact model, but it’s pretty short, wooden stock, and it groups perfectly. I was wondering if it’s possible to get a stutzen-style stock made for it, and if swapping stocks would mess with the grouping.

Thanks a lot, looking forward to contributing here and sharing some of my own adventures too

Welcome!

Despite everything, I would first examine the owned rifle. Mannlicher-Schoenauer and Steyr-Mannlicher rifles have the reputation for being very accurate. A poor shot grouping can have many causes, some of which are very easy to identify. If it is a used rifle, for example, a repeated skilled cleaning of the barrel can change the current situation. Also not any ammunition shoots in all cases very well in a rifle. But we don't know what kind of rifle it is and what ammunition was used, so that some additional informations would be appreciated.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Welcome to the forum.

As for restocking the Rem 700 with the full length wood stock. Free Float the barrel and the accuracy of the Rem 700 won't be affected. You will just be changing the looks, not the dynamics involved with the ballistics of the rifle.

Exactly. If the stock is too short, I would definitely restock. The style you desire might not be easy to find used in Remington action (vs Mauser). Still, you should be able to find a stock maker who can produce one for you much cheaper than €3500. Action installed correctly and accuracy will be unaffected.

 

[greyfox]

Full length stocks ( and 2 piece stocks) can adversely affect accuracy. Before I sent a rifle away or wrote it off, there are several possible solutions; you just have to identify the problem. First, obviously, the stock: Free floated or piller bedded? Can you pull a paper euro from action screw to the muzzle with out interference?
Sights? Iron or telescopic?
Does the rifle have a moderator or muffler (Silencer/Supressor)?
Fouling? Use a high quality cleaner to remove copper and/or carbon (Use two cleaners - Remove the copper (don't use a brass brush, use a nylon one) then after a thorough cleaning, use the carbon remover, then use the copper remover again.

You have to eliminate all possibilities before you identify the actual problem.

Also you mention grouping was terrible? What's terrible? Has anyone else shot the rifle to make sure it's not Dad making the groups?

Good Luck, It can be frustrating but it's very rewarding!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Is the length of pull too short or are you simply referring to the fore end being shorter than desired?

I have always found the "Mannlicher" style stocks attractive but I also know their shortcomings. As mentioned above, it is easy for them to come into contact with the barrel and affect harmonics which can cause erratic grouping on target. As an example, just the other day at the bench with my 30-06 I was getting a very good group at 100 yards and then suddenly a flyer about an inch away. What caused that? Ah ... my thumb was up on the barrel when I held the gun for that shot. Two more shots with correct hold and everything was back as it was before. The second issue is, of course, added wood will add to the weight. For a stalking rifle that can be important. Maybe not so much if sitting in a blind or having the game driven to shooter. But neither is my style of hunting. As to asthetics, you probably wouldn't recognize my hunting rifles as former WWII man-killers. No full length stocks or butter knife bolt handles, but they're not ugly either.