Video: Precision Stock Works’ “Rifleman” Stock

by Joseph von Benedikt • November 7, 2011 • 12 comments

Precision Stock Works, a new company in the industry, has just brought out a proprietary design dubbed the Rifleman. The stock is currently being built of hand-laid fiberglass for PSW by McMillan: As any serious shooter worth his salt knows, that puts a stamp of quality on the stock that is equaled by few and exceeded by none.

The company attributes its inspiration to the surge in quality rangefinders and ballistic reticles, which has accuracy-minded hunters building field rifles on heavy, bulky tactical stocks. Precision Stock Works recognized a need for a stock that supports fine shooting in the field but handles like a good hunting stock.

Shooting Times’ own Greg Rodriguez collaborated with Precision Stock Works in the design of the new stock, which is purpose-built for prone shooting, though it feels good from any position. The comb is high, providing excellent eye-to-scope alignment and a solid cheek weld. The grip is ergonomically designed for right-handed shooters, featuring a subtle palm swell and ample relief at the nose of the comb to allow the base of the thumb to sit naturally, making for a comfortable grip that reduces muscle tension. Unfortunate for left-hand shooters, yes, but it does not compromise. We can hope for a lefty version in the future.

The barrel channel is optimized for what I’d term “heavy sporter” barrels—such as a #4 or #5 contour—in keeping with the stock’s mission in precision field riflery. It’s available with a pebbled finish and several color options including spiderwebbing if desired.

The first stocks off the line are mortised for Remington Model 700 actions, and will accept any action with a similar footprint such as a Stiller or Nesika Bay action. Other action types are expected to be supported in the future.

Plays videos on our IMO Mags website


Hill Country Rifles is already offering custom guns built on the stock. The test sample supplied to Shooting Times is a 6.5×284 Norma built on an HCR-marked Stiller action, a Schneider barrel, and Timney trigger. I’ve shot it fairly extensively from 25 yards to 700, and not only is the stock inherently very comfortable, the rifle is very accurate. Most importantly, it is easy to shoot accurately in the field, courtesy of those ergonomics. To date my best achievements with it are a 0.46-inch group shot at 200 meters and a nice pronghorn antelope taken at 416 yards.

Watch for an in-depth feature article in an upcoming issue of Shooting Times.

In Featured, Video • Tagged , ,

12 Responses

  1. micko77

    So long as anyone having anything to do with Lon Horiuchi hasn't had a hand in it, I say "Great!"

    On November 8, 2011 at 12:08 am • Reply
  2. Mike

    Finally someone came out with s high comb for hunting rifles. I am one of those who always puts on a pad on my deer rifles in order to always have good eye view with my scope and do not have my head going up and down looking for my scope. I just lay my cheek on my comb and I am looking through my scope. I also like the hand grip. That is a great idea.

    On November 8, 2011 at 12:44 am • Reply
  3. Tim

    I don't see what the big deal is about this stock. The Manners Composite Stocks MCS-T stock has been around for about 9 years and is everything this stock is except a right-handed only stock. Plus, the Manners stock can handle larger barrel contours if desired. You also have Richards custom laminate stocks that make both traditional and thumbhole stocks with a high comb that are non-ambidextrous. Just do a google search and you find many more. I guess I just find it funny how shooting magazines pimp new products as if they are completely revolutionary when all they are is a slightly modified version of something that already exists.

    On November 8, 2011 at 1:04 am • Reply
  4. Eric

    The big deal is that this company likely paid a pretty penny for such a "revolutionary" article. I have a CZ 527 Varmint with the medium contour barrel that seems like it was designed for a stock like this…that was sure forward thinking of CZ. I have gotten so fed up with the hog wash gun media I don't subscribe to any of them any more. The only rag I get that reviews new stuff regularly is American Rifleman, other that that most aren't worth the money for 80 pages of ads.

    On November 8, 2011 at 12:45 pm • Reply
    • Joseph von Benedikt

      Eric,

      Please be so kind as to thumb through any issue of Shooting TImes before throwing around such accusations. As a matter of fact, if you do so, you'll note the lack of any substantial advertising by either Precision Stock Works or Hill Country Rifles–certainly nothing on the scale of Hornady, Savage, Kimber, or any of the other major advertisers. According to your reasoning, that would make this stock review rather authentic.
      Magazines do cover products offered by major advertisers: That's simply how business works. However, here at Shooting Times we strive to avoid prostituting ourselves to anyone or anything. We scrutinize the products we review with a critical eye, and are not afraid to mention what we don't like. The fact of the matter is, though, today's equipment is in general pretty good–and pretty good products generate good reviews.
      It just makes sense: If a product stinks, it doesn't last. What company would want to invest money in developing something sub-par?
      I hope you'll take the time to pick up a copy of ST–which you admit you don't get in the same paragraph that you condemn it–and give it a read. I like to think that perhaps it would at least partially change your view of the "hog wash gun media."
      Best,
      Joseph von Benedikt

      On November 8, 2011 at 10:33 pm • Reply
      • john venter

        Nicely said, Joseph. Keep up the good work.

        On November 8, 2011 at 10:54 pm • Reply
      • Mel Maynes

        I have to agree with Eric in some regards about the advertising. I do subscribe to Shooting Times and Handloader. It seems that I read the same reviews in several different magazines, the 1911 pistols have been talked to death this past year, I love John Browning and all he has done for the firearms with his designs. I like the reloading sections of the magazines along with the new gun reviews. In the last few months there must have been 10 articles on 44-40 reloading.
        When I was a young boy I remember sitting on my grandtathers stairs and reading Outdoor Life & Field and Stream, The last few issues are about 70% advertising and a format that I hate. Just try to find where the front page stories are found in the magazine.
        I will keep taking Shooting Times and Handloader.

        Just keep shooting Mel a 70 year old in Utah

        On November 24, 2011 at 11:27 pm • Reply
  5. Roger

    New Company ? It's a Mac stock with someone elses name on it . The way I look at it the NEW company is trading on Macs NAME.

    On November 9, 2011 at 1:34 pm • Reply
  6. Roger

    You will also notice in the Hill Country Rifles part it says built on an HCR-MARKED STIILER action Why doesn't PSW ad say PSW-MARKED Mac stock ? Down the road when PSW makes it's own ?(if it happens) people may /will still think their getting a Mac stock.

    On November 9, 2011 at 1:46 pm • Reply
  7. R. P. Nadjiwan

    It looks like an exceptional stock design to me, and hopefully it'll be made in a left hand version some time soon. It looks like it has everything I would like in a rifle stock. With so much focus on the accuracy of a rifle, I've always felt that a good stock that fits right makes a world of difference. I see comfort and stability as importnat features that instill confidence. And the result is that the eye is lined up with the scope, in the same way for each and every shot.

    On December 10, 2011 at 12:54 am • Reply
  8. jerry miller

    Will there be a left-hand rifleman stock ? Jerry

    On January 15, 2012 at 5:56 pm • Reply
  9. Chuck

    Reading these replies is an unfortunate series of diatribes. They are littered with not so hidden agendas. If you read the article in shooting times you will quickly note that this stock looks nothing like the Manners or Richards. I do agree it's pricy, but so are wooden stocks with high combs. I am lucky enough to own 4 rifles built by Richie Riley here in Colorado Springs. The only thing that would make them better would be this stock. Read the article, look at the stock, evaluate it fairly, Shooting Times did, You owe it to a new American Company to do that before you cur them or Shooting Times down.

    On February 19, 2012 at 11:56 pm • Reply