It is designed that way for strength... the heavy recoiling calibers have been known to split stocks... if you have ever pulled a stock and locked at the receiver base, you will see how the outside edges of the receiver "concentrate" the recoil energy toward the perimeter of the stock... to save CS problems, they make the stock proud. I have reshaped stocks to flush the wood/metal transition, but on lighter calibers... I know of two stocks that split after reshaping, one .35 Whelen and one .45/70. I am building a walnut mannlicher in 7mm-08 as we speak and the wood will be flush to the receiver, but it is a quality walnut... I would not reshape the factory pallet wood... laminate should be fine for reshaping on most guns.
