Versatile Biathlon Stock

sillymike

sillymike

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As I was searching for available stock to fit a IZMASH 7-2, I stumbled upon this: Versatile Biathlon Stock, by Lost Nation R&D

Anybody used one?
http://lostnationrd com/product/versatile-biathlon-stock/
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Never used one and the cheek piece looks pretty short in the first pic. I might want a bit of rubber on the butt plate as well. Otherwise, it looks completely reasonable and functional to my engineer's eye.


Mark
 
Sigh. That ain't no rifle stock I'd want to be seen with.

(Guess I'd better rethink my prejudices.)

For a rifle that will be carried for minutes and fired for seconds, it looks very appropriate. The biathlete has to hammer 5 shots in quick succession into a small area, before throwing the rifle back on and skiing the next loops. It has to fit in two specific technical positions only supported prone and standing. The firing points will be billiard table flat, and the targets are always at 50m. If those adjustments centre the shooter's eye the right way, then it is effective. I might agree that a slightly awkward cheekrest could actually give the shooter a physical landmark on the cheek.
 
The benefits that this stock has over any factory stock are: adjustability and weight.

All rifles are custom fit to the individual athlete because when you're heartrate is hammering away at 150-200 bpm you need you natural alignment to be perfect to still hit the targets in the standard 20s-30s on the matt/ off the matt times that you see. You also have specific adjustment for shooting standing (bottom butt hook and block just aft of the mag well)

The factory stocks tend to be heavy and while there is a minimum weight requirement of 3.5kg (7.7lb) many athletes try to toe that line as much as possible. The action alone weighs 2.1kg alone and the factory stock weighs 3.7kg. Add the harness, sling and rear sight to that and you start to get pretty heavy. Just like backpacking ounces = pounds, pounds = pain

I know people who have these stocks and they seem to like them but personally I'm not really a fan due to how many sharp edges and mechanical failure points there are. However for an Izmash you're options start to become very limited. The bear stocks that Nordic Marksman offer aren't too bad especially since you're pretty much looking at a custom stock otherwise.
 
I have a Lost Nation VBS for an Anschütz 1827F but I also have other (more traditional wood based) styled stocks. I like the system overall and it makes use of a aluminium v-block style chassis rail. Other modern wood based stocks are essentially just as adjustable in all critical areas but typically cost significantly more. And then there's the likelihood that one would spend a couple thousand on a new stock and then take drills, dremels, saws and wood-filler to further customise it... or go full custom stock.

The standard cheek piece is ok and really you don't need a lot, but rather a simple hard reference point made of delrin. The pro cheek piece has a wider flat surface and added lateral adjustability. The "buttplate" comes with rubber grip insert rather than cushion, but we're talking about .22LR, a rubber cushion would be irrelevant and a nuisance for biathlon.

The pictures shown above are older prototype and earlier versions of the bits. The chassis has remained more or less the same, but the latest version has different pro prone handstop, grip designs, butt hooks, etc.

Ethan Dreissgacker is a solid guy and makes the VBS for numerous clubs including members of the US national teams (incl his sister), along with some other nation athletes on the IBU World Cup).
 
The cheekpiece may LOOK short but if you take a measurement of how much you really need/use, It's actually quite short. For target work having a spot where your cheek MUST go is an advantage and the photo shows it has repeatable marks and clamping so it's completely adjustable. I think it's quite nice.
 
big boar said:
The cheekpiece may LOOK short but if you take a measurement of how much you really need/use, It's actually quite short. For target work having a spot where your cheek MUST go is an advantage and the photo shows it has repeatable marks and clamping so it's completely adjustable. I think it's quite nice.
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The standard cheekpiece measures 10.5cm (L) x 1.5cm (W). It has a rounded edge on the cheek corner and made from a single piece of delrin. This allows it be adjusted height and tilt (as well as forth/aft of course)

The pro cheekpiece measures 10cm (L) x 2.5cm (W). It is a two-piece with a textured flat surface and square edge on top of a delrin base. It adds lateral adjustment.

Both are more than adequate for firmly placing one's heavy melon on top securely. There is no need for a long cheekpiece on any rifle if adjusted properly for eye relief and other positioning.
 
sillymike said:
In case anyone is interested in these stock to make a trainer... they are easy enough to modify to allow the use of 10rds magazines

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Interesting. I've never seen the Izhmash in the VBS. I suppose you had to either forego having a standing grip or would have to make a modified type or split version (thumb piece attached to trigger guard and fingers on a separate part forward of the mag like found on most current Izmash biathlons). At some point, I'd would like an Izhmash would modern barrel and bits just for fun.

Is the setup for a small shooter? The LOP and prone handstop seem to be set pretty compact?
 
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