Wildcat Composites- anyone used these stocks?

labrador76

labrador76

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I have a REM M700 SA and I want a high end composite stock for it. I want to keep it lightweight/carry/hunter suited.

I shudder at the cost and wait for a McMillan, but I understand most guys feel they are the cream of the crop. The B&C medalist looks like a reasonable option, I think they can be had for about $300+. Not sure on the cost of a HS but I certainly would consider it as well if there is a style that suits my needs and eye.

I have also discovered this outfit called Wildcat Composites. He makes a couple of stocks for the 700 one an ultralight. I am also fairly patriotic and very likely to buy Canadian if I can get a favorable product/value relationship. So, who has experience with these stocks? Likes/dislikes? Has anyone used a Wildcat stock? I am sort of leaning this way, but the pricing for a fully finished/painted stock does get pretty prohibitive when compared to the B&C pricing I have seen.

Thanks for your input Nutz.
 
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Stuart Over at Wildcat is a great guy to deal with, he makes a quality product and his delivery times are reasonable, Ive done quite a few wildcat stocks. If you are reasonably handy and enjoy projects the wildcat is a great way to go. If you have to pay somebody to finish it you will probably be in the 600$ ballpark at least. The mcmillans are great stocks with a million different options but they are a little spendy for sure. B&C are a great value for the money, Its now my goto choice as I just dont see 300$ more value in a mcmillan and I can live without checkering.
 
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Stuart's stocks are as good as anything offered by the large US companies. I've have a couple and have owned more in the past.

However they are not a "drop in". Will require bedding, sling swivel studs, paint and pad.

His lightweights are in the league of the McMillan Edge as far as weight, and very stiff.

This Pre'64 Model 70 is in one of Stuart's LW models in the newer Fwt pattern. IIRC it's 22 ounces with the pad.


 
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Anyone else have input on this?

How about the B&C line.... what is the difference between the Medalist and the Medalist Alaskan II? Which B&C stock is on the M700 Mountain? I really want it as light as possible.

Does HS have a lightweight option?

Thanks for your advice in advance guys.
 
If you want as light as possible then Wildcat is the way to go. Back when PGWDTI was Prairie Gun Works they built a sweet little Ti-actioned rifle on the M700 footprint. In 308 with a Wildcat stock I believe they finished around the sub-5 lb mark. Should have snatched one up before the Tactical Revolution took hold.
 
labrador76 said:
Anyone else have input on this?

How about the B&C line.... what is the difference between the Medalist and the Medalist Alaskan II? Which B&C stock is on the M700 Mountain? I really want it as light as possible.

Does HS have a lightweight option?

Thanks for your advice in advance guys.
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Real lightweight leaves you with Wildcat, McMillan Edge, Bansner/HiTech, MPI and maybe a few other smaller makers out there who probably don't ship to Canada anyhow. B&C stocks are great value for the money, but a bit thick in the wrist/grip area and they're a good 8-12 oz heavier than the other lightweights, even in the Alaskan II, but the same goes for HS Precision, McMillan Sporters, etc. B&C just doesn't make a true lightweight, some others do.

McMillan's are nice, but they've gotten to the point where wait times and price are ludicrous and until things change they won't be getting any more money from me. You can put a WTB ad on the EE and maybe you'll get lucky, but expect to pay $600-$700.

For a durable, somewhat lightweight stock, B&C is hard to beat for value. Prophet River sells them for $350, less than half the price of a McMillan. Keep in mind Cooper and Weatherby use B&C on their rifles, so it's not like they're a junk stock.
 
I would highly suggest not shooting a Wildcat stock off of a Lead Sled if you do decide to go that route. I've seen several broken ones as a result of doing this.

Things have really slowed down with McMillan now that the US government has changed their export permit requirements.

Keep in mind Cooper and Weatherby use B&C on their rifles
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Sako is also using the B&C stock on their new A7. I think Winchester uses it as well on some of their M70s.
 
sheephunter said:
I would highly suggest not shooting a Wildcat stock off of a Lead Sled if you do decide to go that route. I've seen several broken ones as a result of doing this.
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I've heard this comment from several people, so don't take this as a jab at your post, but I just haven't found this to be true. I've had a lead sled for quite a number of years and literally dozens of people have fired their rifles off it, no one has ever had an issue with a stock breaking. Granted, when I use it, I don't add weight and only a few guys have added a bag of shotgun pellets I have laying beside it.
I just wonder if it's not happening from those adding a ton of weight and then not placing the back portion of the rest against the shoulder, effectively having the rest absorb all the recoil, rather than just some. I realize it's designed to absorb recoil, but maybe it would be prudent for guys to take a little bit of a hit and not imitate the "egg between rest and shoulder" as seen on TV.
If I rest the butt of my rifle against a fencepost, tie a string around the trigger, and hold the forend down, I'd be looking for trouble too.
 
double gun said:
What cartridges? Were they bedded by corlane? Lead sleds are hard on stocks no doubt.
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One was a 260 and another a 7mm I believe.... No idea who bedded them. Yes, they can be hard on stocks....especially Wildcats from what I've seen. No doubt that shedding all that weight comes with a price.
 
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Salty said:
Curious what the damage was SH, cracked and split at the wrist or..?
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One was broken it two at the wrist. The other was seriously cracked. Not really pointing the blame at Wildcat as I'm sure being that light there has to be a tradeoff but more just giving the OP a heads up that it can happen in a Lead Sled. I've never heard of one breaking with normal use but then again I don't know a lot of people that own them. I just happened to be in a gunsmith's shop one day and saw them sitting on the shelf and asked what the scoop was.
 
If a guy was ever worried about it it would be easy to beef up the unfinished stock with some cloth and epoxy in the wrist area but then you gain weight. No free lunch. Probably best just to avoid led sleds. lol
 
I have a Wildcat and B&C. Left picture is the wildcat and right is the B&C. The wildcat is much lighter... I had Stuart make it as light as possible for me and still have enough strength for 7mm SAUM recoil and not be too weak for sheep hunting. The Rem700 saum comes in at 6lbs 5oz's scoped. Not too bad. The 257wby with B&C comes in at 8lbs 8oz's.
 
Sweet rigs 7mag! Would be pretty sweet if I could get mine down around that 6.5lb mark.

I don't have a laed sled SH, nor any plans to use one. My rifle is chambered in .270 Redding, so not really enough recoil to worry about. I just shoot off bags at the bench.
 
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