i have a question about the boyds stock, if you adjusted it all the way down as if it had the standard cheek rest, do you think it would be higher than the factory stock.
if it is, how much higher would you say it is?
i bought 4 of them and deciding which way to go with the stock at this point.
i am also considering new barrels and am curious how square people are finding the actions are from the factory. i am curious because on a $220 rifle it is hard to spend close to the purchase price in machine work, a recoil lug and a new nut since these rifles seem like most all of them are moa or better with the stock barrel and some bedding.
thx
With the standard cheek rest it is probably comparable to the original stock height. I just compared and couldn't really see much difference. The original stock is not a monte carlo or target style but I never had a problem getting a good cheek weld and still seeing through a scope.
I have this Boyds already and have a Richards Microfit on the way in real Walnut.
I liked the rifles enough that I ordered the PT&G bottom metal for them to get rid of the last bit of plastic.
It's funny, you do 1 upgrade and that convinces you to do another upgrade and then before you know it you are logically justifying a new custom barrel.
I already have quite a few hunting rifles. Part of the reason I got new barrels for these rifles was because I wanted a couple rifles that had thicker barrels. I like the fact that I'll be able to change the barrels myself if they get used up, especially with the 6.5-284 barrel I ordered. But you've been able to do that with Savage rifles for years.
My new barrels won't be here for a few months. I am happy to update again though when I get the receivers squared. I ALMOST did not get the new recoil lug and barrel nut for the same reason you are stating.
When I first started testing these rifles I wasn't reloading yet and the POI didn't seem as drastic when the barrels got heated. However once I figured out what I was doing with reloading and found some very accurate loads, the POI shifts from heated barrels became extremely apparent. That's another reason why I could justify custom barrels.
I ordered my barrels from NSS, but I see that Pac-Nor also offers barrels for the 783's now.
Brownells also sells a DIY receiver squaring kit that I've thought about getting. But I have no experence with it and didn't see many reviews on them.
My advice, if you want to keep them hunting rifles, they are plenty accurate with the factory barrels. I've had a lot of fun modifying mine so far and I'm really looking forward to this next rifle which will end up being a 300 Win Mag chambered long for the 215-230gr bullets, with a Sendero contour, 26 inches with muzzle brake, and wearing a real Walnut stock (that I will need to learn how to inlet).
I don't have any regrets so far. However I do like learning and tinkering.