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Old April 28, 2017, 09:00 AM   #1
axis223
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thumbhole vs classic stock?

I am torn between a boyds varmint thumbhole and a boyds classic for my savage axis heavy barrel. I have never used a thumbhole stock before and from what i read they seem to help stabilize for bench and varmint hunting. I mostly bench shoot and woodchuck hunt with it.

My main concern is i will get a thumbhole and it will be uncomfortable for me to shoot and im out $150.

anyone not like thumbholes and prefer a classic stock for comfort?
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Old April 28, 2017, 09:07 AM   #2
Art Eatman
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I'm mostly a hunter. My limited experience is that it takes a bit longer, more hand motion, to cycle the bolt. Sometimes a "right now" second shot is needed.

That should not be a detriment when paper punching or for shooting woodchucks. Although I've only handled a few, I found the style to be comfortable.
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Old April 28, 2017, 09:11 AM   #3
Txhillbilly
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I have several thumbhole stocks and really like them.
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Old April 28, 2017, 09:26 AM   #4
Danoobie
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It's a personal preference.
I like mine, but I'd try a couple, before
you buy.
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Old April 28, 2017, 09:28 AM   #5
axis223
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Art

I was a little worried about the not being able to take a fast follow up shot. Even though they are mangy woodchucks sometimes they move or the hit doesnt put them down right away so ill put another one in them so they dont suffer. I watched a few videos and the safety and bolt movement seem to be very limited.
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Old April 28, 2017, 09:56 AM   #6
briandg
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My experience is that thumbhole stocks fit pretty much the same as others. The hand still wraps around that core. Different designs of standard stocks may be better suited to you than a badly fitting thumbhole.

Are bowling balls universal? Guns aren't as personalized, but hand size and shape matter.
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Old April 28, 2017, 10:35 AM   #7
rickyrick
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This is a question I've thought about. I like the way some thumb-hole stocks look, but affraid to buy because of the concerns of the OP.

I've added cool synthetic stocks that ended as miserable examples of poor ergonomics.

The Boyd's stocks looks nice
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Old April 28, 2017, 10:51 AM   #8
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I like mine !!!

Quote:
anyone not like thumbholes and prefer a classic stock for comfort?
I really like my thumbhole stocks, especially on the bench. I have had many shooters ask me to let them fit and then shoot my stocks. Most came with rifles and others were after-market. In either case, most are Boyds. Besides getting a better grip, I also get a tighter cheek-weld. I really like mine. ......

Now then, the only limitations I see, are the hunting environment when you have to thread your thumb and anchor, on short notice and they are just a little more cumbersome to carry but you will have to make that measure. ...

Be Safe !!!!
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Old April 28, 2017, 11:40 AM   #9
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I have 2 boyds thumbholes and a browning x bolt with a thumbhole, I hunt deer (out of a stand) with one of my thumbholes but would not hesitate to still hunt with any of them, its all a matter of getting used to shouldering the rifle. I find I am more steady off hand with the thumbholes. My vote is for the thumbhole!!! See if you can find a couple to try at a local gun shop and see for yourself.
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Old April 28, 2017, 12:11 PM   #10
T. O'Heir
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A thumbhole stock just changes the angle your hand is at on the rifle. Makes it like a pistol gripped rifle. Actually more natural than a regular stock. It won't make cycling a bolt any faster or slower.
Shouldering the rifle is different too. Slings that aid that can be had.
Mind you, a ground hog, even when wounded, is lightning fast disappearing.
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Old April 28, 2017, 01:24 PM   #11
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some big people with big hands and small actions can cycle them pretty fast with still having the thumb in

when shooting precision I have my thumb on the finger side anyway so don't get pistolgrip stocks
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Old April 28, 2017, 01:46 PM   #12
J.G. Terry
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Stock Choice

Personally, I'd go for a classic or standard style stock. I recently got into a custom stocked Kimber 22. The wood was great. On the down side this stock had a huge roll over checkpiece. From the set up it was made for a Cone Head (SNL characters). That's not what I had in mind. All this is about choice and personal taste. On some stocks from the Bubba Custom Shop it hard to tell if its a thumbhole or not.
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Old April 28, 2017, 02:32 PM   #13
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Whatever the eye of the beholder sees is OK, I guess. I always thought it was a cheap way to use up wood with knot holes.
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Old April 28, 2017, 02:43 PM   #14
axis223
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I was thinking about it today and i have a few buddies who shoot it also and one is a lefty. classic or prairie would have to be the stock.

a question. i noticed that some pics show the prairie hunter with a cheek piece on both sides of the stock and some pics shows one side smooth and one raised. any clue whats with that?
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Old April 28, 2017, 02:47 PM   #15
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For shooting off a bench, or bipod thumbhole style stocks are more comfortable. The hand sits in a more natrual position. But from other positions, or to carry the rifle conventional stocks are easier to use. Thumbhole stocks are easier to break too.

I'd pick a conventional stock design 10 times out of 10 over thumbhole. If I want a more straight grip style I'll go with the chassis system stocks that use an AR style grip.
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Old April 28, 2017, 04:34 PM   #16
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I never could warm up to a thumbhole. I'd much rather have a classic design.
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Old April 29, 2017, 04:12 AM   #17
J.G. Terry
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Two Cheek pieces

My recall on this topic is foggy. One of the ancient notables of the late BP era had a rifle with right and left cheek piece. Seem like he had inconsistent eyesight and could shoot either right or left handed. The choice was a creature of his eyesight that day.
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Old April 29, 2017, 12:03 PM   #18
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I only have one rifle with a thumbhole stoke. It's a Steyr Mauser .308 with the Lawson Mountaineer lightweight stock, pencil barrel and with scope, sling and a full magazine weights 5 pounds. The stock handles recoil quite well from the bench and the very light weight make it a dream up over 8 to 9,000 feet MSL. It does take concentration to hold steady in field positions but that's due to the very light weight.
Would I build another? Probably not. At my age being only a year and four months to reaching my eighth decade, new builds and not something I contemplate. Probably will go about thinning a very large herd and keeping only a very few treasured firearms. None of the kids like shooting or hunting so no one to give them to.
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Old April 30, 2017, 08:17 AM   #19
axis223
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well i was able to try all 3 stocks over the weekend and the thumbhole was nice and handy but my thumb doesn't go all the way through making it rub and push on my bone closest to the hand. now torn between the monte carlo and classic.
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Old April 30, 2017, 09:41 AM   #20
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Just because there's a thumbhole doesn't mean that it fits your hand well. I have one on a .22LR semi-target rifle that was a semi-inletted blank and fitted it to my hand and cheek, so it is very comfortable. However, I wouldn't want one on a deer hunting rifle. https://thefiringline.com/forums/att...0&d=1401827534

Last edited by Picher; May 2, 2017 at 08:20 AM.
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Old April 30, 2017, 09:57 AM   #21
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I am an Thumb Hole enthusiast.

Some are badly done (the Chinese MAK90 is awful)

I do like pistol grip though so I took a chance on a Boyd's for my first target stock. This was exclusively bench rest shooting.

Loved it, got two more. One and EABS which is about a good and the other another Boyds.

To me its not only more natural, you have a better trigger control with it.

I don't know how they would do hunting, but my take is that its not enough difference to be relevant.

They do have a high rise cheek rest on the side the shooters cheek rest is.

Left handed would have it on the right side.
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Old April 30, 2017, 10:37 PM   #22
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As a left shoulder shooter, thumbhole means ambi or very high price.

And firing a bolt action on a rest of some sort, I can cycle very quickly when desired no matter the stock style.
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Old May 1, 2017, 02:12 AM   #23
ballisti
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I love shooting a thumbhole stock from the bench, but for big game hunting I am not so sure about them. Here's why:

* I have noted that on most rifles, operating the safety is slower and more awkward with a thumbhole stock. In many cases, a pretty radical shift in the grip is required. Operating the safety is a big issue when hunting. Seconds count.

* A buddy once bought a pump shotgun with a thumbhole type stock, and he found that he had a lot of trouble connecting when wing-shooting. - In my experience, the best shotgun stock for wing-shooting is a straight grip as is often found on "upland" models, with pistol-grip stocks taking second place.
Some big game hunting situations call for a quick "snap shot", or a running shot. In either case, I would feel handicapped if I had to try that with a thumbhole stock.

Your mileage may vary, but in my case I'll just stick with using the thumbhole stocks on target and varmint rifles, where they really shine.
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Old May 1, 2017, 11:00 AM   #24
Pahoo
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You make a good point

Quote:
In my experience, the best shotgun stock for wing-shooting is a straight grip as is often found on "upland" models, with pistol-grip stocks taking second place. Some big game hunting situations call for a quick "snap shot", or a running shot.
You make a good point and one that I was trying to express, in an earlier reply. Even though the OP's application was a rifle rather than a shotgun, some of these concerns are still applicable. I only shoot Upland and clays with straight/upland stocks. .....

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Old May 2, 2017, 12:15 PM   #25
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Quote:
Thumbhole stocks are easier to break too.
I'd say that depends entirely on the stock design, some are, some aren't.

Harry Lawson's "Cochise Thumbhole" was reported to have been tested and was 60% stronger than a conventional stock.

I have a .458 Win Mag with a thumbhole stock. its plenty strong enough for that. While the hole is generous and fast to use, I would not choose it for a dangerous game rifle.

For other uses, I find a well fitting thumbhole (and there are those that aren't well fitting) to be a very good stock, for me.
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