thumbhole shaft

lordarpad

Hi guys

has anybody here ever used a normal hunting rifle with a thumbhole shaft? what are the advantages/disadvantages?

It wasn't me!

Not for hunting, though I've used a target rifle with a thumbhole stock for hunting a good few times. It offers a good hand position with regard to the trigger, generally provides a good cheekpiece and is comfortable to use. They're quite heavy, which might be considered a disadvantage, and they don't lend themselves exceptionally well to standing or kneeling shooting, being primarily for shooting prone at small vermin animals.

lordarpad

why not standing or kneeling? arm position getting weird?

It wasn't me!

lordarpad wrote: »

why not standing or kneeling? arm position getting weird?

Primarily they're just heavy and don't naturally suit those positions for me, don't aid in pointing a rifle. In addition, they tend to be found on varmint rifles with long, heavy barrels, which by those features are designed to be shot prone. Again, not conducive to sheer pointability from offhand or kneeling.

johngalway

Strange as the reaction of a lot of people who've handled my rifle have said they love the weight particularly for standing shots. Now, me, I don't do standing shots usually because I'm crap at them and know it too.

I've a Remington VL SS .223 with a Boyds thumbhole stock. I like it, left handed shooter couldn't really use my rifle however due to the stock.

I would say an ordinary stock might be easier for holding in different positions simply for holding it, but for shooting the things I've found no disadvantages compared to any other rifle I've shot or owned. Feels a bit odd at first but I got used to it quickly.

It's also gives a definite tart value to the rifle But, I've gotten over that aspect now

For me, in the future the quality of the stock would be more of a factor than the style.

If you like the idea of them, go for it, but don't let that one aspect be the maker or breaker on what rifle you pick, there are more important aspects I think

jwshooter

IWM, is right .i have used one in the field a camel of a thing.

It wasn't me!

Not to disparage them at all John, and I use a thumbhole target rifle as I say, and take standing shots with it happily enough, but on standing targets. A nice sporter stock, fairly classic, with a lightweight, shorter barrel, is pointable and handy as far as I'm concerned, and a better general purpose hunting rifle. We've an Anschutz 1710 in DURC with a nice monte carlo cheekpiece and European style stock that's as handy a thing as you'd ever find. I was playing with a lovely lefty Sauer 202 yesterday and it was fantastic. Came to my shoulder like a nice shotgun and I could trace lines with it as regards pointability. Varmint rifles and thumbhole ones in particular, for my money, don't do that. The weight makes them great to take a considered shot on a still target, but you'll never take snap shots with them.

kakashka

lordarpad wrote: »

Hi guys

has anybody here ever used a normal hunting rifle with a thumbhole shaft? what are the advantages/disadvantages?

I use a thumbhole stock for hunting,i find it an easier to hold,use if you have wrist problems or small hands,while mine is heavy not all are and a lot of recent thumbhole stocks are only a fraction heavier than std grip