Xtreme Hardcore Gear Force Recon Tactical Rings

When you are dumping money into a precision rifle, whether it be an AR-15, AR-10, or bolt action platform, theres a saying that goes "spend two times the amount of the gun on the optic." Easier said than done if you do in fact mind sleeping on the couch for a week. No matter what you spend on the rifle itself or the glass, they still have to interface together. The scope rings are just as important, as they determine how true the relationship will be between where you are aiming, the adjustment of your dope turrets, and where that bullet will go.

High quality rings will make sure your scope is and remains mounted securely and consistently shot after shot. Generally speaking, the higher the price tag, the better the machining of the pair of rings to be within tight tolerances and will hold your scope true to the rifle's bore. Of course, if you are canting your rifle or resting on uneven ground, everything goes out the window. Thats where a bubble level comes into play. There are a handful of scope level products on the market, either clamping onto the scope tube or mounting via picatinny rail somewhere on the rings. I've seen plenty of rifles with them, and I have a couple on my own tack drivers. What I haven't seen is a premium quality scope ring with an integral bubble level... until I found the Xtreme Hardcore Gear Force Recon Tactical Rings.

Besides being a mouthful, the Xtreme Hardcore Gear Force Recon Tactical Rings are one of the only sets of scope rings I've seen to both be of high quality, and integrate the bubble level. At around $180 they are certainly a premium, but perfect for a high dollar rifle that's purposefully built for small groups at long ranges. A scope won't track correctly along the X and Y axis (windage and elevation) if your scope and bore aren't perpendicular with the ground, thats a simple as I can put it. Firing a bullet from an non-level position will skew that bullets course exponentially the longer the distance, and your scope's tracking adjustments will be diagonally "hinky" as well.

In addition to the integral bubble level, these rings offer a level of precision only rivaled by $200+ ring sets. The Xtreme Hardcore rings are designed and machined to not allow the scope to move under any recoil scenario. The rings interface with the rail with a robust .875" mounting platform while the two cross slot bolts provide awesome clamping power without any protruding bolt heads. The cherry on top is the pair of steel guide rails that press into the ring base. The ring base clamp rides on these rails to keep the clamp perfectly aligned as the two cross slot bolts are drawn tight against the pic mount.  Another detail I appreciate is the rings and caps have a .030" radius on both sides of the scope bore to eliminate any marring or sharp contact points on your scope. Together with the provided 6 torx bolts for an evenly distributed force onto the top of the scope, these features add up to the best scope rings you can buy for precision work.

Firearms Insider Reviews – 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: The Force Recon Tactical Rings feature a built in level housed into the rear scope ring, assuring a perfect parallel which is essential for long range shooting.

Target Market:  Long range rifle shooters

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• Ring Bore Diameter 30mm with tolerances +/-.001"
• USA Mills Billet 7075 T-6 Aircraft Aluminum
• Black Anodize Mill Spec 8625 Type 3 Hardcoat
• Rings are matched within .002"
• 6 Cap Screws (USA 8-40)
• 2 Clamp Screws (USA 10-24 SHC Grade 8)
• 2 Clamp guide Rails: (USA .125 Precision dowel pins)

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Black, 30 & 34mm diameter

What others are saying?: "While field testing, we found the bubble easy enough to see while sighting through the scope. Under very low light conditions, it took a little more effort to focus on the reference lines, most likely because the level isn’t exposed to any light from the top or bottom of the ring. At any rate, it didn’t interfere with the ability to make accurate long range shots at last light. In conclusion, if you’re looking for a set of very high quality rings for your long range rig, you owe it to yourself to check these out. The price point is comparable to other quality rings that require the additional purchase of an add-on bubble level.  You can purchase the the Force Recon Tactical Scope Rings here: Xtreme Hardcore Gear." Rockslide Blog

"I mounted each ring on my Badger scope rail and then did an alignment check with a 34mm lapping bar. Then I checked the alignment with a set of scope alignment bars and they were Dead On. The rings mounted Rock Solid and look Great. The level is calibrated perfect and there is no issues with these rings. These rings are of Excellent quality and I would highly reccomend these for any Tactical build. I like the fact that they are the lowest available for a 34mm scope. At .900" height they put my eye right on with my McMillan A5 stock." Sniper's Hide Review

Price point:

• MSRP: $179.95
• Retail: $169.99

I need it now! Availability: Brownells or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

• Level verifies action/bore and scope are perpendicular with ground / shooting rest is level.
• Less play forward/aft on picatinny rail before screw full torqued
• Base clamp rides on stainless steel guide rails keeping the clamp perfectly aligned
• 6 Torx bolts make a good solid mount
• Rings and caps radiused on both sides to eliminate any marring or sharp contact points

Cons:

• Clamp Screws used as crossbolt (some folks don't like this)
• Bubble location makes visibility difficult in low light

Score: 8.5 Great

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Gun & Gear Review Podcast

Hunter of Design

EXD Engineering Vertical Reticle Instrument

I'm about to share with you one of the most useful tools in my gun drawer. I'm almost certain that unless you already have some sort of trick or technique for mounting an optic squarely level to a firearm, you'll want to pick up one of these for yourself after reading this review.

The EXD Engineering Vertical Reticle Instrument is an adjustable, self-aligning tool that uses V-blocks to square up the scope's objective bell with the barrel, assuming your scope rings are quality and in spec. Once you tighten down the thumb screw to secure the V-blocks (you can use a rubber band to keep it in place if needed) you can use the bubble level to assure the rifle/shotgun/muzzleloader/pistol is resting level with the planet. Then, with the rings loosely tightened so you can rotate the scope in place, you want to look through the glass and make sure the crosshairs themselves are parallel with something thats level - a door frame, a fence post, or a plumb line that uses gravity to create a straight vertical reference. If the reticle is vertically squared and the bubble level in the EXD instrument is between the marks, your scope is aligned with the universe and you can tighten down your rings.

Now I have managed to mount optics on quite a few firearms without the use of such a tool, but the possibility of being skewed and non-level with the bore has always haunted me. Once I'd get the rings slightly tightened and the eye relief in the sweet spot, I'd either take a step back and fiddle with the magnification so I can catch a glimpse of the reticle in the narrow eye-box and just sorta get a feel if it looks square to the action, then double check by scoping something outdoors that I'm relatively sure has straight vertical edge. If the scope had a nice capped elevation turret I would balance an actual level tool on it, but that only would tell me the scope was level with the ground, not level with bore itself. I could spend and hour tinkering with it until it looks right, and it could still be way off.

For shooting 100-200 yards it may not be worth a second thought, but for ultimate precision especially at longer ranges, a canted crosshair reticle can and will have adverse effects on your scope's windage and elevation adjustments. Many gun stores, smiths, or scope dealers will mount a scope fore you, but really only "eyeball" it or use a reference that may not be all that precise. Hell, I've had someone tell me to just close my eyes, shoulder the rifle, and then whatever canted position the rifle is in my hands is good enough, then half-ass level the windage line and tighten the rings from there. This may be "good enough" for Bubba to bag a backyard buck, but not if you hope to be consistent with your firearm's optic at various ranges.

Yes, there might be some OCD tied into it, but a scope that you've leveled yourself, without paying someone else, really gives you reassurance as well as confidence in your rig (or in some cases, gives you less excuses at the firing line). The beauty is that this tool is so simple, it should work with virtually every firearm you want to mount a scope on, with only a few exceptions. I would strongly recommend buying the EXD Engineering Vertical Reticle Instrument, especially if you own multiple scopes and like to swap them around, or if you're business includes mounting optics for customers.

Firearms Insider Reviews – 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:  Makes zeroing your scope faster and far more accurate

Target Market:  Scoped Rifle Owners

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• Self Align V-blocks
• Thumb Screw for tightening
• View Slot
• Bubble level to ensure scope and bore are square during mounting

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Unfinished Aluminium only

What others are saying?:

"I have mounted numerous rifle scopes and this is the best device for leveling the cross hairs I have found. Actually, it's used to level the rifle and scope, and then plumb the vertical reticle of the scope." Brownells.com User Review

"This tool changes weather a scope is level or not from an opinion to a fact. It's the best tool out there for leveling a scope. On some high power scopes the narrow window can be an issue but it still works." Brownells.com User Review

"This tool is indispensable for quick accurate perfectly level crosshairs. No more excess time fidling with back and forth alignment. If your in the profession you absolutely need this tool, its a money maker." Brownells.com User Review

Price point:

• MSRP = $46.00

I need it now! Availability:  Available at Brownells.com

Our Rating:

Pros:

• Removes the guesswork from mounting a scope and zeroing the reticle
• Works with almost every firearm platform as long as the scope overlaps a round barrel
• Compatible with Oval ocular scopes
• Should work with optics on handguns, muzzleloaders, shotguns, as well as rifles.

Cons:

• Barrels with rear iron sights may not work with this tool
• Leveling the reticle perpendicular requires an outside reference ie: a door frame or plumb line
• Expensive for what it is...would have been a great additional value if some sort of black string, thumbtack and weight were included

Score: 8.0 Great

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Gun & Gear Review Podcast

Hunter of Design

Kinetic Research Group Bolt Lift

The Remington 700 is quite a rifle. Despite the collateral black eyes it receives as a result of Big Green's holding company and the ripple effect that has affected quality and value thought the product line, the history and reliability of the R700 is almost unparalleled in the bolt acton rifle world. Very similar to the Glock and it's position in the handgun market, the R700 isn't a perfect rifle, but its a decent platform for modification, customization and enhancements for achieving the exact firearm you have in mind. One very low cost, easy to install and arguably one of the most functional additions you can make to your Remington 700 rifle is the Kinetic Research Group Bolt Lift.

The Bolt Lift is an enlarged polymer shell that fits over your existing bolt handle that drastically improves bolt manipulation. Simple as that. While $28 for two pieces of plastic, a screw, and some O-rings might seem overpriced for such a minimalistic product, it suites a purpose that would otherwise cost almost 5x that amount in machining labor for a larger metal handle onto your existing bolt. KRG offers the Bolt Lift in two styles, the standard which is more tacticalesque, and the SV which is not as elongated and smaller than the original Bolt Lift. Both models mount the same way over the existing bolt handle. You don't have to permanently modify your rifle in anyway and can be removed easily. You can use epoxy if you desire a more permanent installation thats bedded to your bolt knob.

The Kinetic Research Group was established conceptually in 2005 by a group of then active duty Army Special Forces soldiers. Being both professional and sport shooters, their passion led them to a deep understanding of the strong and weak points in the fielded equipment. All of the founding members have multiple OIF/OEF deployments and have had extensive small arms training through the military and, in some cases, have been instructors. KRG staff have been responsible or assisted in development for small arms designs including the modular straight-pull bolt action rifle Ballista, the Magpul Massoud .308 semi-auto rifle and parts of the Magpul Masada/Remington ACR.

I asked KRG if they were considering making a bolt lift for other manufacturer's rifles in the future.  They responded promptly, saying "Right now we're not planning one specifically for any other particular rifles.  We're considering a "universal" model in the future that will fit many different rifles but will need a little fitting for each one.  We have had customers put the Bolt Lift on the Savage, Howa, Mossberg and many others, they just did a little dremeling or maybe used some epoxy to bed it into place a bit. Thank you for your interest in our products!"

If you own a Remington 700 and feel like a larger bolt knob would benefit your shooting (or you are handy with a dremel & epoxy and want to mod one to fit your non-remington rifle) I would highly recommend the Bolt Lift.

Firearms Insider Reviews – 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:  The first and only products of their kind, the Bolt Lift gives you all the benefits of an oversize bolt knob (AKA "Tactical" knob) in a simple user friendly package.

Target Market:  Remington 700 Bolt Action Rifle Owners

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• Gives a better grip when operating the bolt under any conditions
• Do-It-Yourself, no gunsmithing required*
• Comes with two sizes of O-Rings for better fit of your rifle's existing bolt knob
• No permanent modifications to your rifle
• For a permanent installation, skip the O-Rings and use epoxy.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Standard and SV (Smaller Version), as well as Black, OD Green, and FDE

What others are saying?:

"The Bolt Lift feels very solid. There is no wiggle or play at all once it is tightened down. You really cannot tell by feel that it is not molded onto the knob. Unless the knob begins to loosen up with use I see little reason to make the installation permanent. Prior to installing the Bolt Lift on this rifle to cycle the bolt you had to use fingertips and thumb. If you attempted to grip the factory knob you would skin your thumb. After installing the bolt lift I was able to manipulate the bolt while retaining a firm grip on the end. If you are a "grip it and rip it" type of bolt operator, then the Bolt Lift is a great option. I have seen many comments about the visual appearance of the Bolt Lift and the fact that it's a bolt on plastic piece. The looks matter little to me. I only care about the function. The Bolt Lift works. The fact that it is made of plastic is also immaterial. The bolt knob on my four thousand dollar Accuracy International is plastic. The true value of the Bolt Lift is that for $28 and a few minutes time you can see if a "tactical" bolt knob will fit your tactics and your rig. You don't have to worry about voids in the handle, sending it off to a gunsmith or any other nonsense."  8541 Tactical Review

"I cannot believe it was only $28. Honestly, I’m baffled. It’s the single best upgrade I’ve made for such a small amount of money. My thumb no longer bashes my scope, cycling the action is smoother and easier due to better leverage, and being plastic, it didn’t add much in the weight department. Notice the little grippy part on there? I found once I started to get the palm sweat I get when I shoot, that this small feature made handling the knob a breeze. All the little details add up to make this an impressive little upgrade!" Survive Hive Review

Price point:

• MSRP = $28.00

I need it now! Availability:  Readily available online at KRG's website

Our Rating:

Pros:

• Two different styles for different rifle roles
• Easy to assemble
• Instantly improves bolt handling, especially under duress or fast courses of fire
• Comes with a sweet vinyl sticker
• Military Discount
• MADE IN 'MURICA

Cons:

• Price for polymer molded item is alittle high (but much less than an actual metal knob + gunsmithing)
• Enlarged knob may interfere with low mounted optics
• Certain aftermarket stocks may need to be modified (or sand down the bolt lift on the bottom)

Score: 9.0 Amazing

Featured FFL:

For FFL services I choose Promised Land Firearms in Toulon, IL.

Ryan's Links:

Gun & Gear Review Podcast

Hunter of Design

Timney Model 510 Trigger Review

There's a lot of options when it comes to aftermarket Remington 700 triggers. Just one of the benefits of owning the Honda Civic of the bolt action rifle world. One manufacturer stands out to me from the rest with the most experience and most variety of models, and that's Timney Triggers.

The 510 trigger is curved, and comes with a trigger blocking safety. That means there's no way to move the trigger when it's on safe, so when you take it off safe the trigger stays in the same position it started from.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: The Model 510 will bring a whole new realm of accuracy to your rifle and is the World's finest trigger, proudly made in the USA since 1946

Target Market: Hunters, Long Range target shooters

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• The 510 comes with a safety that blocks the trigger, not the sear
• No screws, drilling, or tapping required
• Each trigger is geometrically identical with tolerances less than .0005”. adjustable from 1.5 to 4 lbs.
• Made from a solid block of heat treated steel; there's no 'connector bar' to come loose.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  Straight Trigger Shoe style and "tactical" style available

What others are saying?: “I have installed these triggers in several guns, I have put six in Remington 700 alone. They are easy to instal & work perfectly. MADE IN USA. Christian Company. They are the most value for the least amount of dollars in the third party trigger market. One person had me put one in his 700. He like it so well, he brought three more 700s from his brother & son & I put Timney Triggers in them. Smiles as wide as TEXAS." - lcjones user, Brownells.com review

"I've never bought an aftermarket trigger nor installed one before. Bought a Timney and it dropped in. No problem. It worked out so well, I bought 2 more. Both were drop-ins. The last one took me 10 minutes max to install. Couldn't ask for a better trigger pull." Taildragger user, Brownells.com review

Price Point:

MSRP: $134.95 Retail: $130.99

I need it now! Availability: Readily available at  Timney Triggers and Brownells

Our Rating:

+-Crisp trigger pull, can be set at the factory as low as 1.5 lbs. +-Easy to install (YouTube videos) +-Enhanced safety, completely resolves the factory recall issue while giving you an awesome trigger pull

--Installation instructions were cheaply printed with less than easy to follow black and white diagrams.

Score: 8.5 Great

AIM Sports Mosin Nagant Combo Kit Review

The Mosin Nagant 91/30 rifle is one of the most common and sought after budget rifles even still today. Russia's old warhorse is still circulating around the world, and if you don't already have one or two sitting in your safe, you are missing out on some of the most fun and affordable shooting there is to be had. Many DIYers choose the platform to build hunting, varminting, or tactical bolt guns because of its low cost and availability. Most Big Box Sporting Goods stores like Big 5 will carry the 91/30 is stock as well as Cabelas or Bass Pro Shop.

Many Mosin owners who do not claim to be purists may be tempted to accessorize the rifle. Some manufacturers have come up with kits to make it cheap and easy to do this. I myself in a moment of weakness gave into temptation and bought a "Deluxe Accessory Kit" from AIM Sports. After installing the scope mount, the scope and rings, and the recoil pad, I thought I had made a reasonably good investment for $75 after tax. Then I started looking at the fit and finish, and after a few more minutes was immediately flooded with regret. Upon racking the bolt and dry firing the rifle a few times, I witnessed the lens in the scope minutely tilt forward each time the firing pin dropped. Cheap Chinese made optics with poor internals, who knew? Luckily I had opened the packaging very discretely with a blade so I was able to repack everything and return it with no questions asked.

The conundrum with putting a scope on the Nagant is three fold.  One, you have to use a "Scout" scope with a long eye relief in order to operate the stock bolt (Alternatively you can pay to have a bent bolt modification and use a traditional scope with conventional eye relief).  Two, the mounts are often questionable unless made right, and that will be costly.  Third and lastly, any scope that costs less than the rifle itself is probably rubbish.

This scope in particular is an AIM Sports 2-7 x 32mm with a 1" tube, that has an an eye relief of 8.5"-10.5" and 1/4 M.O.A.windage and elevation adjustments, a blue lens coating, a length of 10.5" and a weight of 9 oz. The clarity of the optic (before the lens issue) was moderately okay, the parallax was set within 60-100 yards and I felt like it would have been useful at shooting between 100-300 yards. The magnification ring was very gritty when rotating through the levels and had a very alarming click, almost like a bearing falling into a detent, at the 7x position. The ring also appeared to be sealed with a very sloppy O-Ring, which gave it alot of play forward and rearward. Even if the scope hadn't failed after dry firing, I have absolutely no confidence it would have held up to a single round of 7.62x54R. Pretending it would have held integrity, the scope and rings surely wouldn't have survived the first shot anyway.

The scope rings included are junk, with just two screws per ring they were too short to even bite the threading. I found myself screwing one side an eighth of a turn, then alternating back and forth so the top segment of the ring would tighten down evenly, but the opposite screw would still pop right out onto the floor. I had to use some extra screws from my drawer to replace all 4 of AIM's. After all that trouble and handling, the blued finish had looked like it had been in action for a few years. The thumb adjustment knobs were a soft metal and were no match for my screwdriver either apparently. Now, onto the scope base.

The picatinny scope base itself mounts into the rear sight block, requiring the removal of the rear sight and leaf spring. Easy enough, but it mounts using the single pin hole and thus becomes a "seesaw" or "teeter toter" that requires set three screws to be tightened down against the receiver. There was no instruction on how to use these set screws to obtain the optimum angle, and tightening one just caused the other end to dip down. When I tightened all three to a degree I felt left the mount level the the bore, I was still unsatisfied with the security and how easy it was to push a side down or up. The instructions called for the leaf spring to be removed, but I found that leaving it in at least gave some tension and improved the mounting. When the rings and scope is mounted, I found that the extra couple inches of rail in the front interfered with using the scope covers, so it would have to be cut off.

At least the rubber recoil pad had to be an improvement to the stock Rusky metal butt plate, right? Guess again, as it didn't line up with either screw hole, and a flush fit would have required sanding and reshaping the contour of the stock. Even then it didn't line up with the stock, but perhaps thats just a difficult task with all the different variations in these stocks that came from all over Europe.

The sling looked like a standard replica of the original russian slings, khaki colored even though the package specifically calls it green. I didn't even take the sling out of the package as I knew this kit was going to be returned promptly. If you have a 91/30 or M44 and wish to outfit it with optics and accessories, I would be reluctant to try this kit. I didn't get a quality equivalent to the amount I paid for, and I can't imagine it working for anybody else (unless that particular kit was an older generation).  Bottom line, it's a disgrace to the Motherland.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: This all-in-one kit includes everything you need and is the easiest no-drilling, no-tapping, no-gunsmith-needed option for the Mosin Nagant 91/30 and M44 rifles.

Target Market: Mosin Nagant 91/30 and M44 rifle owners.

FNBs (features & benefits of this product):

• 2-7x32 Scout Scope  w/ blue multi-coated optics deliver bright, crystal clear views.
• Precise fine-crosshairs Plex reticle for dead-on targeting
• Waterproof, Shockproof, and Fogproof (no confidence in these statements based on test items)
• Scope Covers
• Scope Rings
• Picatinny Mount requires no permanent modification to gun.
• Recoil reducing rubber butt pad.
• Replica Russian Sling

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Thin Blued Metal

What others are saying?: 

•  "The rubber but stock and strap are the only things in this kit worth a dime. the scope is almost impossible to sight in, and even if you get it there a few shots later its way off again. mount is really cheap so im not sure which is worse." Amazon Customer Review

• "The mount (not the other stuff) is cheap. The front attach screws are short, only about 2 threads holding. The other screws on the mount can not be made tight enough to hold the mount in place from recoil. Poor design, poorly executed. I sent it back. The rest of the kit maybe okay, I never got past the mount. This is not my first (or second, or third scope mount)." Amazon Customer Review

Price Point:

• MSRP = $100.00
• Retail = $69.99 Big 5
• Retail = $54.78 Amazon

I need it now! Availability: Amazon.com or Big 5 Sporting Goods

Our Rating:

+ Collectively all the accessories in one bundle does save money.

- Everything aside from the sling I wouldn't trust to last the first or second range trip, let alone combat or hunting field use.

Score: 4.0 Bad

Remington 700 AAC-SD + Bell & Carlson Medalist M40 Stock

When it comes to bolt action rifles, the Remington 700 platform is almost ubiquitous.  Big Green has created over a dozen varieties and flavors of bolt guns based off the platform because of its success and time-tested reliability.  Police and Military have used the 700 for quite some time, and it's no stranger in the field for both big and small game.  Variety is the spice of life, and Remington has something to offer most consumers no matter the niche they are after.

The 700 SPS Tactical is designed as a compact tactical rifle with a shortened 20 inch varmint (heavy profile) barrel, BDL floorplate, and a Hogue overmolded stock that's usable in any weather condition and makes grip & recoil both manageable.  It is chambered in both .308 Win and .223 Rem. The Hogue stock has a flatter type forend and a low, straight comb. It's really more of an entry-level tactical bolt action rifle meant to be accessible to a greater range of the market.  The AAC-SD variant is the same rifle, but with a "ghillie" Hogue stock that's green with flecks of color and swirls.  It has the letters AAC stamped on the receiver, and is only available in .308 Win although I've seen some in 300 Blackout floating around.

I snatched up the rifle because of the hype and it already having a threaded barrel.  On the shelf, initial impressions are pretty high.  It shoots fairly well, many owners have claimed MOA or sub-MOA out of the box.  Mine wasn't exactly as consistent, and has lead me down the path of reading, learning, and smacking myself in the forehead a couple times.  The first thing that needs replacing is the stock.  I would have paid an extra $200-250 if it had come with an HS precision or B&C stock, but perhaps it was thought that shooters who want to invest in greater accuracy would take the trouble to do so already, and so they slapped on the Hogue stock as a lowest price point option.  The hogue stock has flex to it, sure it has aluminum pillars but the forend WILL touch the barrel when using a bipod or any support.  That's a bad thing if you want your bullet holes anywhere close to each other.  I opened up the last 2 inches of the stock with a dremel to compensate for this which had to help some, but ultimately if you are after a rigid stock with solid contact with your rifle and a free floated barrel, you have to ante up and upgrade.  The difference could be 0.5"-1" tighter groups at 100 yards, which may or may not be a concern for your own level of confidence and satisfaction.

I decided to pick up a Bell & Carlson Medalist/Tactical "M40" type stock.  There's alot of options out there, and how I decided really was price, and how good did this same rifle look in each stock during a google images surf session.  The time tested military style M40 riflestock was introduced in the 1970’s, replacing the wood stocks on standard issue U.S. Military sniper rifles. Even though the U.S. military has moved into other configurations, this M40 silhouette's popularity continues to increase to this day as the chassis is hard to improve upon.  B&C's M40 was found at just under $250 through Redhawk Rifles, and it was only 2.5lbs which addressed my total weight concern.  I plan on using this as a hunting rifle as well as shooting from the bench so a compromise in weight was needed.

Now if I was a really thorough reviewer, I would have photographed groups with the factory stock, groups before bedding, and groups after bedding.  But I didn't get around to it, so you'll have to take my word that the above photo with a 3 shot group under 1 inch at 100 yards is the best I've shot with this gun, and that was with cheap 150gr factory ammo.  I'm confident now that working up some reloads in the 168-175 pill range will produce some very good results.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: 

R700 AAC-SD: Highly maneuverable and suppressor ready with pinpoint accuracy.

B&C M40 Stock: Bell & Carlson's Medalist Varmint/Tactical Stocks were designed from the ground up to help maximize a rifle's performance by providing a rock-solid, ergonomic firing platform incorporating the accuracy enhancing characteristics demanded by today's serious shooters with the resilience necessary for use in extreme environmental conditions.

Target Market:  

R700 AAC-SD:  Hunters and Intermediate range target shooters, especially those looking for a suppressor host.

B&C M40 Stock: Bolt Action rifle owners looking to increase performance / rule out equipment as a variable in shot group size

FNBs:  (Features and Benefits of this product)

R700 AAC-SD:

• 308 Win with 20” Heavy Barrel with 5/8-24 Threaded Muzzle
• Shipped with Thread Protector Installed
• Accepts AAC® and other 5/8-24 Threaded Flash Hiders, Muzzle Brake and Suppressors
• 1 in 10” Rate of Twist for increased bullet stability
• 7.3 lbs
• Hogue® Overmolded Ghillie Green™ Pillar Bedded Stock
• X-Mark Pro® Externally Adjustable Trigger Set at 3 ½ Pounds
• BDL hinged floor plate

B&C M40 Stock:

• Designed as a drop in fit for heavy barrel Remington 700 short action or long action rifles.
• Free floated barrel channel
• Full aluminum bedding block that extends from the grip to the front swivel stud
• Dual front swivel studs to allow for bipod and sling attachment
• Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad
• BDL hinged floor plate design
• 14" LOP
• 2.5 lbs.
• Raised comb for better eye alignment with scope, notch built into comb to accommodate bolt removal.

 What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

R700 AAC-SD:  Hogue Overmold Ghillie Stock only. Many aftermarket stocks available is various colors.

B&C M40 Stock:  Black, Black w/ Gray web, Gray w/ black web, Olive Green w/ Black web, Tan w/ Black web,

What others are saying? 

R700 AAC-SD:  "If you’re looking for a relatively cheap but accurate bolt action rifle that can put your silencer to work, the AAC-SD is a bullseye. If you don’t have a silencer, if you’re simply looking to put rounds on target, you can buy a factory fresh Weatherby Vanguard S2 and kit it out for less than a standard Remington 700, let alone this one." The Truth About Guns Review

"Great rifle for what I paid, makes an excellent budget precision starter kit. I did change out the stock, because the Hogue overmold stock, although attractive, was way too flexible. On a bipod I can actually watch the stock contact the barrel, negating the free float. It would be 5 stars if not for the stock, which I consider to be a conceptual flaw. This is meant to be a tactical rifle, with the ability to make multiple accurate shots. This is not possible form a bipod with the included stock. " Buds Guns Review

B&C M40 Stock: "The B&C Medalist stocks (of which we are discussing) are a hand laid Kevlar and composite shell with fiber reinforced foam over an aluminum inner chassis. The aluminum skeleton runs "grip to tip". I have several of these. I can tell you they will stand up to more than most on here will ever put their rifles through. I will say that in my opinion the B&C Medalist stocks are higher quality than H&S Precision stocks." Sniper's Hide Review

Price point:

R700 AAC-SD:  MSRP= $833.00 Retail= $656.00 Buds Guns

B&C M40 Stock:   Retail = $289.00 on MidwayUSA Best Value= $249.99 on Redhawk Rifles

I need it now! Availability: 

R700 AAC-SD:  Check local gunshops, and popular online dealers, the AAC-SD is commonly listed but mostly out of stock.

B&C M40 Stock: As of time writing review, sold out in every color on major dealers, I got mine at Redhawk Rifles and their getting low on certain colors, so hurry!

Our Rating:

R700 AAC-SD: + Short bull barrel achieves accuracy through rigidity, easy to transport with shorter OAL. + Will make a great suppressor host. + Trigger is satisfactory IMHO, 3.5lbs is light enough for me. + Its a Remington 700, one of the most customizable, blueprinted actions out there.  Aftermarket options are very good.

- Factory Hogue stock is the weakest link, a must-replace for any serious shooter. - Remington's 700 bolt handles aren't as robust as they were in the past, can be broken if dropped or prying bolt open on stuck casing. (Had mine tapped and secured with a screw for extra support)

B&C M40 Stock: + Absolute drop-in fit with no modifications needed (on this particular rifle, your results may vary) hinged floorplate operates correctly. + Improves groups greatly from factory Hogue stock + Precise CNC-machined aluminum bedding block ensures a perfect metal-to-metal fit along receiver, aligns the barreled action, stiffen the forend, and eliminate the need for conventional bedding methods (Although glass bedding will still help create a perfect, gapless bed.) + Freefloats the barrel + Weight kept down compared to other model stocks 3lbs + over +  Stock comes with a lifetime factory warranty on materials and workmanship.

- Inside factory inletting was a little rough on this particular stock, but got filled in during glass bedding process anyway. - Outdated company website (call me, B&C!)

Score: 6.5 OK

R700 AAC-SD:  Reasoning - for the MSRP amount and AAC's name attached I expected more innovation or at least a better all around rifle instead of an SPS w/ threaded barrel and different color stock. It's still a good rifle, but a tackdriver or tactical rifle out of the box it is not. Cost saving corners for Remington are pretty obvious. For $600-$800, better performers are available.

B&C M40 Stock:    8.5 Great