Featherweight Rifle Stock FAQ

Got a good question set via email in regards to the LR Featherweight T3/T3x Carbon Rifle Stock  so reproduced my reply here as an initial Featherweight Rifle Stock FAQ.

• Are you saying Featherweight Rifle Stock will reduce felt recoil?

The directional properties of the carbon shell coupled with the forend and buttstock core material is designed to mitigate recoil, it brings the recoil down to normal tikka t3 recoil levels despite the reduced weight. It does change the felt recoil a bit as well, in that it dampens the impulse, changing the force from a kick to more of a push. We have had some customers rave about the recoil, others state it feels more like a wooden stock in terms of recoil ‘feel’. To tame it further we add a Airtech Limbsaver, they are still ultralights so there isn’t much inertia to reduce the push, they are designed to do the best with what weight is available. With rifles larger than a 308 in terms of energy, we strongly suggest a brake at least, muzzle brakes seem to be a growing tool of the ultralight hunting rifle.

• Does your research show it will improve accuracy? If so by how much?

Yes, the stiffer material does improve accuracy. In some rifles significantly but taking a group from 1″ to 3/4″ is common as long as the rifle already shot that particular round well, hand loads see groups of about 1/2moa on most tikka’s we have restocked. The most significant improvement is seen for prone/bipod shooters, the significantly reduced forend flex improves group sizes when shooting using forend mounted supports.

• How much lighter will this set up be than my factory set up?

Should be more than 7 ounces if you don’t use the rail. See the below video’s.

• Do you include a bolt shroud?

No, we haven’t seen any evidence to warrant their installation when compared to factory in a scientific manner, some people do believe they help and that’s fantastic for them, we just haven’t seen the evidence.

• Although the stock is upgraded to carbon fiber to stiffen, is the ergonomics of the Featherweight Rifle Stock the same as the factory? The way I read your thread, it is

It is! The only change is the grip is a bit longer and rounded to make laying the cloth easier and allowing for a better flow of resin under vacuum, reducing weight.

• I run a Harris bipod, so I believe i would have to change the bottom rail

We will change to a list with customisation options now, the previous build and the initial post is now obsolete.

• Would there be an advantage to upgrading the bottom metal as well?

Yes there is in that the torque can be made more even, however 0.75moa is normally more than acceptable for even LR hunting so unless you are chasing a half minute gun it is unnecessary in the majority cases, especially considering the weight penalty.

• Based on how the Tikka would bed could I easily swap barreled actions with different calibers?

As long as they only have sporter contours. The channel is moulded in for the tikka sporter and sporter fluted barrels. One customer got a no.4 contour on a sako 85 to fit but had to build up the action area slightly with bedding compound… it does look great though, it is featured on a lot of our online pictures

• We also get asked about the weight of the Featherweight Rifle Stock, so we did two short video’s to prove how light they are!

• What is the benefit of the black rough tuff over the carbon fiber matte finish? Could the rough tuff get painted or cerekoted after and look good?