Winchester 70 416 Rem Gets A New McMillan Stock (The Effects Of LOP On Recoil)

[TOBY458]

While attending DSC this year, I was able to handle a bunch of rifles, and noticed how much better the rifles with a longer LOP felt to me. Most of my rifles fall somewhere between 13.5" and 14", and the longer ones just feel better.
That said, I have a Winchester 70 Safari Express in 416 Rem Mag that I bought a Mcmillan stock for a few years ago with a 13.5" LOP. I love this rifle, as it is one of the most accurate rifles I own in any caliber. But, the shorter LOP of the stock just seems to make the rifle get a "head start" when coming back in recoil. I have relatively long arms, so it makes the shorter stock have a lot of extra room to move under recoil, if you don't really pull it in tight. With the proper LOP for a person's build, I would think that the effect could be midigated somewhat. So, with that said, I took possession of a new Mcmillan stock for the 416 today with a LOP of 14 1/8". This matches the pull on the Heym I recently sold, and makes the rifle feel much better to me.
What has been your experience with LOP regarding heavy recoiling rifles?

 

[C.W. Richter]

I'm thinking a properly fitting (pull length) stock is paramount for accuracy. Although in physics, the longer the fulcrum the more energy exerted at the far end, I'm sure this is neutralized in such a short lever (inches) by the added heft of the longer stock. A big guy should not be shooting a short stock and vice-versa. Gunsmithing 101. Plenty of great recoil pads out there in various lengths today, to make fitment a bit easier...

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I ordered my McMillan stock with a 14 LOP. It fits me very well.
Mine is the Win Express stock. Which model did you get.

 

[TOBY458]

I ordered my McMillan stock with a 14 LOP. It fits me very well.
Mine is the Win Express stock. Which model did you get.

It's the Express as well. Like I said, this is my second Mcmillan stock, and they are excellent. My 416 was never even glass bedded, and it shoots well under 1" at 100 yards. Both of my stocks are however, pillar bedded, and McMillan told me there's no need to epoxy/glass bed the action as long as they shoot well.

 

[375Fox]

I don’t have enough experience with heavy recoiling rifles, but I have noticed with shotguns that stocks that are too short for me seem to direct much more recoil upwards into my face rather than back into my shoulder.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I bedded the recoil lug on mine. They told me the same thing but I didn’t figure it could hurt. It shoots better than I do.

 

[TOBY458]

I bedded the recoil lug on mine. They told me the same thing but I didn’t figure it could hurt. It shoots better than I do.

What caliber is yours?

 

[TOBY458]

I don’t have enough experience with heavy recoiling rifles, but I have noticed with shotguns that stocks that are too short for me seem to direct much more recoil upwards into my face rather than back into my shoulder.

I agree. Some of those 3 1/2" loads are vicious!

 

[BeeMaa]

I too have long arms and need a longer LOP.
My 416RM Blaser R8 has a LOP at 14 3/8".
I've seen videos of me shooting and it looks violent.
However, it doesn't feel sharp or punishing.
A good shove for sure, but not painful.
Recoil is straight back and I roll with it while reloading.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

What caliber is yours?

375 h&h. It’s a new Haven Classic.

 

[AZDAVE]

LOP is CRITICAL when you are shooting bigger bores and shotguns. You should really have a good stockfitter actually fit you and you will be surprised at how much a proper fitting rifle feels under recoil and just handles better. I would suggest for a fit that you track Jerome down (Formerly with VC now with Rigby and see if he has time to do a fitting at one of the shows).

You and I are about the same height but my arms are longer and my LOP is 15 1/8 and anything I shot that is under 14 1/2 I find uncomfortable.

 

[TOBY458]

LOP is CRITICAL when you are shooting bigger bores and shotguns. You should really have a good stockfitter actually fit you and you will be surprised at how much a proper fitting rifle feels under recoil and just handles better. I would suggest for a fit that you track Jerome down (Formerly with VC now with Rigby and see if he has time to do a fitting at one of the shows).

You and I are about the same height but my arms are longer and my LOP is 15 1/8 and anything I shot that is under 14 1/2 I find uncomfortable.

I'd hate to have to box you with that long of a reach!!! Hahaha!
Yes, that 416 was pretty punchy with that shorter LOP. I'm thinking this will tame it down a bit. It's strange to my why most European rifles come with a longer LOP than the guns made in the USA. When I ordered the first stock, I just told them to make it the same as the factory wooden stock that came on it. But for some reason, even though the LOP is the same, the McMillan feels shorter to me when I shoulder it. This new stock at 14 1/8" feels way better than that stock felt. I will probably end up having the original stock lengthened, and put it on my 458.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Nice looking rifle.