First rifle build – how do I determine what barrel contours will fit my stock?
This is my first bolt gun build, and I’m trying to understand how barrel contours and stock barrel channels actually correlate.
I have a Manners MCS-NS that was ordered with a GAP #6 barrel contour inlet. I contacted Manners and they told me:
What I’m struggling with is figuring out what other barrel contours will actually fit this inlet.
For example, if I’m looking at a Bartlein, Proof, Brux, Krieger, etc., how do I determine whether a particular Sendero, Heavy Palma, M24, MTU, or other contour will fit?
Is there a specific set of measurements I should be comparing, such as:
Shank diameter
Shank length
Diameter at specific distances from the breech
Muzzle diameter
Overall taper
Or is there some generally accepted cross-reference between manufacturers' contours?
I currently have a Proof Sendero that appears to contact the stock in a couple of places, which is what sent me down this rabbit hole. I originally assumed “Sendero” contours would be relatively standardized, but I’m learning that doesn’t seem to be the case.
I did read the Wiki section on barrel contours before posting, but it didn’t really have the information I’m looking for regarding how to compare different manufacturers' contours against an existing stock inlet.
Ultimately, I’m trying to understand how to look at a barrel contour drawing/spec sheet and say:
“Yes, this will fit my GAP #6 inlet,” or “No, this barrel is larger than the channel in this location.”
Any explanation of how you guys determine this when putting together a build would be appreciated. Again, this is my first build, so I’m trying to understand the process rather than just being told which one to buy.
I have searched the interweb in hopes of finding a barreled action in either Defiance/Impact/Lone Peak, but none of them seem to have that 6GAP contour on them.
GAP #6 is somewhere between light and medium Palma IIRC (Been YEARS since I had a GAP #6 profile barrel). As you're finding, if you have a stock profiled for one specific contour ensuring others will fit can be a bit daunting. In the future, you'd be better off ordering stocks with a straight profile barrel inlet to allow more options for barrel fitmet. You'll have more visual gap with thinner or more tapered barrels, but oh well.
MTU, M24, and most competition profiles are a good bit fatter than a #6 and won't fit without modifying the stock.
If you get something too big, opening up the barrel channel isn't a huge deal. It's something you can mostly do yourself for small changes, or have it done by a competent smith if it's a bigger change you don't wanna screw up.
Ah man... that is a learning experience. I bought it for a steal at a show and just assumed it was for an M24. Having no experience in rifle building I couldn't tell simply by looking. I read on their site that it has a through hole for up to a M24, but I now realize that does not mean it can take a M24 barrel unless its channeled for one.
This isn’t helpful to your question, but I thought the Nightstalker could only be built with an M24 or Proof Sendero contour?
Edit: I should add that I’m pretty certain they only offered the Nightstalker with an either M24 or Proof Sendero inlet because they wanted to streamline the production of the Nightstalker.
Actually, here’s the post from 2024 when they announced it. At the bottom, it says they only offered it in the 2 inlets mentioned. I’m pretty sure if you had a Proof Carbon Sendero barrel, it was specifically made for it? However, I should add that the Remington Sendero profile isn’t a universal profile between manufacturers. When I ordered my Nightstalker, Manners told me to get an M24 inlet because I could basically use any barrel for it.
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u/HollywoodSX Villager Herder 14h ago
GAP #6 is somewhere between light and medium Palma IIRC (Been YEARS since I had a GAP #6 profile barrel). As you're finding, if you have a stock profiled for one specific contour ensuring others will fit can be a bit daunting. In the future, you'd be better off ordering stocks with a straight profile barrel inlet to allow more options for barrel fitmet. You'll have more visual gap with thinner or more tapered barrels, but oh well.
MTU, M24, and most competition profiles are a good bit fatter than a #6 and won't fit without modifying the stock.
If you get something too big, opening up the barrel channel isn't a huge deal. It's something you can mostly do yourself for small changes, or have it done by a competent smith if it's a bigger change you don't wanna screw up.