Bavarian / Hogsback Stock - Using a Scope

[rking453]

Hey everyone,

I'm thinking of purchasing a new rifle in 6.5x55, and I really like the look of the Bavarian style stocks. I've read they can be faster to the shoulder, which would be great, though I've also read they aren't friendly to alignment with an optic mounted.

I'm looking for some input from those that use them, how comfortable they are with a scope and whether you would recommend them. I'm in the US, so finding one in a shop to hold first will be very difficult.

I plan on mounting the rifle with a 40mm objective scope, mounted low. Rifle will be used for both stalking and high seat hunting.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

My night vision equipped rifle is a CZ 527. It has the hogs back stock plus a 1 1/2 inch stock extension to it. No worries whatsoever in use, using Alpex scope.
It was previously my work-a-day rifle with a Zeiss 6×42 scope on it,no problems using it then either.
Hope that helps.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Seems to me you are deliberately making life more challenging for yourself. There's a reason US made rifles have a particular stock geometry and it has a lot to do with the ubiquitous use of scopes.

K

 

[Pine Marten]

Both my Steyr Mannlicher Classic and my Simson drilling have Bavarian stocks and I use them quite happily with scopes. I had a rifle with a straight stock before and had to add a stock extension on top. But then they could suit me just because of my physionomy. Before I first bought I went to auction previews to handle lots of different rifles and that style just suited me.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

My Browning Eurobolt in .270 Win has that stock and I have no issues with using the scope.

 

[6mmarc]

I’ve a bunch of rifles with these stocks never had an issue to be honest they all have scopes on them but if you can try one first to make sure it will fit you right may be worth checking out

 

[Muir]

Thr hogs back stocks are good for iron sights but are marginal for glass. You lack an anchor point. They are a hold over from the old days .If you like them, use them with irons or live with the shortcomings. JMHO -Muir

 

[smokey]

Hey everyone,

I'm thinking of purchasing a new rifle in 6.5x55, and I really like the look of the Bavarian style stocks. I've read they can be faster to the shoulder, which would be great, though I've also read they aren't friendly to alignment with an optic mounted.

I'm looking for some input from those that use them, how comfortable they are with a scope and whether you would recommend them. I'm in the US, so finding one in a shop to hold first will be very difficult.

I plan on mounting the rifle with a 40mm objective scope, mounted low. Rifle will be used for both stalking and high seat hunting.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

I used to live in southern Africa and used BRNO rifles with this style stock in 30;06 - 375HH & 458 LOTT with a slight modification to the butt pad i used this style stock a lot and found it very comfortable to shoot especially standing and off sticks(4 wood and brass/leather legged shooting sticks bought from Farlow & sharps London 1982 not every thing is new or better)?

 

[Ginc]

My CZ-550 is fitted with this type of stock, no problems with scopes! I usually use 1-6x24 LPVO, but all others up to 50mm fits well enough for me.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Interesting thread.

I find the only part of my face that engages with this kind of stock is my jaw bone once you get into the scope mounting height required for 50mm and 56mm objectives. Its ironic in one sense as the 'hump' suggested by the name implies additional elevation of one's head but sadly this takes little account of the drop to heel.

K

 

[Keith Edmunds]

The drop at the heel can vary a lot. Most aren't too excessive and the butt/recoil isn't any lower than other styles - others really do drop off at quite an alarming rate.

 

[angusb1]

Interesting thread.

I find the only part of my face that engages with this kind of stock is my jaw bone once you get into the scope mounting height required for 50mm and 56mm objectives. Its ironic in one sense as the 'hump' suggested by the name implies additional elevation of one's head but sadly this takes little account of the drop to heel.

K

This is my experience too with stocks that don't have a raised comb. I prefer a comb riser with a scope so I can get the underside of my cheekbone steady against the stock as if I were using iron sights. Better still, an adjustable cheek piece so I can drop it down to remove the bolt for cleaning.

 

[Dietman]

I have a Sako Bavarian. This and a cz 527 Lux have worked very well with scopes off a bench and in field positions.... In fact they were some of my most accurate rifles

 

[Scipio]

This is my experience too with stocks that don't have a raised comb. I prefer a comb riser with a scope so I can get the underside of my cheekbone steady against the stock as if I were using iron sights. Better still, an adjustable cheek piece so I can drop it down to remove the bolt for cleaning.

This i think, i shoot two older european style stocked rifles, which both have sloping, but not curved combs. With irons they are perfect, - mount them and your eye will fall in line with the sights, and the cheek weld is good. However with scopes, which are often mounted pretty high, a comb raiser is a must. Get that, and it really changes things though.
But like @angusb1 said, if possible get one that is quick and easy to dismount for when you have to clean the bore, or you want to shoot with irons.

 

[Scipio]

The drop at the heel can vary a lot. Most aren't too excessive and the butt/recoil isn't any lower than other styles - others really do drop off at quite an alarming rate.

yup and they can bruise your cheekbone if your face doesnt fit them even with 308 sized catridges. I mean you wont come home looking like muhammed ali, after the rumble in the jungle, but it isnt the most pleasent thing in the world either.

 

[MidlandsPaperPuncher]

You'll be chinwelding not cheekwelding, but that isn't necessarily an issue. My CZ555 wears scopes 99% of the time, and I do in fact have 3 scopes for it (1-4x Steiner LPVO, Swarovski Habicht 1.5-6x42 and Pulsar Thermion), and it is perfectly accurate with all three, with the Pulsar being sat the highest and most further forward.

I've used it for target shooting, boar from a high seat at night, and will be taking it for on foot boar shooting in the south of France in the next year or two.

The key thing if you're going to shoot it prone is to make sure you have a tall enough bipod, otherwise there's no way you can get the stock mounted while also being able to use the scope! This does mean you'll have a higher profile than if you were using an American style stock.

See below for a couple of example photos:

 

[rking453]

You'll be chinwelding not cheekwelding, but that isn't necessarily an issue. My CZ555 wears scopes 99% of the time, and I do in fact have 3 scopes for it (1-4x Steiner LPVO, Swarovski Habicht 1.5-6x42 and Pulsar Thermion), and it is perfectly accurate with all three, with the Pulsar being sat the highest and most further forward.

I've used it for target shooting, boar from a high seat at night, and will be taking it for on foot boar shooting in the south of France in the next year or two.

The key thing if you're going to shoot it prone is to make sure you have a tall enough bipod, otherwise there's no way you can get the stock mounted while also being able to use the scope! This does mean you'll have a higher profile than if you were using an American style stock.

See below for a couple of example photos:

View attachment 449701
View attachment 449702

Great info, I appreciate the photos! Great looking rifle. I'm not too worried about shooting prone, I can't recall that I've ever had to lay down for a shot while hunting, and all my sighting in and target shooting is done from a bench.

 

[rking453]

I have a Sako Bavarian. This and a cz 527 Lux have worked very well with scopes off a bench and in field positions.... In fact they were some of my most accurate rifles

Sako Bavarian is at the top of my list of rifles I want, good to know it works well for you. Seems the general consensus so far is the comfort with hogsback stock and a scope depends on the amount of drop, which can be different for each gun.

 

[Dietman]

Sako Bavarian is at the top of my list of rifles I want, good to know it works well for you. Seems the general consensus so far is the comfort with hogsback stock and a scope depends on the amount of drop, which can be different for each gun.

It's a lovely rifle. It's worth noting it's in 223.

 

[rking453]

It's a lovely rifle. It's worth noting it's in 223.

Wow! That is gorgeous, I found a Sako 85 in 6.5x55 for sale, but with the regular hunter stock. I was thinking on settling on it, but after seeing this I think I should keep waiting and searching for a Bavarian model.