KRG Echo - Sporterish version of bravo for tikkas

[mlevimadden]

I emailed KRG this week with 2 questions on the echo. I asked if any of their bag riders or inserts could be used to fill the butthook and asked which arca rails are compatible on the fore-end. Response copied below:

Sir, the Echo chassis is not compatible with the flat bag rider or any of our bag riders. The Echo has 2 holes spaced 1.19" apart that can be use for our L2 picatinny rail section under the butt portion but is not made to work with our bag rider accessories.
https://kineticresearchgroup.com/product-category/chassis-accessories/qd-mounts-and-picatinny-rails/ <https://kineticresearchgroup.com/product-category/chassis-accessories/qd-mounts-and-picatinny-rails/>

The ARCA rail that works best with our Echo is our newly updated ARCA rail short. This rail can be mounted at different positions on the Echo and our other chassis.
https://kineticresearchgroup.com/product/arca-rail-short-krg/ <https://kineticresearchgroup.com/product/arca-rail-short-krg/>

-KRG

 

[FLS]

Got mine today, and put my Roughtek 308 in it. Put about 20 rounds thru it checking zero and getting a feel for it. Initial impression is it’s a very comfortable stock to get behind. I’m hoping to bloody it tomorrow.

 

[DisplacedHusky]

Got mine today, and put my Roughtek 308 in it. Put about 20 rounds thru it checking zero and getting a feel for it. Initial impression is it’s a very comfortable stock to get behind. I’m hoping to bloody it tomorrow.View attachment 781946

Looks good. What’s your total rifle weight with scope and suppressor?

 

[Bluefish]

Got mine yesterday. First impression is the grip/ palm position is off. Not quite right for my hand. Seems like they had to make it shallow to be Ambi. Will see how it goes after getting it to the range.

 

[FLS]

Looks good. What’s your total rifle weight with scope and suppressor?

I haven’t put it on a scale but I’d guess 9ish pounds.

 

[108ELDM]

Are the forends pretty rigid on the Echo? I know there was some initial concerns they w would have some flex.

 

[FLS]

They have some flex, but it seems rigid enough with the barrel channel liner in. Haven’t taken mine out yet. Everyone need to be realistic. This is a $300 plastic upgrade. If you are expecting carbon fiber / fiberglass weight and rigidity you will be disappointed.

 

[RECCE]

Bartlein Carbon Wrapped #13 Remington/Varmint Sendero fits without removing the insert.

 

[FLS]

Not much of a test. I watched her for about an hour waiting for a buck to show. Shot was about 100 yds and Hornady Black 168 AMax made a nasty exit. One of her lungs was hanging out of exit. She only went a few yards.

 

[Hurley88]

I have the KRG Echo, Rokstok, and the MDT Field Stock.
Rokstok & Echo are the best, I’m still torn over which I prefer. MDT gets last place.

Rokstok (plain Jane with swivel studs) weighs almost exactly what the factory plastic stock weighs. Echo adds roughly 13oz, (weighs 2lbs 10oz), but does so in the center of the stock so I wouldn’t say handling is affected. Unless I’m holding both side-by-side

Anybody have any questions or want pics, let me know & I’ll post them.

 

[skipper907]

I have the KRG Echo, Rokstok, and the MDT Field Stock.
Rokstok & Echo are the best, I’m still torn over which I prefer. MDT gets last place.

Rokstok (plain Jane with swivel studs) weighs almost exactly what the factory plastic stock weighs. Echo adds roughly 13oz, (weighs 2lbs 10oz), but does so in the center of the stock so I wouldn’t say handling is affected. Unless I’m holding both side-by-side

Anybody have any questions or want pics, let me know & I’ll post them.

Thanks for the comparison
pictures are always great with them side by side

 

[bigsky_hunter]

I have the KRG Echo, Rokstok, and the MDT Field Stock.
Rokstok & Echo are the best, I’m still torn over which I prefer. MDT gets last place.

Rokstok (plain Jane with swivel studs) weighs almost exactly what the factory plastic stock weighs. Echo adds roughly 13oz, (weighs 2lbs 10oz), but does so in the center of the stock so I wouldn’t say handling is affected. Unless I’m holding both side-by-side

Anybody have any questions or want pics, let me know & I’ll post them.

What’s the trigger reach length on the KRG? Have the Rokstok and that’s about the ideal length for me.

 

[Hurley88]

 

[Hurley88]

Earlier I meant to say “unless I’m holding both side-by-side I wouldn’t notice that one was almost a pound heavier due to the balance”.

Measured from point of middle finger to trigger shoe, got 1-5/8” to 1-3/4” with both stocks. But if you look at the pics, the KRG has a much wider grip, slightly different angle, different relief for the fat part of your hand below the thumb…in use the Echo feels like it’s 1/8” further away than the Rokstok.

They definitely are in the same echelon. The Rokstok is a little wider & slicker around the action when still hunting (paint can fix that). The forends feel very similar. They both have flat forends that are parallel with the ground, the Rokstok has the flat toeline to match and is a tad better for spotting impacts. And like almost everyone, I don’t like the bag rider in the KRG toeline.

But for my uses I’m leaning toward the Echo. Mainly bc I like the way it places my trigger hand a bit more. Also with the slightly lower recoil pad the Echo is just a little bit easier to manipulate for sitting position short range shots bc your upper torso can be a bit more perpendicular to the rifle. It seems to carry better with one hand at the midsection for still hunting and can snap to the shoulder a touch faster bc of the middle balance. But that’s all conjecture based upon messing with them at home. I’ve yet to really put them through their paces; real shooting will decide for me.

Oh and shooting 7mm-08 with 162 ELDM in the prone, I felt the oval outline of the Rokstok during recoil. Like the pad was bottoming out. I’d wager that any more than about 18 ft-lbs of recoil and it could frog you. Might be slapping a 1” pad on it.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

I've been playing a bit with the Rokstok, Echo, and MDT Fieldstock as well.

I've put the most rounds downrange using the RS and MDT. It's hunting season so range time is not at the forefront. Spacers, flush cup, and adjustment knob are on the way for the Echo before I shoot it more...the current LOP is irksome to me in use. I should have ordered them as soon as I got the stock...or when I ordered the stock if I'd realized.

Hurley88 noted the weight differences. The exact weights I got were:
Echo: 2 lbs 10.7 oz
Fieldstock: 3 lbs 3.3 oz

The weight is noticeable with the Fieldstock. There isn't a rear flush cup option with the Fieldstock, so I drilled/tapped, and installed one of the Grovtec hollow stock flush cups. Removed the sling swivels and put them in the box. Quick and easy fix:

Hollow Stock Push Button Base - GTHM198

The perfect solution for installing a push button base into thin walled stocks it is not thick enough to support a thread base alone. It's held in place on the inside of the stock by a mating panel nut. Full-Rotation Black-Oxide Finish9/16˝-18 Thread

grovtec.com

Pro's on the Fieldstock:
AICS mags - this was the biggest draw for me with the .223
Adjustable comb
Negative comb
Decent ergo's/grip
Slim/trim for what it is
Spacers included to adjust LOP

Con's on the Fieldstock:
Weight - this is the biggest
Top of comb is sharper than I prefer - needs to be a bit wider/rounded
No rear flushcup option - fixed with the Grovtec

Pro's on the Echo:
Really good ergo's/grip
Slim/trim for what it is
Weight (for what it is)

Con's on the Echo:
Short LOP factory with no spacers included - irksome
Requires order of wheel to adjust comb
Requires order of flushcup for rear
Issue using the Ascension Industries extended .223 mags - biggie for me.
On long action rounds, the rear of the bolt contacts the stock (no issue with feed/eject)

Neither are perfect but both are workable. I prefer the ergo's of the Echo, but the mag issue (specific to the aftermarket .223 mags) keeps me from using it as planned. I'll probably move a 6.5 CM to it and use the M+ mags which should be fine.

Everyone has preferences and everything has trade offs. Hopefully this will be helpful to someone. I'll try to update as I use them more.

 

[Bluumoon]

I've been playing a bit with the Rokstok, Echo, and MDT Fieldstock as well.

I've put the most rounds downrange using the RS and MDT. It's hunting season so range time is not at the forefront. Spacers, flush cup, and adjustment knob are on the way for the Echo before I shoot it more...the current LOP is irksome to me in use. I should have ordered them as soon as I got the stock...or when I ordered the stock if I'd realized.

Hurley88 noted the weight differences. The exact weights I got were:
Echo: 2 lbs 10.7 oz
Fieldstock: 3 lbs 3.3 oz

The weight is noticeable with the Fieldstock. There isn't a rear flush cup option with the Fieldstock, so I drilled/tapped, and installed one of the Grovtec hollow stock flush cups. Removed the sling swivels and put them in the box. Quick and easy fix:

Hollow Stock Push Button Base - GTHM198

The perfect solution for installing a push button base into thin walled stocks it is not thick enough to support a thread base alone. It's held in place on the inside of the stock by a mating panel nut. Full-Rotation Black-Oxide Finish9/16˝-18 Thread

grovtec.com

Pro's on the Fieldstock:
AICS mags - this was the biggest draw for me with the .223
Adjustable comb
Negative comb
Decent ergo's/grip
Slim/trim for what it is
Spacers included to adjust LOP

Con's on the Fieldstock:
Weight - this is the biggest
Top of comb is sharper than I prefer - needs to be a bit wider/rounded
No rear flushcup option - fixed with the Grovtec

Pro's on the Echo:
Really good ergo's/grip
Slim/trim for what it is
Weight (for what it is)

Con's on the Echo:
Short LOP factory with no spacers included - irksome
Requires order of wheel to adjust comb
Requires order of flushcup for rear
Issue using the Ascension Industries extended .223 mags - biggie for me.
On long action rounds, the rear of the bolt contacts the stock (no issue with feed/eject)

Neither are perfect but both are workable. I prefer the ergo's of the Echo, but the mag issue (specific to the aftermarket .223 mags) keeps me from using it as planned. I'll probably move a 6.5 CM to it and use the M+ mags which should be fine.

Everyone has preferences and everything has trade offs. Hopefully this will be helpful to someone. I'll try to update as I use them more.

I picked up a couple 10 round Mamaba mags to try. Very limited use so far, appears to have a good bit of room to run longer COAL. . The 6 round tikka mags took a few hundred rounds to start showing issues.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

I picked up a couple 10 round Mamaba mags to try. Very limited use so far, appears to have a good bit of room to run longer COAL. . The 6 round tikka mags took a few hundred rounds to start showing issues.

Thanks. From their page, it looks like the Mamba mags allow 2.337".

https://mambamag.com/mamba-magazines/

Tikka T3 SA .223 - 2.337"

 

[bojangles808]

I've been playing a bit with the Rokstok, Echo, and MDT Fieldstock as well.

I've put the most rounds downrange using the RS and MDT. It's hunting season so range time is not at the forefront. Spacers, flush cup, and adjustment knob are on the way for the Echo before I shoot it more...the current LOP is irksome to me in use. I should have ordered them as soon as I got the stock...or when I ordered the stock if I'd realized.

Hurley88 noted the weight differences. The exact weights I got were:
Echo: 2 lbs 10.7 oz
Fieldstock: 3 lbs 3.3 oz

The weight is noticeable with the Fieldstock. There isn't a rear flush cup option with the Fieldstock, so I drilled/tapped, and installed one of the Grovtec hollow stock flush cups. Removed the sling swivels and put them in the box. Quick and easy fix:

Hollow Stock Push Button Base - GTHM198

The perfect solution for installing a push button base into thin walled stocks it is not thick enough to support a thread base alone. It's held in place on the inside of the stock by a mating panel nut. Full-Rotation Black-Oxide Finish9/16˝-18 Thread

grovtec.com

Pro's on the Fieldstock:
AICS mags - this was the biggest draw for me with the .223
Adjustable comb
Negative comb
Decent ergo's/grip
Slim/trim for what it is
Spacers included to adjust LOP

Con's on the Fieldstock:
Weight - this is the biggest
Top of comb is sharper than I prefer - needs to be a bit wider/rounded
No rear flushcup option - fixed with the Grovtec

Pro's on the Echo:
Really good ergo's/grip
Slim/trim for what it is
Weight (for what it is)

Con's on the Echo:
Short LOP factory with no spacers included - irksome
Requires order of wheel to adjust comb
Requires order of flushcup for rear
Issue using the Ascension Industries extended .223 mags - biggie for me.
On long action rounds, the rear of the bolt contacts the stock (no issue with feed/eject)

Neither are perfect but both are workable. I prefer the ergo's of the Echo, but the mag issue (specific to the aftermarket .223 mags) keeps me from using it as planned. I'll probably move a 6.5 CM to it and use the M+ mags which should be fine.

Everyone has preferences and everything has trade offs. Hopefully this will be helpful to someone. I'll try to update as I use them more.

How bad is the flex in forened in the fieldstock vs the echo?

 

[JCMCUBIC]

I'm using a sporter/lite barrel in each, so neither were going to touch. I'll try to check it again tonight to verify, but I think the Fieldstock was the stiffer of the two.

 

[Hurley88]

Honestly, they both flex badly (Field Stock and Echo). There’s ample space around a smaller contour barrel as mentioned.

But I don’t use bipods so torquing the forend isn’t such a big deal to me. I’ve had bipods throw shots enough over the last three years to make me finally ditch them, even with stiff stocks. This is an issue when hunting bc you’re engaging a target that moves. Bags don’t do that. To each their own though I suppose. The Rokstok is (obviously) much stiffer, but yes as with any stock you can force it to touch.

I got the Echo & Rokstok out to the range today to zero, am torn between the two. Like I mentioned earlier, field shooting drills will show the difference. But FWIW on a bench & prone, the grips have a different attitude. The ergos on the Echo seemed better, made me want to take my time & break the shot. The Rokstok was more like a Ferrari, I felt like I could grip & rip with it more. Just a feeling, again actual field shooting with them both is completely different than calmly shooting for groups (I hate load dev & zero, can’t wait to get off the bench & SHOOT).