Peak 44 is a Wyoming company producing carbon fiber rifle stocks. Their Blacktooth stock, featuring a swept grip, has been available for Tikkas. The more modern Bastion stock has not, until now. I handled the rem 700 pattern Bastion when a few Weatherby 307s came into my shop. I was impressed at first blush with the ergonomics and quality, and proceeded to badger P44's PM JD Ponciano for a full year re: getting out (and not effing up) a Tikka offering. It arrived this week while I was traveling, and I dropped an 18" .223 Tikka into it tonight for initial evaluation.
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Why am I interested in another Tikka stock, when the Roktok exists?
1) Availability. This stock arrived 2 months after the order page went live. 90 day lead time is quoted. I wouldn't bet against that, given my experience. With the volumes they're producing for Weatherby, there's obviously some pretty serious capacity in the shop.
2) Lighter weight. Rokstoks are in the 29-32 oz range. This un-railed Bastion was a shade over 24 oz. I'm not holding my breath for the RS Lite, though I'm sure it will be lovely when it arrives. Until then, there's a place in the market for a properly designed stock of a weight which is still shootable but frees up some ounces.
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3) Made in Wyoming.
4) GW Magnus-style ergos. That is - a more mild interpretation of the modern shooting concepts driving the RS. I'm not turned off by the shark fin, but I'm curious to see what design decisions drive the majority of the recoil-control heavy lifting mechanics.
Fit and finish was excellent, with no discernible slop in the provided recoil lug.
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The action fit into the inlet easily, indicating plenty of room for bedding. That's a good thing, since when there's room for bedding, there tends to be ... an advantage to bedding. It goes without saying there's now duct tape covering the antiquated sling swivels. I did ask to have them deleted, but that wasn't able to be accommodated. Rifle as seen, with empty plastic mag and Scythe attached, weighed in at a paltry 8 pounds 6 ounces.
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Test plan:
-10 round groups without bedding
-Hunter drills shot back to back with RS, in triplicate
-Swap to 6.5, .243, or .308 to compare recoil characteristics
-Bed to one of the above larger cartridge actions, note group size delta
-Shoot NRL hunter match
TTFN,
-J
