Rokstok review thread

[Q_Sertorius]

Not trying to be a fanboy of "all things UM", but I'm surprised no one mentioned the UM DBMs. Are they just too pricey compared to the rest of the market, or do you guys just prefer flush mounts, something else?

I wanted stainless steel bottom metal to match my stainless steel barrel and action. And that pretty much ruled out all bottom metal except the PR Precision one.

 

[wind gypsy]

Not trying to be a fanboy of "all things UM", but I'm surprised no one mentioned the UM DBMs. Are they just too pricey compared to the rest of the market, or do you guys just prefer flush mounts, something else?

The primary thing is they only take UM mags which are oriented around long action or long medium action cartridges.

So for short action cartridges there is zero reason to use a bottom metal setup that is not flush and mandates use of heavy, expensive, long action magazines.

 

[Marbles]

Not trying to be a fanboy of "all things UM", but I'm surprised no one mentioned the UM DBMs. Are they just too pricey compared to the rest of the market, or do you guys just prefer flush mounts, something else?

They only work with UM magazines and don't look as ergonomic for hand carrying.

But, for me the only reason for an aftermarket DBM is an enlarged trigger guard for gloved hands in winter. Normally there it time to pull a glove off, but some times I really don't want to and don't need the added accuracy because of short range. The UM doesn't have what I want.

 

[The Harbor Master]

But, for me the only reason for an aftermarket DBM is an enlarged trigger guard for gloved hands in winter. Normally there it time to pull a glove off, but some times I really don't want to and don't need the added accuracy because of short range.

This 100% is the only reason I'd bother changing from the OEM bottom... 2 years ago on a November hunt averaging -6⁰ I learned the hard way, and it cost me a wolf at about 80yds. Functionally zero issue with OEM but taking time to pull gloves off sucks.

 

[omicron1792]

I completely agree with tradeoffs and appreciate your efforts with improving it. This is something I already sent a PM to SRS about (just a couple of days ago).

This was a discounted Rokstok that someone else rejected. So I didn’t get to order it exactly the way I wanted it, but I got it much sooner and saved some money. That’s resulted in some compromises on my part, but I am not complaining.

I will add - without any rancor or bitterness - that I only bought the MDT GRND-POD because Alex, the salesman, who no longer works at UM, as far as I know, recommended it as the ideal bipod for my Rokstok with the Trinity rail. If I had bought it from UM, I would have returned it. As it is, I will either use it on another rifle or sell it.

Why don’t you use the spartan bipod?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Why don’t you use the spartan bipod?

I am using the Spartan bipod *now.* But when I first ordered the Rokstok, I thought I wanted a permanently attached bipod.

 

[omicron1792]

I am using the Spartan bipod *now.* But when I first ordered the Rokstok, I thought I wanted a permanently attached bipod.

I see. Sucks.

I don’t have a trinity rail but I still went through 3 bipods before I settled on the spartan. I tried the all the time attached bipod too.

I just don’t use a bipod much so it’s nice for it to be out of the way completely and just pop the spartan in for the rare time I use it

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I wanted stainless steel bottom metal to match my stainless steel barrel and action. And that pretty much ruled out all bottom metal except the PR Precision one.

My Lumley and high desert aren’t made of stainless steel but they match the rest of the metal on tikkas pretty well. Not that I care about that but still.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I see. Sucks.

I don’t have a trinity rail but I still went through 3 bipods before I settled on the spartan.

I just don’t use a bipod much so it’s nice for it to be out of the way completely and just pop the spartan in for the rare time I use it

Yes, I agree. I grew up using a Harris bipod on my primary hunting rifle and that was good enough for me for years and years. So, when I got the rifle with the Trinity rail my first thought was to get a good bipod that would be permanently mounted on the rifle. Hence the MDT.

But after encountering issues with that, I went looking for options and numerous people recommended the Spartan system. I now have Spartan mounts on four rifles (including the one that used to have the Harris on it). I really like it a lot.

 

[benconfused]

For a 223 Tikka - using a mamba mag, what's the best performing DBM for that?

 

[omicron1792]

Yes, I agree. I grew up using a Harris bipod on my primary hunting rifle and that was good enough for me for years and years. So, when I got the rifle with the Trinity rail my first thought was to get a good bipod that would be permanently mounted on the rifle. Hence the MDT.

But after encountering issues with that, I went looking for options and numerous people recommended the Spartan system. I now have Spartan mounts on four rifles (including the one that used to have the Harris on it). I really like it a lot.

Exact same for me. All my rifles have spartan adapters. Most have two, one for bipod and one for tripod. I use the recessed gunsmith adapter when possible.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

For a 223 Tikka - using a mamba mag, what's the best performing DBM for that?

One of my two 10-round Mambamags has some trouble fully seating in the PR Precision bottom metal (currently in an OEM wood stock pending delivery of wooden Rokstok). The other one, and my 3- and 5-round OEM magazines work great, so my assumption is I just need to find the right spot to polish on that magazine.

 

[ztc92]

For a 223 Tikka - using a mamba mag, what's the best performing DBM for that?

I’m just using the plastic factory bottom metal with mamba mags and don’t have any issues. Probably over 1000 rounds with that setup between the S2H course and then subsequent practice at home. I think almost all students at S2H including the rental guns we’re using mamba mags and factory bottom metal, I don’t recall any issues for any of them.

 

[benconfused]

They only work with UM magazines and don't look as ergonomic for hand carrying.

But, for me the only reason for an aftermarket DBM is an enlarged trigger guard for gloved hands in winter. Normally there it time to pull a glove off, but some times I really don't want to and don't need the added accuracy because of short range. The UM doesn't have what I want.

So it looks like the Lumley has more of a standard trigger area like the OEM, whereas Waters and High Desert have bigger trigger areas. (trying to narrow down options for 223 if I wanted to upgrade the DBM)

 

[wind gypsy]

More room in trigger guard for gloves and you can torque them tight without being squishy like the plastic. That's the only reason i've ever upgraded. I have 2 High Desert in a rokstok and 1 Mountain tactical BM in the old "Kiwi Composites" stock.