Got the .06 to the range today for the first time with the newly installed Boyd's Dakota. No earth shattering news here, but was asked to report after shooting, so here it is.
Impressions:
1) the gun shot paper just as accurate as it was with the factory stock. The Boyd's is full-floated, the factory Marlin is not. The Marlin is pillar bedded, the Boyds is not. Seems to be a push.
I may pillar bed and glass bed the Boyd's down the road, but as it sits it is exceedingly accurate for my skill set and intended usage. If it begins to lose any accuracy over time, I'll address it then.
2) the X7 seemed a bit easier to steady on the target freehand with the added heft of the stock.
3) didn't notice any loss of handling without checkering on the Boyd's in dry weather, but I'd imagine in wet weather it could get a little slippery. A couple strips of clear grip tape on the foreend would solve that if it becomes an issue.
4) the added weight of the Boyd's minus the thinner recoil pad just about equalled the shock absorbancy of the factory stock and nicer/thicker Marlin recoil pad. Might have been just a smidge less kick with the Boyd's, but not a huge improvement. You'll still feel it in the shoulder after a couple boxes of ammo through a 30-06 with just a T-shirt on, but that's to be expected. A thicker recoil pad on the Boyd's would likely help, but it doesn't kick any worse than before, so it's good to go for me.
Impressions:
1) the gun shot paper just as accurate as it was with the factory stock. The Boyd's is full-floated, the factory Marlin is not. The Marlin is pillar bedded, the Boyds is not. Seems to be a push.
I may pillar bed and glass bed the Boyd's down the road, but as it sits it is exceedingly accurate for my skill set and intended usage. If it begins to lose any accuracy over time, I'll address it then.
2) the X7 seemed a bit easier to steady on the target freehand with the added heft of the stock.
3) didn't notice any loss of handling without checkering on the Boyd's in dry weather, but I'd imagine in wet weather it could get a little slippery. A couple strips of clear grip tape on the foreend would solve that if it becomes an issue.
4) the added weight of the Boyd's minus the thinner recoil pad just about equalled the shock absorbancy of the factory stock and nicer/thicker Marlin recoil pad. Might have been just a smidge less kick with the Boyd's, but not a huge improvement. You'll still feel it in the shoulder after a couple boxes of ammo through a 30-06 with just a T-shirt on, but that's to be expected. A thicker recoil pad on the Boyd's would likely help, but it doesn't kick any worse than before, so it's good to go for me.
