Bell and Carlson Howa Mini "Sporter" rifle stock. Update

[tdbru]

Got the B&C mini-sporter stock. sans any bottom metal - 2lbs. right on the money as advertised. Factory stock sans bottom "metal" - 2 lbs, 2 oz. so the B&C sporter stock is lighter than factory. B&C mini sporter with DIP bottom metal goes 2lbs. 3.5 oz. factory stock with bottom "metal" goes 2lbs. 3.5 oz. so yes, the plastic bottom metal is lighter than the DIP real bottom metal. impressions: B&C is much more rigid stock. forend is much more slender on B&C. factory stock looks a bit more like a bench stock on the forend. the B&C stock looks to be about an inch shorter overall with both stocks forends pointed up with the buttstocks on the floor. if i hold the two stocks side by side so that the action screws are even, the B&C looks to be about 1/2" shorter on both ends. will go ahead and accraglass in the action and first 1" or so of barrel anyway. then once that is done i do need to add camo pattern to the stock. then put it all back together and head to the range. my mini is the 22" sporter barrel. with the barreled action dropped into the B&C stock the barrel does not touch the stock anywhere. my factory stock was the same way. but i could flex the factory stock enough to get the forend to touch the barrel. just trial fitting the DIP bottom metal and B&C mini sporter and putting it all together, i had no problem feeding a snap cap from the magazine into the chamber with the action screws snugged down with a screw driver handled Torx driver. once it's all glassed in and such, i'll put the 50 in-lb of torque to the action screws and check the feeding again with a snap cap. maybe by next weekend or so, depending upon weather i might get out to the range.
just an fyi update on the B&C mini howa sporter stock for those who might have an interest
-tdbru