If you’re a fan of custom rifles, you’re probably familiar with Mark Bansner; if you aren’t, I highly recommend that you remedy that as quickly as possible. Long famous for his custom rifles, and especially his synthetic stocks designs, Bansner has gone from being a one-man show, to part of Legendary Arms Works, and of late, pairing up with a wunderkind named Ben Moedinger to create Bansner & Company, once again producing excellent rifles and rifle stocks under his name. I’ve been able to own a few Legendary rifles, and one of Mark’s custom guns, and hunted and reviewed many more; all his stuff is great.
Chatting with Mark a while back, he told me about the new replacement stock program the he and Ben had initiated, where a customer could buy a replacement stock for their firearm, or could send the rifle to Bansner & Co, to have it changed out. I was immediately intrigued, and felt I had the perfect candidate for a makeover. My old Winchester Model 70 Classic—chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum—has served me well for over two decades. I purchased it used back in 2004, after several Adirondack hunts which resulted in a soaked and rusty rifle. The stainless barrel and action and the polymer stock made for a weatherproof combination, if less than handsome. The black molded stock was functional, but was not exactly the most comfortable design; it had a visible seam where the mold closed, and the plain buttstock had no cheekpiece, and seemed to be designed for use with lower iron sights, despite the fact that the rifle never had them. This gun would be a perfect candidate for the Bansner makeover.
Where in years past Mark and Ben would have to rely upon a stock supplier for their guns, interruptions in the supply chains made it sensible to buy their own stock company. As Mark and Ben say so often, they want to offer a stock which is “lightweight and tough, but with style.” I completely agree with that assessment, as my Bansner .404 Jeffery which accompanied me to Alaska is so equipped. So, while I love the Winchester Model 70 action, and that .300 Winnie of mine delivers wonderful accuracy, I ordered a new carbon fiber stock, and also wanted the metal Cerakoted, to eliminate that stainless glow and glare. I boxed the rifle up and shipped it to Pennsylvania.
In an effort to keep the lines of the rifle complimentary to the Model 70 design, I opted for the hand-laid carbon “Miller” model, a design by Arizona gunmaker David Miller, whose stock Winchester used for several of the Model 70 offerings. As this rifle is to be used predominately in North America, I opted for the traditional 13½-inch length of pull, which works best for me with a heavy hunting jacket (I often prefer a 14-inch or 14¼-inch length of pull on my African guns, when I’m wearing much lighter clothing). I liked the cheekpiece on the Miller stock, and definitely wanted the Spartan Precision adapter in the forend of the stock. I also wanted to retain the original bottom metal, and the Miller design allowed for that.
With the open, sweeping pistol grip that gives the hand position I enjoy most, I've always found the dimensions of that Miller design to help mitigate recoil, and that’s no different on the Bansner stock. The bottom of the stock has a lovely rounded profile, making it very comfortable to carry in the hand, and while Bansner & Co. doesn’t use and checkering or stippling, their hard-wearing, textured base coat and speckle pattern finish affords a positive grip with or without gloves, in any weather. The stock gives a great balance to the rifle; even with the 26-inch barrel, the balance point is directly under the floor plate screw at the muzzle end of the bottom metal.
Both Bansner and Moedinger are passionate about every aspect of their rifles, but especially their stocks. Ben offered this: “Our gunstocks, like everything else we make, are form and function. Why have one without the other? We've got roots in the past, the classics, and we've got eyes on the horizon. Some of those past designs are essentially perfect, while some leave something to be desired from an ergonomic or aesthetic perspective. Case in point: many classic sporter stock designs didn't figure on the current desire for heavy barrel contours. Our solution: The Miller allows for an M24/M40 barrel channel without looking ridiculous doing it. We offer stocks for a growing range of popular rifles, both old and new. 'Different strokes for different folks' as they say, and we do our damndest to offer a range of products that accommodates that without compromising on quality of construction and style.”
I like the fact that the comb allows for proper scope alignment, giving cheek weld instead of chin weld; close your eyes and bring the rifle to shoulder to where the cheek position feels proper, and my Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x will be properly centered, at least for my facial structure. The black Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad—I opted for the one measuring 0.6-inch thick—not only adheres to the color scheme, but takes the sting out of the hottest of ammo. To say the least, I am very glad I decided to change the stock on this rifle, as it has made a definite improvement in accuracy and feel.
Bansner & Co. will assuredly sell you a stock for your gun, and you can do the conversion at home (Bansner’s stocks require very little work, and fit well out of the box if you select the proper options for your rifle). But I have been shooting Winchester 70s for a quarter century and fully understand how sensitive they can be to proper or improper bedding. I am not a gunsmith, and admit that I could not do as good a job as Mark and Ben can do. I decided to go with the Signature Installation package, where the rifle is bedded in the same manner as Bansner custom rifles, and the results at the target were immediate. Group size has been cut down by nearly a third with known factory ammo and handloads, and the package included the application of Elite Smoke colored Cerakote to all exposed metal, save the bolt body. The stock is finished in a manner which showcases the carbon fiber construction, and is accented by tan and OD green paint speckles, in that signature Bansner pattern. A simple, yet undeniably effective, rifle designed for function and not aesthetic now has a touch of grace, while still offering the weatherproof qualities I need the rifle to possess. Synthetic stocks do not need to be classless.
Talking with Ben Moedinger about their bedding methods, I inquired about the need for aluminum pillars. “Short answer: No. We use high strength fiber reinforced epoxy pillars 3/4" in diameter and they do the job nicely. (We use the same reinforcement material in our crossbolts behind the recoil lug and between the trigger and magazine well pockets for extra strength and rigidity) If you prefer aluminum pillars you'll have no issue installing them in our stocks. Knock yourself out,” Moedinger related.
The Miller is but one design available from Bansner & Co.; there is a safari variant with a shorter forend to accommodate a barrel band for the big bores. Their compact Sheep Hunter design is available for the Remington Model 700 and Model 7 rifles, as well as the Tikka T3 line and the Howa 1500. Mark told me “If you don’t like the classic style rifle stocks, look no further than our HVT stock. It’ll make a perfect choice for competition and precision target work.” With its more vertical pistol grip and a buttstock proportioned for larger optics, the HVT should appeal to long range shooters and accuracy hounds alike.
“We wanted to offer our stocks to gunmakers and hunters, as well as DIY folks who enjoy tinkering,” Bansner related. And to his point, it might make complete sense to have more than one stock for a rifle that you really love, so you might avoid the excess wear and tear on a pretty walnut stock. Just as you can have all sorts of different options when ordering a Bansner custom rifle, there are plenty of options when picking out a Bansner stock, from barrel channel, material, color and recoil pad thickness. Mark has been at it for over three decades, and Ben is celebrating his 10-year anniversary, so there is plenty of experience behind the designs, and there is no doubt that these stocks are light, rigid and pretty to look at.
Bansner & Company HVT 700 stock.
The package for my Winchester 70 came to about $2,100, but it would be best to contact Bansner & Co. to get an accurate quote for your particular project. They have a wide array of paint choices, and can accommodate nearly any barrel profile. There are fiberglass models, as well as the carbon fiber model I chose, and they sell a full line of optics as well, so while your rifle is at the shop, you could upgrade the glass as well. Whether you want the full treatment for your rifle, or just a stock to give an old friend a facelift, they’ll have something to fit the bill.
