Author Topic: Synthetic Survivor or Varmint forearm (Read 388 times)

Tractorsaw1 · « **on:** June 02, 2010, 08:43:15 AM »

Which forearm is your preference? I have searched all morning & can't really find what I am looking for. Is either going to stay in your hand better when shooting off hand? Does the slot give better gripping power on the varmint or the checkering on the survivor? Typically I hunt with gloves. Right now I am leaning towards the varmint with the bipod rail slot. Looks like the survivor has a special screw to hold it on verses the normal phillips head screw? I am going to order a handi grip stock & thinking about trying one of these forearms. I currently have the camo synthetics that came on the Dicks Specials. Shooting the 35 whelen on the bench I feel like I need more holding power to hold down the muzzle jump. Previously I had the old style synthetic forearm on my 45-70 & the last shot i took off a rest in my tower stand it came out of my gloved hand. My hope is the handi grip will fix some of this. But can't decide which forarm will work better? I could use a bipod some, but won't be needed for most of my outings. Last do i need any special hard ware for either forearm? Thanks

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2010, 08:58:22 AM »

As far as we can tell, the Handi-grip forend is the same as the checkered new style black and camo forends, same length and look identical, there are comparison pics in Mac's thread a month or so ago which I think is in the FAQs. I've got the syn checkered monte carlo set on my 35 Whelen Impr, it works fine from the bench, both on bags and in a LeadSled, all I did was add a Limbsaver prefit pad. I've shot 200gr and 225gr loads so far, have 250gr Hornady RN to shoot next time we get some dry weather. I've only seen one shooting report on the Handi-grip t-hole stock, a 25-06, but Mac will be reporting on it on his custom 30-06...... soon hopefully.

As to my preference, the checkered syn stock set is my new favorite of all of their stocks, but haven't tried the Handi-grip butt yet, the Survivor isn't in the running and useless to me, may be fine for plinking which I don't do, the Varmint forend is great for a bipod and strickly bench shooting from bags, the checkered syn forend is a great compromise for carry and bench work on a hunting rifle, IMO.

Tim

Spanky · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:17:10 AM »

The survivor forearm is what you need. It has deep checkering for grip and is nice for offhand shooting. The bottom of it is flat if you want to shoot off bags or a rest. The varmint forearm is smoother and wider in the hand. If you don't use a bipod much then the varmint forearm is kind of a waste. The survivor has small storage compartments in the forearm too for whatever you might think of. I think you would be happier with the survivor forearm for what you are doing. The handi grip buttstock and the survivor forearm would make for a nice setup... for offhand or bench shooting.

Spanky

Tractorsaw1 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:18:23 AM »

Thanks Tim, I agree I do like the new style checkered synthetic, I guess my shooting form needs more practice. Is the survivor too wide to get a good hand clamp on? I currently bench shoot with a cheap little vice with the foam pads that I just slightly clamp on to help me hold it steady. My best shooting was after I started wrapping my fingers over the top of the grip next to the barrel. Before I started doing that I thought the scope was loose, was just getting too much muzzle jump/inconsistant placement. Just thought I would try to get a better setup before I start letting loose the hotter loads!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:29:20 AM »

I had the Survivor stock on my Hornet for one range session and decided I didn't care for the butt or the forend in the least and sold it at the first opportunity, best advice is try it and see and make your own comparison. I've never liked the old style syn forend, but love the new one, have 3 rifle with the set, 260 Rem Superlight, 30-30 "Superlight" (M158 barrel) and the 35 Whelen Impr.

I have little interest in storing items in the forend, I always carry a small fleece fanny pack(kill bag) for anything I need, I want a rifle that's as light to carry as possible, adding weight to the forend has been shown to be detrimental to forend lug attachment as NFG learned the hard way(FAQs), being that it's just resistance welded on, keeping the forend as light as possible is in the best interest of lug integrity.

Tim

Tractorsaw1 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:31:28 AM »

Spanky, thats also what I thought after looking at pictures of the survivor. It looks as though it has more checkered surface area than the new style forearm. Didn't know about the storage compartment. Almost all of my hunting shots are off some type of rest in a deer stand. Thanks

Spanky · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:33:04 AM »

The varmint forearm is alot wider than the survivor forearm. The varmint is also alot smoother whereas the survivor has deep checkering to hang onto. Just because Tim doesn't like the survivor doesn't mean it wouldn't work great for you.

Spanky

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:50:16 AM »

Personally, I prefer to use what works best, not what just works, that's why I suggested trying both.

Tim

Mac11700 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2010, 12:39:26 PM »

You can see my preference here. I luv the way the wide varmint forearm feels in my hand with and with out gloves. With the pistol grip I don't worry about controlling it by having a death grip on it and just hold the forearm lightly if at all with my left hand,and it can slide great with the rail off when shooting with an open hand. I can shoot off hand quite naturally this way.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,208857.0.html

As Quick has suggested..try them both and see which you prefer.

Mac