Hello All- I've been lurking for a long time here, this is my first post. I have been shooting NRA Smallbore Silhouette for almost a year, mostly informal practice and I shot in three 80 round matches this year. I scored 21, 28 and 27.
Most importantly, I'm HOOKED and loving it. I started out with a CZ 452 Silhouette, but earlier this year I acquired a 452 Varmint that is the most accurate factory rifle I've ever owned, by far. Someday I plan on buying an Anschutz 1712, but feel I need more work before I can "earn" a rifle like that. Just the way I think, and my shooting budget is not bottomless. I am more comfortable with the Silhouette stock, but shoot better with the heft of the Varmint. Scores in practice have steadily increased and I'm shooting low 40s with the Varmint action, mid 30s with the 452SIL.
My problem is that I pillar bedded the Varmint stock including the action and up to the barrel lug, and now it's overweight for Hunter class. Not that the class matters all that much to me, I'd like to shoot in Hunter class, but more importantly, I'd like to put my 452 Varmint action in a stock that is better suited to shoot silhouette.

The rifle weighs 9Lb, 5oz with the scope and rings- Sightron SIIBS62442SIL on Leupold QRW rings. I would easily lose a few ounces going with lighter rings, but the scope stays.
Barreled action weighs 4lb, 13 oz. The current stock is walnut, 2lb, 11oz.

Can anyone suggest a stock for my 452 Varmint that will get me under the 8.5lb limit?

DrGunner

I have a 452 varmint in a Wayne Merrier stock. It has a Leoupold 25x silhouette scope on it with BKL rings and weighs in at just over 8 lbs.

Wayne's stocks closely resemble the Pharr stocks and weigh less than the CZ stock. I'll try to get a picture posted this evening.

Here is picture of my other CZ in a Merrier stock

Very cool! Thanks for taking the time to post a pic.
I'm at work now on my iPhone, I will have to look up Merrier later tonight to get an idea of price and availability.

Any idea what that stock weighs?

Is there a website for Wayne Merrier stocks? How would I find out how much one cost and how to order one?

Mary10

mary10 wrote:Is there a website for Wayne Merrier stocks? How would I find out how much one cost and how to order one?

Mary10

I believe he is still at the Piddler's in GA. Here is the contact information I have:

Contact info for Wayne Merrier

The Piddlers
1505 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Brunswick, GA 31520
912-265-0890

I do not have his email information with me at the moment but can get it if you need it.

-Rex

Yes, that contact info is correct.
Also, I corresponded with Wayne via email yesterday.
He is still making and pillar bedding silhouette stocks for CZ and other actions.

DG

I have to admit the thought of my CZ 455 with a Lilja barrel in one of those stocks is an appealing alternative to a 1712. If a 1712 can not be found at a price point I can live with I may go the new stock and barrel route.

If someone were to make a decent 2 stage trigger for the CZ 452, I'd buy it!

DavidABQ wrote:I have to admit the thought of my CZ 455 with a Lilja barrel in one of those stocks is an appealing alternative to a 1712. If a 1712 can not be found at a price point I can live with I may go the new stock and barrel route.

I had one of his stocks on a Win 52 C and can recommend them. At that time Wayne tried to talk me into building my rifle on a CZ Varmint instead, but of course I did not listen. I wish I would have, as in many ways the CZ is a more adaptable rifle. I think you will enjoy this project.

FWIW: I don't recall where I got the information, but I seem to recall that Wayne himself used to shoot a rifle built on the NS 522 action. It might be a worthwhile alternative to the Anschutz, and he would be the one to ask about it. If you go that way I would appreciate a report as I am curious as to what he does to the trigger.

Good luck!

SqHunter, DrGunner,

Thank you for the information.

Mary10

Wayne Merier gave the go ahead to post contact info.

Wayne Merier-

Ph: (912) 265-0890. Weekdays 10AM-5PM CST

Email: [email protected]

Update- Wayne Merier is a stand up guy!!!

I decided to post an update showing off my Merier silhouette stock for those who might be interested in a quality affordable custom built stock for shooting Silhouette.


Merier Silhouette stock for CZ 452 Varmint

Wayne makes his own custom fit lightweight composite silhouette stocks for the CZ and other Rimfire rifles. First, he sends you a "fitting stock" that allows you to adjust the LOP and slide the action forward and back to get the balance and distance from the pistol grip to your trigger finger to your liking.
You then return the fitting stock with your barreled action.

Here's his fitting stock:




Wayne then makes custom contoured aluminum pillars, builds the stock to your specs, glass beds it and sends it back to you. The stock has a set of weights that accompanies it, with recesses milled out in the barrel channel and under the butt pad so that you can add weight where you like to further tune the stock for balance.

Here's a pic of my action with his custom pillars installed:



Here's a pic of one of Wayne's finished rifles- and YES, it's a Left handed stock :



The cost- GET THIS:

$350 plus shipping!!!!!

The stock resembles a Pharr stock, except Wayne makes his with a flat bottomed foreend to better ride a rest. It features a nice prominent palm swell, near vertical grip angle, and high comb.

Here are some pics of mine:

















Unfortunately, mine weighed in at 9lb 1oz with scope and rings installed- 9oz overweight for Hunter class. When I notified Wayne of this problem, he did not hesitate – he sent me an email apologizing, saying that he forgot to pay close attention to making weight, and immediately offered to make me another stock. The added weight is partially my fault. I asked him to add swivel studs to the stock, which required adding backing material and epoxy to screw the studs into. He charged me a whole $25 to add them.

So he immediately set to work building me another stock, and told me to hang on to and use the "heavy" stock until the replacement arrived.

That's awesome customer service, especially given the overall cost and what you get for it. I didn't raise a stink or ask for a replacement stock, it really does not matter to me if I shoot in hunter or standard class for the time being, as I shoot at a local range where you shoot what you bring.
He felt that he had failed to meet my stated goals, and offered a replacement.


I received my replacement stock last week, as promised.

The old stock weighed 2lb 2oz.

The replacement weighs 1lb, 12oz and is very solid.

The rifle- with scope, rings, and magazine, weighs 8lb, 6oz.

I ordered a set of Warne Maxima QD rings- High rings.

They're 4 oz, .525" from top of rail to bottom of scope tube.

My old ones were Leupold QRWs, medium height, .380" from top of rail to bottom of scope tube. They weighed 7oz.

So, I have 5oz to spare, which may come into play if I decide to skim bed the action. It was bedded using another 452 Varmint, and the fit is good, but I prefer a rifle bedded to its own barreled action. So far, my rifle is shooting as accurately or better than it did in the OEM stock. Most importantly- the rifle FITS me!

Bottom line- if you want a great stock for NRA Smallbore Silhouette, Wayne Merier will make you a true custom fit, pillar and glass bedded stock for the bargain price of $350. That's pretty hard to beat.

Wayne Merier
(912) 265-0890
[email protected]


Some pic of the inletting, bedding and custom contoured pillars












Regards,

DrGunner

Wayne is a fine Southern Gentleman and makes a great stock, palm swell is a little large for some but great for others.

Mary

That is a good looking rifle.

Wish i had kept my Merrier rifle, it was the best fitting stock I have ever tried.