Key Highlights
- F-Class stock choice depends first on division. F-Open allows up to 10kg (22lb) with any front support, while F-T/R is capped at 8.25kg (18.18lb) and bipod-only front support.
- McMillan’s XIT stock is purpose-built for F-T/R, with a 4-way adjustable buttplate and adjustable cheekpiece. McMillan currently sponsors several F-Open and F-T/R teams.
- The Tooley MBR is a popular composite aftermarket option often used for F-Open benchrest-style builds off the bench and front rest.
- Eliseo’s Competition Machine tubeguns use a rigid “PickleFork” forearm that lets F-Open shooters convert a tubegun chassis to run off a front rest instead of a bipod.
- Your stock and your front rest need to be chosen together. Forearm width and profile determine which rests and rear bags will actually track straight.
Introduction
Once a new F-Class shooter has a rifle, a front rest, and a rear bag sorted, the stock is usually the last piece they think about. It’s often the one that causes the most frustration, though. A stock might not suit your division, your rest, or your build style. If it doesn’t, it can undo the benefit of every other piece of premium equipment on the rifle. This guide compares three of the most talked-about options in F-Class circles – McMillan, Tooley, and Eliseo – and explains how to match stock choice to your division and your existing rest setup.
Why Stock Choice Starts With Your Division
Before comparing brands, it’s worth remembering that F-Class splits into two divisions with very different equipment rules, and your stock has to fit the one you shoot.
F-Open: Maximum Flexibility, Maximum Weight
F-Open allows rifles up to 10kg (22lb), any calibre up to .35, and any front support – adjustable front rests included. This is where you’ll see the widest, flattest forearms and dedicated tubegun chassis systems, because there’s no bipod requirement forcing a slimmer profile.
F-T/R: Bipod-Only, Weight-Limited
F-Class Target Rifle (F-T/R) is capped at 8.25kg (18.18lb) and restricted to .223 or .308. The front support must be a bipod attached to the rifle, with no separate front rest allowed. That single rule changes what a good F-T/R stock looks like. It needs a forearm that mounts a bipod solidly and a design that keeps weight in check while still damping recoil.
McMillan Stocks: The F-T/R Benchmark
McMillan is one of the most established names across F-Class, and McMillan designed its XIT stock specifically around F-T/R’s rules. It features a 4-way adjustable buttplate that rotates and adjusts in-out, up-down, and side-to-side. A cheekpiece that adjusts for height and side-to-side position pairs with the buttplate. This lets the stock fit precisely to the shooter, rather than the other way around. Finished and bedded, the XIT comes in at around 5lb, leaving plenty of the F-T/R weight allowance for barrel and action.
McMillan also sponsors F-Class teams in both divisions, which says something about how widely its stocks are used at the top end of the sport. That popularity also means it’s a known quantity: reliable, well-documented, and easy to get bedding and fitting advice for.
Tooley MBR: The Aftermarket Composite Choice
The Tooley MBR (Multi-role Bench Rifle) stock has built a strong reputation as an aftermarket composite option. It’s particularly popular with shooters building F-Open rifles intended to be shot off the bench and a front rest rather than a bipod. The McMillan XIT is purpose-built around F-T/R’s bipod rule. By contrast, the Tooley MBR suits shooters who want a traditional stock silhouette but with the flat, wide forearm that sits confidently in a front rest.
Shooters moving between benchrest and F-Open often gravitate toward the Tooley MBR for exactly this reason. It offers one stock profile that behaves consistently across both disciplines, rather than needing a dedicated rifle for each.
Eliseo Competition Machine: The Tubegun Route
Gary Eliseo’s Competition Machine takes a different approach entirely. Rather than a traditional moulded composite stock, Eliseo tubeguns use an aluminium chassis with a rigid forearm attachment, the “PickleFork.” It’s built to be completely free of flex or twist, so the rifle tracks straight under recoil instead of torquing sideways.
The PickleFork forearm is specifically designed to let shooters convert a tubegun originally set up for bipod use into an F-Open configuration that runs off a front rest. Shooters who already have an Eliseo chassis from Palma or F-T/R shooting may want to try F-Open without building a second rifle from scratch. For them, this is usually the most direct route in.
Comparing the Three at a Glance
| Stock | Best Suited To | Construction | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| McMillan XIT | F-T/R (bipod) | Moulded composite, ~5lb bedded | 4-way adjustable buttplate & cheekpiece |
| Tooley MBR | F-Open (front rest), benchrest crossover | Moulded composite | Flat, wide forearm for front-rest stability |
| Eliseo Competition Machine | F-Open conversions from Palma/F-T/R tubeguns | Aluminium chassis, PickleFork forearm | Converts an existing tubegun to run off a front rest |
Matching Your Stock to Your Front Rest
Whichever stock you choose, it only performs as well as the rest underneath it. A wide, flat forearm needs a rest with a matching wide bridge and a stable base. We cover this in detail in our guide to choosing the right rifle front rest for every discipline. If you’re building an F-Open rifle around a Tooley MBR or an Eliseo PickleFork conversion, check that your rest’s bridge width and elevation range suit the forearm. Do this before you commit. Mismatched geometry is one of the most common, and most avoidable, causes of an F-Open rifle that won’t track consistently off the front rest.
Conclusion
There isn’t a single “best” F-Class stock – there’s a best stock for your division and your existing setup. If you’re shooting F-T/R, the McMillan XIT remains the benchmark for a reason. If you’re building a dedicated F-Open rifle from the ground up, the Tooley MBR gives you a traditional composite stock shaped around front-rest use. And if you already own an Eliseo tubegun and want to try F-Open without starting over, the PickleFork conversion is the shortest path there. Whichever you choose, pair it with a front rest that matches its geometry before your first competition, not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same stock for F-Open and F-T/R?
Not usually. F-T/R requires a bipod and caps weight at 8.25kg, while F-Open allows a front rest and up to 10kg. A stock built around one division’s rules is rarely ideal for the other.
Do I need a tubegun to shoot F-Open competitively?
No. Traditional composite stocks like the Tooley MBR are shot successfully in F-Open. A tubegun chassis like Eliseo’s is one route in, particularly if you already own one, but it isn’t a requirement.
How much does stock choice actually affect accuracy compared to the barrel or reloading?
Stock choice mainly affects consistency and recoil management rather than raw accuracy potential. A stock that fits you and tracks straight under recoil helps you call your shots and stay on the rest shot after shot. That matters just as much as barrel quality or ammunition consistency over a full match.
Is a heavier stock always more stable?
Not necessarily. Within your division’s weight limit, stability comes more from a wide, flat forearm and correct bedding than from raw weight. Both McMillan and Tooley stay well under their divisions’ weight caps while still delivering a stable platform.