Folks,

I've been thinking recently about building a "carbine" size rifle. As I've been searching for ideas, I began to wonder whether a Mannlicher stock combined with a straight, English-style grip would be feasible. (Think of a fine English double shotgun.) So far I have yet to see this type of configuration so that leads me to believe that this may not be the best set-up for a rifle.

FWIW, I was considering the following:

- Standard length commercial Mauser 98 action.
- 20" Pac-Nor bbl., #3 contour.
- 6.5x57 Mauser as my first choice, 6.5x54 M-S as second.

Bottom line: Would that straight grip be too inherently weak, even if the rifle is chambered in a fairly low pressure cartridge? (Please correct me, but from I can tell both the 6.5 Mauser and 6.5 M-S are considered relatively low pressure.) I also think that proper stock blank selection would play a role.

Thanks in advance for any input.

P.S. Is there a certain type of walnut (claro, bastogne, english) that has more inherent strength than other species? Of course, grain structure and figure will factor in as well.