Either style will give you a more comfortable grip, myself, I prefer a thumbhole just due to the looks!. Bedding the actionand floatting the barrel channel will aid in accuracy, the trigger is definatly a must!. I would take care of those things befor I decided to change the barrel, I have a Rem. BDL in 25-06 that shoots sub moa with the factory barrel, no point in changeing it until it gets shot out!.