Boyds emailed back saying that stock is pre drilled but it was a very short message and didn't include info on the retainer. I don't think rigging up a retainer spring would be anything difficult would it? Probably a little dremmel work inletting.

I got ahold of my buddy with the 700 single shot short action. Bolt face is .470 for .308 case head size and he will trade me straight up for my long action 700 and one of my K98's. Never even had a barrel spun onto it so that's not as bad a deal as it sounds. Though I am still cringing a little!

Now to have a little longer and more detailed chat with Boyds and a couple other places to see about a stock without magazine inlet with this being a single shot. No need spending money for bottom metal needlessly. I'll epoxy bed the action and float the barrel. That should be plenty. If not I can always install pillars. It's not really hard to do.