Had you rather have synthetics or wood for you all purpose shotgun?

G

gipper

Inactive
For uses of deer, turkey, and small birds; had you rather have your shotgun in synthetics or wood?

I'm not too informed about guns, used hand me down shotgun in the past, and am looking for my first new gun, an all purpose shotgun, so I'll have a few questions in the near future. Thanks.
 
wood or plastic?

That's a tough one for me. I'm not a hunter and about the only hunting I have ever done in my life is play "Duck Hunt" on the old 8-bit Nintendo entertainment system. However, I have taken a few firearms out camping and as far as pure creature comforts are concerned, the wood guns were the most comfortable. Their heat capacity isn't as much as plastic stocks and they don't freeze my poor cheek when I shoulder and sight my guns. On the other hand, plastics are very weather resistent (we all know that) and quite durable.
 
Synthetic. I like the all black look.

Even more importantly, I like the fact that I don't have to worry so much about scratches or water in the field. My synthetic stock can get soaked, and I don't care so much. With a wood stock, I'd be taking greater precautions to cover it up.

Hunted last Tuesday in the rain with a synthetic stocked muzzleloader. While I did worry about my powder getting wet (condom over muzzle), I didn't give a second thought to the stock.
 
Nothing beats the look of nice wood.I had the wood redone on my Winchester Mod. 12 and it looks beautiful.But for durability I would go for synthetic stocks on gun that sees a lot of heavy use.Don't have to worry about weather ruining nice wood , putting dings in it.HTH.

Skullboy.
 
Bismark said it best.

A gun with a fine wood stock is a thing of beauty. Plastic is ugly. I use all my guns, wood or otherwise. I am careful but don't worry excessively about dings and scuffs. It happens. ANd it can be refinished.

Wood and steel; the perfect combination.
 
I like plastic. It doesn't chip or gouge so easily, and I never worry about it getting wet in the bottom of my canoe. Plus the forend on my Mossberg came as the '80's style slick beavertail with almost no checkering and no indentation, so the conversion to a corncob synthetic set was a great improvement.
 
Ok, so are there any differences in price between the two for the same model new or used and is there a difference in recoil or handling?

Thanks.

PS. Poodleshooter, you smoked me on the checked patterning and corncob pipe conversion. We peons need simple terms. Could I get a little explanation?
 
I have two 870's, one with wood and one with plastic. Wood is better. More comfortable to shoot. I find the plastic forearm uncomfortable to shoot, also a bit slippery.

When I can find a decent piece of wood cheap I will change back!
 
As far as price, the Remington 870 express is the same price with either wood or synthetic. However express wood is not exactly good looking.

A beavertail forend is fat and usually overlaps the receiver when "Shucking". The "Corncob' forend is smaller and has a series of concentric rings rather than checkering.

Here is an 870 with a beavertail forend:
http://www.remington.com/firearms/shotguns/870EXP.HTM

I will now try to find a picture of a "Corncob" bear with me here.

Aha here it is! http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...de=IC&parentId=cat20811&parentType=index&rid=
 
I just switched back to wood. I just couldn't stand looking at the black plastic any longer. Got two nice used walnut stocks with ringed forends, I'm refinishing them now...I'll probably keep the plastic one to slap on for that especially wet nasty day in the field.
 
It is synthetic for me from here on out on working guns. Wood is pretty and warm and all of that, but I am rather hard on equipment and wood looks like it after a few seasons. If you hunt long and hard, and do not want to have to worry about scratching or nicking your gun go with plastic.
 
I can't help but think about everybody's granpappy and associated shotgunning activities of yesteryear...all wood, and (I assume, I wasn't there) no complaints about weather's assault on walnut hardware...
 
Wood, but not by a large margin. Each has its uses, and plastic stuff is quite durable.

Wood is easier to modify, for those of us that do not fit factory stocks.

Ideally, my target guns would have scrumptious wood, and my waterfowlers with Mattel stocks. In between is well, in between.
 
I want it tough. The proper test for any weapon is for it to function without fail after beating it with a 23 oz. framing hammer for 5 minutes.

Synthetic for me, please.:D
 
Either wood or plastic is fine by me. A field gun shouldn't look pretty it should be functional. If it's too pretty you just might be afraid to take it out and use it.
 
I have never broken or seen a plastic stock break, I have broken wood stocks, and seen some others broken. On a business gun I want plastic.
 
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