Wood or polymer stock?
- Thread starter HALLAUSTIN
- Start date
MOshooter65202
New member
I really like the looks of wood,but have been hunting with kevlar stocks mainly.
Pathfinder45
New member
Plastic Heirloom?
I'll be d****d if anyone will inherit a plastic-stocked rifle from me!
I'll be d****d if anyone will inherit a plastic-stocked rifle from me!
Pathfinder45
New member
Plastic Heirloom?
I'll be d****d if anyone will inherit a plastic-stocked rifle from me!
I'll be d****d if anyone will inherit a plastic-stocked rifle from me!
stubbicatt
New member
I prefer wood for how it feels against my face, and the elegance it imparts to blued rifles. If a stainless rifle, or one that sees more serious usage, then a nice plastic stock is ok. I only ever owned one really "quality" plastic stock, the one that came on my 40XB-KS. I don't know what brand it was.
Either is OK I guess.
Either is OK I guess.
polymer isn't always lighter. I like the look of wood but I'd have to say that a synthetic material has the tactical advantage. Every tree is different. This means that wood stocks will vary in weight and density with each tree. Not consistent, it's the same with guitars, even identical model guitars will sound different and can weigh considerably different weights, for otherwise being identical. Polymer will be more stable in different weather conditions and should handle the barrel heating more tolerably.
On the other hand, I have heard accounts of certain wood stocked rifles being consistently more accurate than the same model with a polymer stock. This obviously isn't true for all rifles.
On the other hand, I have heard accounts of certain wood stocked rifles being consistently more accurate than the same model with a polymer stock. This obviously isn't true for all rifles.
Pathfinder45 said:
My daughter will get a few with "Plastic Stocks" and I think most people would be proud to own these.
Kevin Weaver custom .338-06 Win M70 Classic SS with McMillan Hunters Edge stock and 2.5-8X36 Leupold VX3.
Win M70 Classic FWT .30-06 with McMillan Hunters Edge stock and 3-9X40 Leupold VX-II.
Win M70 EW .270 Win, B&C stock, and 6.5-20X44 PA Vortex Viper.
Here is one I already bought for her. Kevin Weaver custom Mini Mauser .250-3000, High Tech stock, 2-7X33 Leupold VX1 (not pictured).
Rumpelhardt
New member
I have both. Prefer wood. As for polymer stocks lasting longer I have one rifle that is nearly 90 years old with a walnut stock that is as nice as new that would attest to the fact that for practical purposes this is a moot point.
I enjoy both. I prefer wood and blue steel, but use the synthetic on days when rain seems more likely. Not that I'm too particular about getting the wood wet, but the synthetic shoots equally well and the action has the weather shield coating which makes me feel better about taking it out in the rain.
of course my wife considers that just an excuse to buy another rifle. That's okay, I have plenty more excuses
of course my wife considers that just an excuse to buy another rifle. That's okay, I have plenty more excuses
), but I am a modernist rather than a traditionalist. I prefer synthetic furniture, and phospate coating over blueing.
Best of both worlds
I mentioned "laminates" in post # 39. I haven't hunted in the rain with either of
these yet, but have confidence in both of them. The black laminate is my son's
Spanish mauser, mine is a German mauser, both will print 2"-3" groups @ 100 yds, when we do our part.
89459 89460
I mentioned "laminates" in post # 39. I haven't hunted in the rain with either of
these yet, but have confidence in both of them. The black laminate is my son's
Spanish mauser, mine is a German mauser, both will print 2"-3" groups @ 100 yds, when we do our part.
89459 89460
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silvrjeepr
New member
I like wood with laminates coming in a close second. I use the poly furniture on rifles that take a beating in the woods though. I would rather beat up an already ugly poly stock than a nice wood one.
Justice06RR
New member
I have both polymer and wood stocks in my rifles, but in general I prefer wood stocks for the look and feel of the wood.
Pathfinder45
New member
Plywood?
And now we're talkin' 'bout plywood stocks! Well I've got one of 'em, I'm ashamed to admit. Maybe not quite as blasphemous as plastic but I still ought to trade it out for Walnut.
And now we're talkin' 'bout plywood stocks! Well I've got one of 'em, I'm ashamed to admit. Maybe not quite as blasphemous as plastic but I still ought to trade it out for Walnut.
Very accurate rifles have been made with all sorts of stock material. Some were stiffer than others. The only ones I've heard of that caused problems were the early synthetic ones used on match conditioned M1, M14 and M1A rifles.
It's normal that a match rifle will lay horizontally on a shooting stool top between fired matches. The sun light/heat beating down on them warms up their sunny side much moreso than their shady side. That expanded the synthetic more on hot side of the stoc, Which bent the stock enough that zero's would change; the stock's fore end ferrule pushed the barrel's lower band with more force actually bending it a tiny bit out of a normal position. Wood stocks of maple, walnut, even birch, solid and laminated never had this issue.
This never happened with bolt guns whose barrels were totally free floated and only their receiver was epoxy bedded in the stock. Any stock bending from temperature differences from side to side were not enough to bend the receiver any amount to noticably cause a zero shift.
As long as any synthetic stock's rigid enough or has enough clearance between barrel and fore end so when the fore end bends when holding it to shoot, or from temperature differences across it, the barrel does not touch the stock.
It's normal that a match rifle will lay horizontally on a shooting stool top between fired matches. The sun light/heat beating down on them warms up their sunny side much moreso than their shady side. That expanded the synthetic more on hot side of the stoc, Which bent the stock enough that zero's would change; the stock's fore end ferrule pushed the barrel's lower band with more force actually bending it a tiny bit out of a normal position. Wood stocks of maple, walnut, even birch, solid and laminated never had this issue.
This never happened with bolt guns whose barrels were totally free floated and only their receiver was epoxy bedded in the stock. Any stock bending from temperature differences from side to side were not enough to bend the receiver any amount to noticably cause a zero shift.
As long as any synthetic stock's rigid enough or has enough clearance between barrel and fore end so when the fore end bends when holding it to shoot, or from temperature differences across it, the barrel does not touch the stock.