Wood vs Synthetic, whats your stock preference?
- Thread starter FrosSsT
- Start date
Sorry, but the laminate goes all the way through. There's no coating on laminated stocks, but Marlin used to make chipboard Model 60s with a plastic simulated woodgrain covering; something like cheap wall paneling.
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I now have two stocks for my Remington 700 BDL Stainless .270 Win. One is a Sendero synthetic (take-off) and the newer one is a Stocky's Ultra-Walnut. It has two thin layers of tough carbon fiber, separated with another wood layer, inside of some nicely-figured walnut.
Both stocks are bedded to my barrelled action and the rifle's POI is within 1/4" at 100 yards with either stock. Since I don't hunt in the rain often anymore, I may hunt just with the wood stock, but if the need arises, I can have synthetic in about 10 minutes!
The walnut stock is pillar-bedded, but it was difficult to drill it out for pillars, due to the strong carbon fiber layers. On the Sendero stock, there's a layer of epoxy bedding between the aluminum bedding block and my action, to make a perfect fit.
The original stock was laminated, but it seemed to loosen up and not group well some time after bedding (not pillared). I suspect it was due to the soft birch wood used in laminates and the rounded receiver wedging it apart. Pillar bedding should be much more stable in such stocks.
JP
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I've always been a wood/blue guy. never did like synthetic/wood laminate/stainless/parkerize. that being said, the synthetic/stainless has grown on me. my next rifle just may be a .264WM built on stainless and synthetic. i have come to appreciate the "maintenance-light" characteristics.
Dr. Strangelove
New member
I like both... one for beauty and one for taking out and gettin dirty with.. kinda like women...
pabuckslayer08
New member
This all brings up a very fine point, and honeslty I dont have a answer to the OP. I have just as many synthetic guns as I do wood. One thing is for sure, all my wood guns are floated and polyed up to keep expansion down to a min. when whether gets rough in hunting conditions. I like the look of some black guns, they give a interesting spec on things and have a mean look to them. On any given day though if someone were to walk up to me and say hey man Im giving away a new rifle and have 2 left. 1 wood and 1 synthestic I would take the wood just due to value
Rifleman1776
New member
These days it boils down to a matter of taste.
There is no doubt plastic stocks are more stable and maintenance free. As is stainless.
There is also no doubt wood stocks are more attractive and, in addition to being more traditional, just feel nice in the hands.
Blued steel requires maintenance.
We have a choice, go with your wants and needs.
There is no doubt plastic stocks are more stable and maintenance free. As is stainless.
There is also no doubt wood stocks are more attractive and, in addition to being more traditional, just feel nice in the hands.
Blued steel requires maintenance.
We have a choice, go with your wants and needs.
It depends.
For a general purpose rifle, I'd rather have a good quality wood stock since I find it more aesthetically pleasing and pleasant to touch.
For a hunting rifle that might see bad weather or rough handling and conditions, a good quality synthetic stock makes a lot of sense since the deer don't care if the stock is ugly.
However, not all stocks are equal. Some wooden stocks are made of ugly or low quality wood, and may be poorly fitted, and some plastic stocks are very cheesy and flexible when they should not be.
For a general purpose rifle, I'd rather have a good quality wood stock since I find it more aesthetically pleasing and pleasant to touch.
For a hunting rifle that might see bad weather or rough handling and conditions, a good quality synthetic stock makes a lot of sense since the deer don't care if the stock is ugly.
However, not all stocks are equal. Some wooden stocks are made of ugly or low quality wood, and may be poorly fitted, and some plastic stocks are very cheesy and flexible when they should not be.
I've bought several guns with synthetic stocks. I've replaced them all with Boyd's walnut stocks. I have seen a marked improvement in the way they shoot after bedding them in the new stocks. In my opinion, most factory plastic stocks flex too much to be extremely accurate. A well bedded receiver in a solid walnut stock is the way to go, IMHO.
Here is a Weatherby Vanguard 308 I've done:
Here is a Weatherby Vanguard 308 I've done:
Bellasogno
New member
Newbie here. Wood.