Wood vs Synthetic stock

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Deersniper

Wood normally takes recoil better than Tupperware stocks. Wood has been used for along time. Laminates tend to warp easier than solid wood.

Light,cheap plastic stocks may have more recoil,but quality fiberglass and kevlar stocks arent any different than wood in the same weight class. sam.

Originally Posted by Deersniper

Wood normally takes recoil better than Tupperware stocks. Wood has been used for along time. Laminates tend to warp easier than solid wood.

I am not a real laminate fan because I like natural grain,but I have had laminates in pretty wet conditions and never noticed warpage problems.I have with natural grain wood.It depends on what they are primed with. sam.

Originally Posted by lefty o

also, many cheap synthetic stocks that come on rifles are no where near stable. some will warp worse than poorly sealed wood in a flood.

I agree.Get the cheap ones in cold or heat and check them out.They usually do ok at the range in good weather in the shade. sam.

[Midas]

Originally Posted by BigEd63

True plus I've seen some synthetics warp from mild heat, like sunlight.

They can also compress from recoil to just like porrly cured or selected wood.

The worst have been synthetic stocks for "economy" models from various brands.

However a quality synthetic stock will not give you these problems.

Warped from sunlight? are you sure that the barrel didn't get a little hot from rapid shooting? a hot barrel will tend to "walk" and string shots, which is why free floating contributes to accuracy, it gets the hot barrel away from the stock. I will agree though, the cheap synthetic stocks that come on a lot of popular hunting rifles, are not very beneficial to one that is looking for pin point accuracy.

[sc928porsche]

Oh how I hate plastic! Have you ever noticed over the years how plastic becomes brittle and even starts to turn to powder over a few decades...I also gets this white film on it and unless you are real fond of armorall products they seem to deteriorate quicker. Fiberglass does the same thing only a bit slower. Give me the wood anyday. Yes, it can crack but seldom does if it was properly "seasoned" before it was picked for use. Yes, it can and will warp if not properly sealed. There are some beautiful firearms that have the original wood on them that are over 150 years old. I would say that that meets the test of time! And one last thing, when it gets scarred and scratched up, you can sand and refinish it.

[BigEd63]

Originally Posted by Midas

Warped from sunlight? are you sure that the barrel didn't get a little hot from rapid shooting? a hot barrel will tend to "walk" and string shots, which is why free floating contributes to accuracy, it gets the hot barrel away from the stock. I will agree though, the cheap synthetic stocks that come on a lot of popular hunting rifles, are not very beneficial to one that is looking for pin point accuracy.

No I'm 100% sure as the fellow that owned it was out on the same range, read cow pasture, with me in the Summer heat and it warped while laying in the Sun temp was in the 90's. He already had previous troubles with it but that was the last straw for him.

He's restocked it and has had no troubles since. The are some stocks that have real sorry thermal properties for whatever reason.

[Rattle'em up]

Originally Posted by Idaho Dave

I agree with AKH though I dont necessarily prefer one over the other I own a lot of guns some have wood and some have synthetic. aside from the weight difference, wood being noticable heavier after a few miles of walking, I find them both to be acceptable both have good points and bad. Wood is beautiful for sure specially if it is going to be over the mantel or in the gun safe. but I use my guns a lot and I have seen wood crack, never any of mine, and I have put some dings and scratches in wood stocks. and i have seen some ugly synthetics that should be cracked. as for recoil I have a savage in 300 win mag with a synthetic stock and a rugar in 300 mag with a laminate wood stock I cant tell the difference when shooting them as to one having greater recoil then the other. its a big caliber and both kick pretty good. the rugar is a beautiful weapon with its laminate stalk and ss barrel and action. but the first couple of scratches on that stock made me want to cry, as with any fine wood stock I have used. the Savage is light, looks good in all black, wont scratch or ding very easily and is pretty weather resistant and since most of our big game hunting is done in cold wet climate it definatly has a place. I also have shotguns in both and have not really noticed any recoil differences even shooting 3.5 mag loads. but of course these are just my personal experinces and oppinions

All my wood stocks have dings and scratches and each one brings back memories of days gone by. To me it gives the rifle it's own character I wouldn't have it any other way.

Regards,Rattle'em up