Help me Decide..Wood or Synthetic??

18 May 2008, 01:59

TC1

It's not from a lack of experience, it's quite the opposite. I've been through my plastic phase. If a synthetic rifle makes you feel all warm and fuzzy when you see the chipped paint and scratched plastic, then by all means have at it. It just doesn't do anything for me.

Terry

19 May 2008, 19:01

1894mk2

quote:
Originally posted by TC1:

take Ray Atkinson for example. He has been using his wood stocked M70 .300 H&H for the better part of his hunting career. It works flawlessly and never gives him a bit of trouble which happens to reflect my experience with wood stocked rifles as well. I've never seen it but I'm sure it's well worn and full of nicks and dings. I would imagine a lot of the finish is gone but it doesn't matter because the wood is now seasoned so weather doesn't affect the way it shoots anymore. I would imagine it's darker in the grip and forearm area were the oil from his hands has entered the wood. One day if the man ever stops hunting which is doubtful, he can look at that rifle and will remember the different hunts by looking at some of the wear and scars the rifle bares. Sort of a rich piece of personal history and a family heirloom. For me a plastic stocked rifle will never be able to achieve that sort of status. Sure, a wood stocked rifle requires a little more care but I've never had a problem taking care of my stuff.

Sorry about my last post. Didn't mean to be so confrontational.

Terry

I completely agree but there is a difficult transitional phase where a rifle looks nearly new with a couple of dings that hurt. After a few more and the loss of more bluing you get over it.

Every time I look at the barrel of my 9.3 I remember taking a leak against my friends rear wheel and breaking his rear light when I turned away

19 May 2008, 19:40

TC1

Oh I agree. The 1st year I hunt a new rifle it seems every new little scratch or handling mark it gets I lick the tip of my finger and rub the spot to see if it'll come out.

But then after a few years of hunting the rifle starts to look like it has a little character and you don't seem to mind as much. As long as it's honest wear it doesn't bother me at all. Now I did have a Mannlicher-Schoenauer that fell over on a concrete floor while I was cleaning it out in the garage. It got a really nasty bruise on the forearm that I knew would steam out. After about six months I just couldn't stand to look at it anymore and stripped the stock down and fixed it.

Terry

20 May 2008, 10:29

Flippy

quote:
Originally posted by TC1:
Now I did have a Mannlicher-Schoenauer that fell over on a concrete floor while I was cleaning it out in the garage. It got a really nasty bruise on the forearm that I knew would steam out. After about six months I just couldn't stand to look at it anymore and stripped the stock down and fixed it.

Terry

Been there, done that.

---Mike

22 May 2008, 20:18

Atkinson

My old 300 H&H is a custom rifle. I built it many years ago, so I do have an advantage there without a doubt. Today some would say it is Stainless steel because it lacks much blue, the stock is dinged an rough and reminesent of driftwood, but it still shoots under an inch, and I have not had to touch the adjustments on it for over 10 years..It is glass bedded as it was not a 300 H&H in its early life, in fact its had several barreled actions in it, but its been a 300 for I guess about 40 years..The stock was my first..

As to plastic, they are not indestructable, I have repaired a bunch of them snapped at the wrist, melted by the camp stove, warped in the heat of a car...Again anything made by man?

Bottom line is it is argueable, so best for folks to make up their own minds and to each his own..I have chosen wood and it works for me and I have used them all over the world. I can say the same for Gumboot except he likes those plastic monsters and they work for him!

23 May 2008, 14:00

gumboot458

If I lived full time in the Artic I would use wood stocks , as dry wood is not very affected by the cold ,,, Seal it up good and have at er .....

Laminate is a nice way to go ,, I sure like the one on my 9.3x64 .....Ther new Ruger and Remington laminated stocks with checkering are very nice IMO ....
Something that chapps me to no end is I can,t buy a duplicate Rem 721 stock in synthetic ...

23 May 2008, 17:36

Jim C. <><

"...for some reason I think I need a Sythetic stock on it.."

I want wood. But, I think YOU should satisfy YOU, not me!

26 May 2008, 01:21

Fish30114

Lamninates are nice but are heavy. Depends on some of the goals you have for your rig sometimes. I have several rigs that are synthetic to help me achieve the desired weight of that particular rig.

I love the look of wood, and have some Serengeti Laminates that are just beautiful, maybe the best of both worlds.....I like a good stable heavy rig, if I'm not going to have to lug it all over the place--I made the mistake of making a Antelope rig out of laminate, and it's just too damn heavy. Bought an Edge for it and it is the cat's meow now.

26 May 2008, 01:35

Demonical

You're going on one hunt, probably for a week. IMHO just keep the stock you have... expect to get wet but I don't see that being an issue in only one week.

If you think this will become an annual trip, or
you hunt in the rain/snow regularly, then I would get a synthetic stock. I put a fiberglas stock on both my .30-06 and my .338WM M-700's, because I do so much hunting in shitty weather. Rain, snow, sleet etc...

Now most of the other guns in my safe have wood stocks and I will carry whatever, during sunny dry days.

But when the shitty weather hits, out come either of those old faithful Remington's.