I've heard tell of of some flimsy Savage stocks, how do the Remington and Winchester synthetics do? Are they stiffer and more stable?

Yes, they are better. Many of the Winchester and Remington rifles come with HS Precision stocks. Notably the varmint models.

the remington adl synthetic is a little whippy up front, and it's got two forearm bearing bumps in which the barrel is supposed ro center. don't bet on it. my adl needed bedding and the bumps sanded away before it would shoot well. shoots like a house afire now. i don't like the feel of the material, but i REALLY like that slim wrist and the classic profile.

Can someone also shed some light on Ruger and Browning synthetics?

The Ruger is a really odd one, but I believe it's probably rock solid.

If anyone has experience with the new Browning "coated" synthetic vs. the old one, please share that as well.

The no longer sold Winchester Winlite. It was a McMillan stock, a trim blind magazine design. - Dan

If you're talking about the injectionmolded plastic, I'd say it's a toss up between Remington and Winchester.

IMHO, the best composite OEM stocks are the Bell & Carlson Medalist stocks. They come with an aluminum bedding block, and are standard equipment in most Weatherbys like the Ultra Light, Accumark, SVM, SPM, SBGM, and TRR. In fact, I remember hearing (but can't confrim) that Bell & Carlson won the contract to supply stocks for Remington's 700 VS, 700 VSSF, and 700P rifles.

These B&C stocks will do wonders for your rifle's accuracy.

Some of the new Winchester stocks have taken on a different look. Synthetic with some sort of raised rubber grips. A different look for sure, but IMO better than the Ruger synthetic from a few years ago. TTS

The Remingtons are very flimsy, you can grab it in your hands and literally twist the stock. Winchester is a little better. They are nothing compared to the Mcmillans and HS. I actually own 3 of the old school Ruger synthetics and like them a lot. Problem with the Ruger, Rem, and Win is due to the material they make them out of, it is hard to get bedding to stick to it.

The high-end Remingtons have stocks from Bell&Carlson and McMillan; i.e. the Sendero has a B&C (used to be HS Precision, then B&C, I heard they may have HS again) and the Custom Shop Mountain Rifles and AWRs have McMillan stocks.

Dogcatcher
If yo haven't done this already, it's important to de grease a stock like that and scratch it up a bit before bedding.

There is often a release agent on the stock from the factory.

All the cheaper synthetics made by Remington and Winchester are flimsy like the Savage ones. The Remington synthetic stock is very solid.

All the flimsy stocks can be "fixed" by using Acraglas or jbweld to reinforce the forearms.

I agree with Buzz. I have a Remington 700 Stainless Synthetic Mountain Rifle in .30-06 with one of those crappy Tupperware Stocks. I sanded out the forend and bedded it with forend pressure consisting of a bit of BondoGlass covered by a layer of electrical tape (believe it or not)and it now puts the first three shots into 1 inch at 200 metres.

I just handled one of the new Winchester synthetics, with raised fore-end and grip panels (on a push feed 70). This is one ugly stock. However, when I handled it, it felt quite right. Ugly is as ugly does, I guess. - Dan

Dan-----Second your opinion of the Winlite stock, probably the best made synthetic on a factory piece. I wish they would bring that one back.

FYI I just recieved a fitted and bedded Stock back from Stuart Reid for a Husky Action. This is one super product all Canucks should consider for custom units.

I am not a fan of any oinjection tupperware stocks. I prefer wood to these.

BR

As far as injection moulded and injection moulded only Ruger by far is the stiffest one out there both old model and the new model. Remington and Winchester are pretty darn flimsy and that goes as well for the Weatherby. Browning synthetic is reinforced with some partitions in the foreend but is still flimsy compared to the Ruger.

The Kevlar Mtn. rifle stocks that Remington uses on their custom shop guns are really nice. A McMillian, but at 24 ozs., not 30-32 ozs., thanks to the use of Kevlar.
I have an H-S stock on my 700 VSFS. Glass bedding did not improve it. Shoots all kinds of loads around .5 MOA.
As far as I'm concerned, all the cheap B&C, and all the injected moulded stocks are junk. The injected moulded ones are too flexable, and none of them seem to hold up in their webbing area. The ones used on the Weatherbys might be OK. I just don't know anyone who has shot one alot or had it long. The B&C I had would shift zero every 12-20 rds. This was after a good stock maker glass bedded it for me. He stopped using them shortly thereafter. E

BR, is Stuart Reid the guy on the south side who builds stocks (at the FibreGlass Store, I think)? - Dan

Dan- You are correct, My older Husky model needed a lot of fitting but the result is a truely ballanced and strong stock that has that custom feel to it. A great fit for the many great FN actions out there that need a new handle.

BR