I was wondering if anyone hear had the 550 american safari in 458 lott with the laminated stock.I was wondering if these stocks were holding up or if they had to be worked before firing. (glassbedding and crossbolts)I handled one in the local shop today and it seamed like a solid rifle . action and trigger were fine and the weight was perfect . It was selling for $994 but i think i could do better.

Tanoose, I don't know about the laminated stocks,(sorry) but as far as price goes check at http://www.budsgunshop.com .They have them for about a hundred bucks cheaper. I have bought several guns from them and their prices and service are great.

The laminates are only as strong as the veneers that comprise them (birch plywood). The Serengetti stocks "wood" be best, being made of thicker walnut layers.

It is a fallacy to think that laminates hold up better to recoil splits and compression by tightening of action screws, than good walnut.

Laminates surely are better at holding zero with humidity changes, maybe more resistant to softening with age and oil, and may be heavier.

Walnut and laminates alike ought to be cross bolted and glass bedded, and don't forget the pillars.

Laminates are O.K. if you don't have good walnut or a synthetic (which is best of all).

Hi RIP, so you think your first choice would be a synthetic stock? i have been thinking on buying the model with the walnut stock and then i was going to have McMillan bed there synthetic stock as they do make one for the american safari.I was hoping the synthectic stock would be stronger and would be a better choice in bad weather conditions in the winter.I was asking about the laminated because i thought they would be strong enough not to split and i would save myself some money. McMillan has a real nice fiber grain stock that looks like wood but is synthectic, so maybe this would be the best choice.

If you can pick a pretty walnut one and a McMillan for hunting, that is definitely the best.

The McMillan CZ 550 Magnum is taking the pounding of my 500 A-Square just fine. I have no cross bolts showing on the surface of that stock, just hidden steel "all thread" in the epoxy bedding where usual cross bolts would go, as well as pillars around the action screws, whether necessary or not.