how well do laminate stocks hold up to nasty weather conditions(high humidity), as compared to regular wood stocks. i know that synthetic stocks are supposed to be impervious to the weather, but i'm starting to like the look of some of these laminated stocks. what i really want to know is how they hold up(warping etc). thanks!

better than wood, if totally sealed, not as stable as a pure plastic

jeffe

Here's a couple of tricks to help a laminate repel water:
Seal the buttstock end and barrel channel with acraglass.
Thin polyurethane varnish with mineral spirits 1:1 and put on several light coats several days apart. The high desert in Idaho in July is when I normally schedule this type of activity (Come on up el Jeffe).
If hunting in Alaska, especially near the salt water is in your future, and you really like your gun consider NP3 on all the metal and a McMillan stock. My cousin Gene got my Rem 760 pump looking a bit nappy when he was stationed up in Anchorage.
JCN

I've only had mine for about 6 months, out in the field in a couple of mild Texas winters but so far so good. Mine is the cheap Boyds JRS Classic, the weight helps tame the 458 and it shoots really well.

I would us Lam stocks for pretty much any kind of wet weather hunting except hunting out of those dang rafts in Alaska, my 338 with Syn stock was in the bottom of a raft underwater for good while. I chose to hang on over falling out, after about the third time it slid to the bottom, I left her there. I think a lam stock would have been water logged, might not have hurt anything, but for that type of hunting prefer syn.

I have hunted all over the world with wood stocks and have had no problems...Most wood problems are figments of imaginations or poorly cured piss poor wood....and that usually includes most factory wood...

laminate is very stable if one seals it properly as stated above, same with good wood, it must be properly sealed..

Anything man made can fail, I have seen Laminate warp due to poor finish, I have seen fiberglass/plastic turn insid out under heat such as in the trunk or back window of a car or truck, or the time I enhanced the drying process of a glass bed job with a light bulb too close!! I have seen them snap at the wrist many times and have repaired them for some of our Idaho horseback hunters..

Bottom line is, unless you live in a very wet cold climate, and your gun stays out in the elements daily, use what ever you like, and what looks good to you...I like wood.

My bad weather gun is a pretty .308 with a Turkish Walnut stock that was laminated my the late Mel Smart.. I built it on my pattern and its been my standby and looks like a walnut stock...

There is a place for everything and everything needs to be in its place, common since prevails and no one material is the complete answer..