quote:

Originally posted by FMC:

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
I don't mean to be rude, but frankly my dear, I don't give a damn what they say 30 or 40 years from now, especially about choices I make about gunstocks. I may care about something else, but not that. It never occured to me, until you mentioned it, and I still don't care.

One thing is probable, however, the McMillan may actually be the subject of such an event 30 or 40 years from now, regardless of the amount of use it is subjected to. The more the better, to stir the amazment and appreciation of the Nimrods of the future. The wood stock, on the other hand, will be the subject of pity, nostalga or joy, completely dependant of the amount of use it sees over the years, as exemplified by the safe queens and museum pieces displayed on this very forum, and gushed over by aficionados of the organic masterpieces.
KB

Don't forget at least the McSwirlys will still hold point of aim in 40 years.

The aforementioned wooden customs never will, but then again they don't shoot wortha shit when they come from the builder anyway.

I wonder "what are they thinking" now as the wooden stocked express-stalker mauser rifle looked like dogshit 40-50 years ago.......a stock designed (and suited) for dangerous game hunting, useless for the majority of other hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
I have several rifles with what I call really good walnut stocks, not superior, but good solid pieces. All walnut is not the same. I have one stock that wanders depending on the humidity in the air, and the temp, and I've so-called sealed that moisture sucker several times. The odd thing is that particular stock has good grain flow and layout, very nicely quarter sawn for a factory stock. Another odd or funny thing about that stock is that I can see it has moved, by looking at the little gap in the barrel channel. Sometimes the gap is bigger on one side, and the next time it's bigger on the other side. But I have not yet been able to prove that it affects accuracy, since the darn rifle shoots good groups regardless which side of the barrel channel it favors one day compared to the next. It's just messing with me - I know it just has "character".

The other walnut stocks I own have proven to be very stable and reliable. They are all glass bedded, and will shoot groups equal to any of my synthetic stocked rifles. The difference is that when I choose a rifle to take hunting in Alaska, generally it ain't predicted to be a nice dry day out, and I'll reach for a McMillan stocked rifle most of the time, and a Hogue most of the remaining times. I can't even remember the last time I actually hunted with a walnut stocked rifle in Alaska, but I take them to the range, with a roof cover, and shoot them in the rain or snow, and develop loads, and dream of nice weather and deer or hog hunting down south. They are still very enjoyable rifles to own. In fact, I think my most accurate rifle wears a walnut stock, but it's still a fair weather rifle to me.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
It's paint - right?

No that is not paint, and yes you are wrong. However it is intended to be painted.

It has been my understanding that there are two options with McMillan stocks. (1) Molded in color or (2) paint. Generally, there is no point to the molded colors if the intent is to paint over it anyway. And the same applies to a molded in color that's just one color.

That doesn't look like a molded in color to me, but instead perhaps a primer oversprayed after the stock was removed from the mold.

Also that little chip near the forend checkering is a givaway. Looks like a paint chip to me.

I don't mind being wrong, and of course I have these tokens to use up, so I'll risk being wrong again by belaboring the question. Besides, an orange painted stock is a good enough cause to use up a few wrong tokens.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:
That chip is a chip in the Gel Coat.

What in the world do you think is under McMillan paint?

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
My McMillan's have been black. Boss Hoss, I believe you have Polane on yours. Nasty stuff, but very tough.
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
The inletting on a McMillan anticipates glass bedding, with minimal fitting beforehand by the gunsmith.

I finally looked up Polane to figure out what it is. Now I know it's a two component polyurethane paint. http://www.designoctaves.com/pdfs/sherwin.pdf

Tough as Polane may be, it certainly ain't tougher than a McSwirley, which has a gel coat finish. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelcoat

Black may be tasteful to some, but it's so boring to me. Besides, the gel coat finish is ready to go with no further work. Just bed the barreled action in and take her to the range.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by Boss Hoss:

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
The inletting on a McMillan anticipates glass bedding, with minimal fitting beforehand by the gunsmith.

Besides, the gel coat finish is ready to go with no further work. Just bed the barreled action in and take her to the range.
KB

Guess it depends on the Smith. Mine prefers to inlet them himself. Just depends on who is doing the work and what level of precision he or she requires.

Additionally, the plastic feel of the Swirly feels cheap to me.

quote:

Originally posted by Nomo4me:
God Kabluewy, you are just inviting BH to drag out pictures of his 12" prosthesis dong, sure to be more manly, expensive and handsome than whatever you possess. You keep wrestling with him you'll surely be covered in mud.

quote:

Originally posted by dempsey:
Kabluey, no offense but your pictures sorta backfired. You could hide a popsicle stick in the gaps

quote:

Originally posted by dempsey:
The Swirly patterns just make me ill, a personal preference. If I were into the benchrest thing my stocks would be painted some wild candy apple red color ....

On wood, most probably like the beauty. Each piece is a unique piece of mother natures splendor. I'm in that camp. I also like crafting my own.

Crafting lines that are pleasant to the eye yet functional is also challenging. It is art and craft rolled into one. Taking the rifles I stock into the field brings me much more pleasure than an off the shelf McMillan and glassing it in.

In the end one can have a rifle that he has a deep investment in emotionally that is just as functional as a Rem 700 with a re-barrel glassed into a McMillan. Is it needed to go hunting and enjoy it, of course not. I just like wood, I have blanks hanging in my shop that likely will never see a chisel or rasp in my life time, I just like them like other may like a water color hanging in their family room.