Iam building a 30 ack on a vz24 action and was just going to buy a cheap synthetic stock,but never have had a laminated stock which i think look neat and supposedly dont ''move with the weather '' Boyds gunstocks have them at what seems cheap to me, the JRS copy is the one i like but iam unsure if i should get it semi inletted or part inletted or what ever? any advice on which one to get etc ,and other advice on laminated stocks pros cons ?thanks

I've got a laminated stock on a Win Model 70 that has been on there since 1986, this is one tough stock, it has been on dozens of real rough hunts and lots of bad weather and they don't move. If I remember a VIP or virtual inlet part stock is what you want from Boyds the JRS is the way to go. The VIP leaves you very little inletting work and you are in business.
You may try to get someone to checker it though, when it is cold and wet it is nice to have some checkering to grip.

I have a Boyds JRS laminate stock on my rifle. I bought the VIP stock. If fit with just a little bit of work on the barrel channel. If you want to avoid a lot of work have them fit the recoil pad. It is not that difficult but it does take a lot of time.

The laminate worked well for me. I bedded the action and floated the barrel and it shoots really well. I have heard that laminate does not hold checkering very well. It tends to crack or split off. It is also fairly difficult to do because the laminate is harder than wood and takes more effort to checker. I left mine uncheckered. I'd discuss this with a smith who is familiar with checkering laminate.

Ed Shilen showed us a laminated rifle he built in the 60s'. He checkered it and David Christman was impressed. Butch

I've got the JRS Laminate on my .458 Win and it's held up well so far. I'd get the fully inletted version personally, then a little bedding and you're ready to go.

If it was me I would pay the little extra and get the fully finished tock from Boyds. The last 2 JRS stocks I saw (one mine and the other a buddies, both for 98 actions) that were not fully finished had a barrel channel that was 1/8" deep at the end of the stock and 1/4" deep where it meets the receiver. I called Boyds and asked why they send out a stock that wasnt properly inlet an was told that how the 2 I had were within their specs. If you have never inlet a barrel channel in laminate you are in for a rude awakening. It was a royal pain in the backside. Their fully finished stocks I have seen need very little work to fit the barreled action.

Also one last word of advice. If you get the grey laminate be very careful with what finish you choose or you may get a green/yellow stock. The aeresol polyeurethane finishes will give you a green stock, but if you use an automotive clearcoat ot water base poy eurethane spray on you will get a really nice grey/black finish instead of yellow/green.

Here is a Mauser I built and stocked using the JRS.

The stock was a little on the chubby side. I shortened the forearm and hollowed out the butt and barrel channel and shed quite a bit of weight. I was in a rush to get this one to a point where I could shoot it. The stock will come off again for more slimming, it's still wider than it needs to be and the forearm can still be a bit smaller. For my truck gun it turned out real nice. This gun consistently shoots about 1".

Laminates are fine and work well but don't ever believe they're immune to warpage...they do!
Maybe not much or ofter but they do...

I still prefer the Mc Millan or Rimrock stocks if they're available for the task. Glass bed them , float the barrel and you're done.....forever...

Cheap?...no but the way to go if you want something in a weatherproof stock.

Having come full circle on stock woods I no longer think laminate is any better than a decent piece of English or even black walnut. My laminates have proven to absorb moisture and change with the seasons. Laminates checker but you must keep the lpi fairly coarse. The absolute best laminate material is Obeche from D&B supply. This stuff is fairly soft and works easy. It also checkers like regular walnut. The only problem is a blank will cost you as much as AAA grade English. Stocks are really only as good as the fitting and glass bedding anyways. If you are really in the weather a lot then a fiberglass stock is best. Even factory plastics are fine for the masses. Good shoot’n