As much as I love a real dark walnut stock (the Browning A-Bolt White Gold Medallion is a thing of beauty), I just can't bear thethought of dinging or scratchingthe finishwhile tromping through the woods.Getting a second synthetic stock forsuch a rifle is a decent option, but too have found myself disliking synthetic stocks of late. I say that with one qualifier, that being that I have no experience with custom grade fiberglass and composite stocks like those madeby McMillan or HS Precision,just the typical factory synthetic fodder.

I've really gravitating toward laminate stocks.It looks and feels like wood,but has the strength, stabilityandmost of the weather resistance of synthetic, at the cost of a bit of added weight.If I wanted a super-light rifle forhard core humping through the mountainsI'dprobablygo back to synthetic, but for a medium weight sporterto heavy varmint rifle, laminate is my first choice.

Mike