The stock on my synthetic Model 700 just feels right... and it' s satisfying to know that I can take that rifle into the mountains for a week, drop it in a creek, leave it in the cold, and then wipe the snow off of it in time to take a shot at an elk. Now, when it comes down to a time when I have a little more money, maybe I' ll put some of it into a gun I can just look at. In the meantime, I have to agree with - ' it' s a tool.'