Ron I'm not doubting the abilities of a laminated stock, I have them and do hunt with them. There are a few concerns though and this is why a say what I say about the synthetic deep down. 1. You tend to "baby" the laminate more because you simply don't want to scratch or dent it at all. 2. In very harsh weather, the laminates will be affected more by the elements than the synthetic in the long run. 3. Most generally the laminates weigh more than the synthetics. For long hauls this will have a tow on the hunt. Don't get me wrong, I hunt with a laminated gun and love it, I think it is a great gun, but there are a few hangups that make me believe that the synthetic is a more versatile all around stock.