I have an encore with a walunt stock, and I just discovered a crack on the grip part of the stock. This is the second time this has happened,Thompson replaced it for me the first time. Plan to call them tomorrow about this one. My question is, would I be beter of with a laminated or composite stock instead of the walnut ? I would likly go with Thompson for a composite, but there are others that have laminates that look nice.Anyone ever have any dealings withBoyds or Gunstocks Inc.and their laminates?Thanks in advance. Dave

I would call T/C and get it fixed again for free and if you feel like getting another stock later you will then have two I have owned an Encore since the first year they came out and the walnut stock that came with it was flawless. I have thousands of shots through it including many .308 and 22-250 rounds as well as the blackpowder rounds.

This does happen when you use real wood. A buddies dad had to have a new stock put on twice with his New Englander. T/C took care of him just fine.

Send it back again. All it costs you is around $5 to ship the stock-onlywith $200 insurance thru Fed-Ex.

I prefer wood over composite anyday. Laminated is nice... but that's going to cost you lots of out-of-pocket cash.

Perhaps this might help you with the next wood stock. I sealed the unfinished portions of my stock with Birchwood/Casey gunstock wax. With the way the Encore recoils with magnum loads, any added protection of the stock seems like a good idea.
I can't stand the way the synthetic stock feels on the Encore. The plastic stock on a CVA Kodiak I once owned felt far more substantial, IMO.

I put a boyds pepper laminate thumbhole stock & forearmon my encore,I bought it unfinished the instructions boyds includes arefairly helpfuland from start of sanding to finishing the coats of poly-urethane in took right at a week. I have used it for a couple of seasons and I am very happy with its fit and the way it looks on my stainless encore 209x50 http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n172/lowtempguru/encore.jpg

I usually prefer the practicality of the synthetic stock to the better looks of the wood stocks on my guns. But, I felt my Encore Muzzleloader was better balanced with the wood stock.

Just my personal preference, but I would stay with thewood stock.

I'm not surprised your stock cracked there ,mine did that years ago.
send it in they will replace it . but you will be better off with the synthetic one .i traded my walnut set for a laminate but i have never used it . just recently i got the thumb hole stock in synthetic ,i like i,it isdifferent.
and it is some thing to get used to .ya cant reach up with your thumb and pull the hammer back like ya can with the standard stock but i do like the look. and it does have a better feelat the bench.

I called TC and they will replace the stock. I like wood stocks best , I just hope it don't crack again.Thanks