RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

IMO, a wood stock definately is much better looking but I prefersynthetic stocks. I hunt with all my rifles and just think that the synthetic stocks are better suited for the way I use my guns. Like others have said it is more of a personal preference.

RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

I refer to my savage 10II's stock as tupperware. I am havingtroubles finding a straight comb to replace it, being a southpaw and right hand action gun. URG I now wish I would have waited till a laminate version was available. At the time boyds had a sporter that would have worked without going the custom route and I liked it better than the savage laminate plus I could have gotten it in S&P vs just nutmeg. Live and learn I guess

RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

I like wood [8D]

RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

Synthetic, not as high maintenance.

RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

Afew years ago,I'd just gotten back into hunting after nearly 20 years of dormancy. The folks I wentbirding with were carrying Benellis, & I was given a decript Wingmaster to tote around. Funny how mine was the only gun that didn't jam during that trip!. I ended up getting an 870 synthetic, because I knew it would work, and Iwanted something that I wouldn't cry over when it got beaten up.Besides, I hadn't yet acquired any hunting buddies who'd be overly impressed if I showed up in the field with a Browning Clitoris (or whatever they're called...).

Then I started to realize how much I really enjoyed hunting, & I wanted to plan my 1st big game hunt. I decided on a .30-06, and I held dozens of different models. I fell in love with the feel of the stock of the 700 CDL: it felt like it was made to fly to my shoulder. I also thought it looked awfully good, like it had a soul of its own.

Mostly, though, this riflereminds me more than a little bit of the gun my Dad has hunted with since before I was born. When I was a kid, I just always looked up to my Dad, & I figured whatever he chose must be the best. I have later come to understand that a Griffin & Howe custom mauser in 7x57 (they called it a .275Special) is a pretty damned nice rifle, no matter WHO owns it!

Since I'm not a ultra big-time hunter, I tend toward wood stocks, figuring I can fuss over them a little, and have lots of good stories & memories to pass down to the kids.

RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

The wood certainly looks better. However it scratches easier, it can crack(it's happened to me), and it is certainly heavier. All of my guns are in synthetic but I don't really care which it is. They're both good. Beware of cheap synthetic stocks though. I've seen many that could break easily.

RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

For looks, my friend learned how to spray paint his plastic stocks. He painted them in different camoflauges. It took patience and thin coats but looks surprisingly professional and is factory quality durable paint.

My favorite rifle stock is walnut thumbhole. I don't own one yet but I couldn't believe how good it felt and how much difference that hand angle can make when shooting.A gunsmith quoted meone custom fit to my Winchester for $550. I am having a hard time parting with that much money.

RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

Shato said it beautifully!!!

i enjoy wood working...kinda hopeing some of my rifles need refinished...so far i only found a reason to redo one...and i hunt with them all hard. 2 of my shotguns are synthetic..just because they would be beat if they were wooden..ive also never seen effects of temp or moister effecting my rifle stock. ill leave camp where its 70degrees and steamy right outside to rain and snow and 20-30degrees..never effected it....i heard that many times..and its very plausible..but ive never had a problem..if i lived somewhere where it rained alllllll the time or i needed light weight the wood would go..but till then ill take a nice piece of walnut!

RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

If you buy a gun to look at,wood is the better choice.If you buy a gun to hunt with,a good quality synthetic is much more stable.

RE: Synthetic or Wood
 

One thing better about wood is that if the stock is a bit too long for you, you can shave it down to the perfect fit much easier. You can do it yourself or have it done fairly inexpensively. Not so easy on a synthetic. I had one of my synthetic stocks shortened for my wife and it left some weird discoloration throughout the rest of the stock. Maybe bad quality work, but the guy warned me about cutting a synthetic stock before he did it.

Also, you can buy wood stock blanks and do pretty much anything you want with them. It's not hard to get a really custom look with the wood with just a little patience and good instructions.

I also agree that synthetics don't seem to fit as well sometimes. I think that depends on quality. The cheaper ones like you find on savages and stevens and other aftermarket stocks don't seem to fit as well as the wood replacements.