Synthetic stocks - I just can't do it!
 

Folks, I'm going to buy a new .243. I'm looking at bolt actions, beyond that I don't think the details are important.

It's primarily for coyotes and fox, although I want it to do double duty for open range whitetails. I'm not going on safari or "trip of a lifetime" pack-in hunts, so it won't be enduring extreme use. The gun won't be my primary gun for anything, although I'll probably run 500 rounds a year through it at yotes and pasture poodles. But as far as being out in bad conditions or the gun getting beaten like a rented mule, it won't happen.

So here's the thing. Everyone, it seems, is telling me to get the synthetic stock. And they all have their horror stories about broken stocks on the trip of a lifetime, grandpappy had his stock swell and he missed the whitetail of a lifetime, etc, etc.

But I can't freaking do it. I just cannot embrace all the perfectly logical points in favor of synthetic because I think they're freaking ugly. The only "pro" I can come up with for wood stocks is that in some rifles they are slightly lighter than the factory synthetic stock.

I don't have any other reason other than the fact that beyond the shooting characteristics of a rifle, I like to look at guns and synthetic stocks just don't look good to me.

Has anyone else had the same predicament when buying new?

Is this really a deal where I'm absolutely nuts for buying a wood stocked gun in this day an age?

If you think I'm nuts, give me the reasons beyond the fact that a horse can fall on your synthetic stock because this is for my needs per above, not yours.

Grouse

All my rifles and shotguns have wood stocks, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Never had a failure or an accuracy issue in 46 years of hunting. A beautiful stock is a thing to behold.

I don't think you are nuts at all. I much prefer walnut stocks over synthetic stocks.

i have had no problems with synthetic stocks and now prefer them over wood. i got tired of scratch all over my wood stocks ,when a synthetic get scratched i just paint a new camo pattern on it.

I like beautiful wood but most of my rifles are synthetic. I just don't want the stress of damaging a beautiful woods stock.

The higher end synthetics can be nice and feel good. The lower end stuff is junk.

Tom

I agree I just can't like synthetic stocks, even the better top of the line ones feel strange to me. Most of mine are nice confiquired walnut wood stocks, however I do have few nice laminated versions that work well for me in less than favorable weather/element conditions. They feel more like solid wood to me, you might look into one of those. The Ruger 77R's and Ruger #1's I have I like very well.
Just my 2 cents....

Guys, I appreciate the feedback.

I think one other thing feeding my Stock Anxiety Disorder is that just as a guess, I'd say about 75% of what I see on the racks in gunshops is now synthetic. Now that's not an exact figure, but it's way over half.

That kind of thing kind of got me thinking that maybe I was living in the past, but I just couldn't pull th trigger so to speak.

Grouse

I see a gun as a tool, I have wood, laminate and synthetic stocks. Don't really see much of difference besides weight but that's just me. That being said I have switched my primary hunting rifles over to laminate from synthetic. More of a recoil reduction measure than anything else. Look at it this way, if you can't find what your looking for with wood or laminate, buy the synthetic and get a replacement stock. I'm kind of partial to the Boyd's JRS Classic myself.

By the way I notice your user name " The Famous Grouse ", read much WEB Griffin?

I think your situation is a perfect one for a laminate stock.. A little more durable than wood, and a lot better to look at than synthetic. I have wood, syn and laminate and I like all of them for different reasons.... Climbing a tree or raining?? Synthetic, Big comfy box blind??? Wood...

there's a big difference from the junker cheapo synthetic stocks IMO than from a nice quality synthetic stock, the stock on my .340wby, the fibermark is 100x nicer than the standard synthetic stock wby uses....

keep an eye out for a nice synthetic, not just the plain cheap ones.

The solution to you problem lies with laminate wood stocks. They're a bit heavier than wood, but when properly clear-coated, just as stable as synthetic, and as durable as either. Oh, and they look pretty nice, IMO, too.

Mike

Wood stocks are fine, my Ruger M-77 is almost 30 years old, no problems...If you ever do have a problem all you have to do is free float, pillar bed and seal the barrel channel...

I'd go with the 700 CDL...

Well I am late to this post, but better late than never I suppose.

Grouse I completely agree with you and I don't feel that I am living in the past.

Synthetic stocks have many advantages and I don't look down on anyone who chooses to purchase one. But for my money, guns should be blue and wood stocked - they just look better.

I hate the synthetic stocks on most rifles, but I can put up with an ugly stock if it is a high quality one. I don't like laminates too much either.

Rifles are just tools to me. I really don't care how they look. I pick my rifles and the parts I put on them according to how they will perform for me. Now, I try to take care of them, and in turn, they usually look nice. But I don't take care of them so they'll look nice. I take care of them so they'll perform.

Synthetic stocked rifles are easier to build than wood, that's what the shelves are full of them. Problem is a lot of the wood stocked rifles you find today have a pretty pathetic finish. The new Model 70's are a bit lacking in that department. Just get what you like. If you ding it up, so be it.

I like wood also. I only have one gun with a synthetic stock and it's an 870 turkey gun. As far as worrying about the wood swelling, I remove the stock and coat everything thats hidden with Formsby's tung oil finish. I don't think that some manufacturers worry about what can't be seen, and any unfinished wood will soak up water. You don't have to make it pretty, just protect it.

you dont apprieciate a sythetic stock until youve spent any real time hunting waterfowl. I also think a walnut/ gloss buled gun w/ dings and scratches on it is uglier that a black plactic workhorse anyday, my guns go in the safe when Im not using them so I dont really care how pretty they are anyway, if I want to hold somthing pretty Ill take my gibson SG out of the case.(hope my wife doesnt read that last part:))

I actually like synthetic stocks more than wood just for the durability. In my opinion you just can't beat the look of a beautiful wood stock.

To each his own in this department. My Model 700 SPS Stainless has a pretty ugly stock but I'm ok with it for the most part, but the gun its self topped with a Leupold VXIII is deadly accuracte and serves its purpose as a tool.

There is something to be said about a beautiful wood stock though...Some guns I have seen I would have issues with them being furniture let alone taking them out in the rain and snow to bump em off trees..

I think there are guns you hunt with and guns you look at....thats just me...

I prefer wood and choice given I'll pick it everytime. However are certain rifles and uses where syth. stocks just make more sense, so own a couple of them as well. Your money & your situation so you make the call!

I'm in my mid sixties and would guess most of you have had a lot more hunting and shooting experience than Iv'e had. Iv'e hunted a little here and there most my life, but mostly woodchucks and varmints, but had to add my two cents worth on this subject. Having never had the opportunity to take a good rifle out in harsh weather or rough conditions, my small select collection looks real good. The few times in a gun store that Iv'e even held a synthetic stocked rifle, it didn't even feel right. My rifles are in a glass fronted gun case and I can't imagine showing them to a friend or co-worker and basking in their ohhs and ahhs over black plastic? No thanks, everyone of my good looking wood stocked rifles shoots very well, plenty accurate enough for hunting and a couple of them are real eye candy. I completely understand wringing the last ounce of accuracy out of a rifle and I'll admit the synthetics are a more stable material, but you still have to look at them. I will also admit it's very rewarding to put the gun down, look thru the spotting scope and see one ragged hole downrange.----------John

For me it's a tool.



I'll save the wood for the furniture.

There is no doubt they have their place. I'd rather hunt in the rain than sit inside during deer season. They're certainly not bought because they are pretty. A stainless barrel and synthetic stock may save your season.

Hey Pursuit, you might want to try a better picture next time. There is some big brown thing blocking the end of the barrel.

:hail: Smartass.

RP,
Those are some brutes, and beautiful country.

That's some serious mass. That deer ain't fooling around :D

Well, let us say the hunter makes their own actuality. And in my world, I would pull the trigger on d) all of the above.

RP, some very nice animals taken there.

But you didn't exactly say one way or the other. Are you a fan of synthetic stocks? ;)

Grouse

I have mostly syn stocks on my rifles but not because i don't like wood. I have 2 wood stocked rifles as well. I did it because of price. I don't have any issue with syn stocks in fact i prefer them with the weather we get here in Wisc during our deer season. I also see a rifle as a tool. If it's accurate and fits you, then i could care less what stock it has. Black stocks look tactical, wood stocks look traditional. That's how i see it.

for my next gun i wanted a laminate stock but just found a nice 7mm-08 with a syn stock and stainless barrel that may end up in my cabinet. Now i am comfused.

A few guys that hunt in our group have wood stocks on guns over 30 yrs old. They are all chipped and beat up. I know i said they are tools of the trade, but it just screams "I don't take care of my stuff".

Nice pics, and...
 

I don't have all the "harvest" pics that RP has. What I do have is a Brown Precision stock with a Husqvarna barreled action. The whole gun with a Leupold 2x7 and loaded mag with sling weighs 7# even. It holds nice at that weight because it is muzzle heavy. Aims well. Another factor is reliability. Sighted in last night for PA rifle season. First 3 shots about 1.5" high, centered, in a nice sub 1" group. It seems to do that every year. Some wood stocks will do some of the above, few if any will do all of the above. BTW, I painted mine to look like wood and finished it with Tru-Oil. Doesn't look too bad.:)