From the responses here you would think the the question was “what do you think is pretty?”
Lol that's the CGN way; disregard original question or intent, submit your unrelated opinion or experience, and then argue about it.
Are wood stocks ever functionally better than synthetic?
- Thread starter steelgray
- Start date
Lol that's the CGN way; disregard original question or intent, submit your unrelated opinion or experience, and then argue about it.
Last edited:
not working for post canada but nothing wrong with that either ... a little elitist lately Angus ...
From the responses here you would think the the question was “what do you think is pretty?”
I dunno, I think it might be dismissive of the entire field of aesthetics to say that prettiness isn't part of functionality.
Put crassly, carry the comparison over to the woman you marry: a lot of different women can carry out the "functions" of a wife - they can have conversations with you, give you companionship, produce children, do their share of the housework, etc. Yet when we go picking a wife, what's the first thing we notice? How pretty they are of course!
Put another way, in my woodshop I take the time to stock nice tools - beautiful tools that feel good in the hand. I don't do that because anyone is watching - I work alone - but I know that there's something psychological about working with a beautiful tool versus a crappy one. A beautiful tool focuses your mind, makes you feel good about using it, instills a pride in your work, and helps you work better than you otherwise would. So certainly then how "pretty" a tool is can play a big role in its functionality.
Wow!... eloquently put!
Licensed to kill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Peace Country Alberta
I would think “no”. However, in MOST cases I believe that wood is AS functional as synthetic and, since I believe that life is too short to carry an ugly gun, I personally would never see the need to carry a synthetic stock. Interestingly, my brother bought a Kliengunther in .300wm about 40 years ago with a beautiful blonde stock that has seen some of the roughest hunting that a rifle will see and while it looks pretty rough, the wood stock has never shown any shortcomings as far as function goes. A synthetic stock would not have faired any better. Then, I had the butt stick broken off my Ruger No 1 and I doubt that it would have faired any better had the stock been synthetic. I’m the end, if I had to choose which is more durable I would say the synthetic but if we are talking about typical, realistic usage, they are probably a draw in realistic terms
Last edited:
Especially when the tool in question is one that is carried, handled and looked at far, far more than actually "used", i.e. fired.
I hunt because I derive pleasure from it. If a beautiful rifle increases that pleasure...then obviously it is functionally superior to an ugly one that adds no joy in and of itself .
Thing is you can produce synthetic for cheap, using molds.
Wood or the likes of "laminated wood / wood fibres" not so much. The wood need to be grown, harvested and stored for quite a time. It also requires more intensive machining for each piece than a plastic stock.
Saying this is a cost thing is probably correct. The casting mold for tupperware (btw. I do use tupperware) only has to be machined "once" for a specific number of casts, I don't know exactly how many, lets say in the thousands of stocks can be made without refurbishing the mold.
I think wood stocks are functionally better in very cold conditions and I dislike the sound when little twigs snap onto a hollow plastic stock while hunting in the brush.
If somebody comes up with a wood accent style handling on WK eg I'd be in for it. But cost...
Wood or the likes of "laminated wood / wood fibres" not so much. The wood need to be grown, harvested and stored for quite a time. It also requires more intensive machining for each piece than a plastic stock.
Saying this is a cost thing is probably correct. The casting mold for tupperware (btw. I do use tupperware) only has to be machined "once" for a specific number of casts, I don't know exactly how many, lets say in the thousands of stocks can be made without refurbishing the mold.
I think wood stocks are functionally better in very cold conditions and I dislike the sound when little twigs snap onto a hollow plastic stock while hunting in the brush.
If somebody comes up with a wood accent style handling on WK eg I'd be in for it. But cost...
This thread has amounted to
“ what’s better, a grade 5 walnut stock carved by a Germanic dwarf in Suhl or a savage axis synthetic stock?”
Aesthetic appeals aside; no question a high quality synthetic stock wins. Does not flex, crack, or swell from moisture. You can get some of the best synthetic stocks for less than the cost of a well cured high quality blank. Never mind duplication, carving or finish
Guys will go on about “ you don’t feel the recoil when you’re shooting game!” But complain about putting a synthetic stock to their face to shoot a game animal? Wood apparently defying the laws of thermodynamics
Buy a sling and some gloves…
“ what’s better, a grade 5 walnut stock carved by a Germanic dwarf in Suhl or a savage axis synthetic stock?”
Aesthetic appeals aside; no question a high quality synthetic stock wins. Does not flex, crack, or swell from moisture. You can get some of the best synthetic stocks for less than the cost of a well cured high quality blank. Never mind duplication, carving or finish
Guys will go on about “ you don’t feel the recoil when you’re shooting game!” But complain about putting a synthetic stock to their face to shoot a game animal? Wood apparently defying the laws of thermodynamics
Buy a sling and some gloves…
^^Since winter hunting was "invented". A time long ago when they didn't have your listed gizmos and didn't see plastic stocks deteriate in the cold and exposed to uv light.
Better don't loose it, if you need that.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You’re right, was a poor and crass analogy with regards to Canada Post. I just personally can’t work inside or behind a desk, and I like using and / or building nice rifles, with nice stocks.
I’ve used synthetics extensively, they have their place, especially on the coast. And they likely make more sense, just as a pensionable and secure career does. I’ve never been the most sensible fellow however, and I enjoy many things that aren’t the most dead sensible solution in life.
There’s more to life than pure function. We each choose which simplifications we can most easily live with, and which complications we most enjoy.
Been reading my mail? Well put Ardent...well put.
