Perhaps this question has been asked (I couldn't find it) ... when comparing standard rifle stocks for the M14, how does a good walnut stock compare with a USGI fiberglass, in terms of accuracy and handling during shooting? Is a good walnut stock with tung oil greatly affected by moist weather? Is tung oil the best finish? Are fiberglass stocks significantly affected by extreme temperatures? Thank in advance, for your insights!
Walnut VS Fiberglass -- M14 Stocks?
- Thread starter degreeszero
- Start date
Unless you are constantly exposed in the hot humidity and treading through the rivers/swamps of Vietnam for an undetermined time period, I would worry about the walnut stock. It is true that all wood stocks are affected by climate but exposure time is another consideration. Tung oil is standard in these stocks. Removing tung oil from the stock is unlikely. In fact, tung oil is probably the best for its use to stabilise the wood and protect against water.
USGI fiberglass is great to mitigate that however.
USGI fiberglass is great to mitigate that however.
Walnut is lighter by a couple of ounzes than the Fiberglass.
Fiberglass is way more restent to dent's, ding's & damage from the element's.
Walnut look's much nicer than Fiberglass.
Fiberglass is way easier to bed than Walnut & last's longer too.
All in all it depends on what you like. Me personaly, I like the look of wood and steel but I do own a fiberglass M14 too. I just happen's that it was tweeked by the M14Doctor.
Fiberglass is way more restent to dent's, ding's & damage from the element's.
Walnut look's much nicer than Fiberglass.
Fiberglass is way easier to bed than Walnut & last's longer too.
All in all it depends on what you like. Me personaly, I like the look of wood and steel but I do own a fiberglass M14 too. I just happen's that it was tweeked by the M14Doctor.
i don't know whether it was a straight replacement across the board, but every ISREALI surplus( ex-usgi) m14 i've seen has a fiberglas stock- that makes me wonder if it wasn't done at turn-in before shipment as well as with"new issue"
In my opinion it's a matter of your personal preference, your environment and function. I have both synthetic and wood stock for my M1A ... I've used both in spring, summer, fall and winter ... well basically summer and winter for me ... HAHA! Synthetic was cold on the hands ... wood was not. Synthetic takes a beating on the tundra, wood not so well. Personally I prefer the wood on my M1A, but have a McMillan synthetic on my shorty. Do you hunt or target shoot or do matches with yours is another question ...
Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
FWIW, once Marstar brings in cheap, nice and plentiful M14 USGI wood stocks from Fred's inventory in the states, I intend to buy an unissued quality walnut stock and a lace-on leather pad and will replace my fibreglass one with that. Not because I like walnut better on a shooter, but because cosmetics do matter. If I was just interested in shooting tiny groups, I'd only shoot my M14 mounted in a chassis.
The issue synthetic stock increases the muzzle jump due to the different balance. M1A's with either, weigh the same, according to SA Inc. Walnut is prettier. Feels better too. However, like Otokiak says, it's a personal preference thing.
"...walnut stock with tung oil greatly affected by moist weather..." Properly applied, tung oil gives a hard waterproof finish to wood. With the added advantage of just needing a bit more oil rubbed in to make any scratches disappear. Scratch a synthetic and you have much more work to make it go away.
"...walnut stock with tung oil greatly affected by moist weather..." Properly applied, tung oil gives a hard waterproof finish to wood. With the added advantage of just needing a bit more oil rubbed in to make any scratches disappear. Scratch a synthetic and you have much more work to make it go away.
my new M14SA2 "hunter tactical" is made the way a M14 composite stock should have been made from the get go..... but the methods may not be deemed suitable to mass production like those used for the manufacturing of the standard usgi fiberglass stocks.
My stocks start out on an action mold, allowing the stock to be constructed to near completion as a ONE PIECE unit, no joins, seams ect. materials are applied in such a way to add tensile and shear strength, completely eliminating any flex in the forestock.
ALL the benefits of a hard wood stock, but with the added advantage of being suitable for all weather environments. my dial up connection is just not suitable for posting pics but I'll be taking a trip down to the land of high speed in a couple weeks and I'll have some awesome pics to dump on you all
My stocks start out on an action mold, allowing the stock to be constructed to near completion as a ONE PIECE unit, no joins, seams ect. materials are applied in such a way to add tensile and shear strength, completely eliminating any flex in the forestock.
ALL the benefits of a hard wood stock, but with the added advantage of being suitable for all weather environments. my dial up connection is just not suitable for posting pics but I'll be taking a trip down to the land of high speed in a couple weeks and I'll have some awesome pics to dump on you all
the chinese specialize in zytel...... resin filled nylon. not very paintable, not customizeable as most glues, epoxies and resins will not adhere to the stocks. remains to be seen how they will stand up for the guys who shoot a lot and keep thier barrels hot.
I can't see fred being too concerned about filling orders destined for the canadian market. Everything with Fred is fred's way or the highway, don't like it too bad kind of business mentality. And besides, Fred has a huge market to serve in the states. I could be wrong but i wouldn't hold yer breath waiting for those.
what we need is someone with a stock duplicator set up for production to start crankin them out here in canada. LOADS of quality birch in canada..... I got a forest of em all around my place hehehehe
Word around the campfire is Fred's isn't filling any orders anymore and that Marstar bought most, if not all, his stocks a few months ago. His entire business had been advertised for sale on his site for quite some time.
John posted about it maybe 6 or 8 months ago and nobody's heard tickety-boo about it since then.
I really wish Marstar would chime in and confirm or deny?
Also - please answer my PM about a walnut stock... I hate your dialup.
John posted about it maybe 6 or 8 months ago and nobody's heard tickety-boo about it since then.
I really wish Marstar would chime in and confirm or deny?
Also - please answer my PM about a walnut stock... I hate your dialup.
John did confirm yesterday on the M14 stocks update thread...
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=470241
