Laminated stocks for big bore rifles?

[maple_leaf_eh]

The Germans ran out of good supplies of hardwood in WWII, and started issuing laminated stocks on everything from G43s to 98Ks. Nothing new about the principles, only the materials used. In the 80's Ruger (I think) was looking for ways to stock their products and chose birch wood laminates from a plant in New England. You can get more stocks out of single tree with laminates than conventional blanks. In an environmental conscious way, laminates stocks are a good thing for Mother Earth and the greenies should be complimenting us.

Are they better or worse than a single slab of lumber? For the most part, my opinion is yes. As has been said already, the glues are very strong and stable. The natural imperfections of grain, inclusions and tempermental growing conditions are just unavoidable with lumber, but much more controlable with laminates. As for the one in the picture - there is a first time for everything.

 

[elker]

In an environmental conscious way, laminates stocks are a good thing for Mother Earth and the greenies should be complimenting us.

Disagree. To laminate a stock, chemical bonding agent is used, it is harmful to the environment. Wood stock, on the other hand, is pure organic.

As for cutting trees is bad for environment, well, not always. Trees need to be cut before they get infected by insects etc. otherwise they become a safe haven for those harmful insects. The whole forest will be affected. Better management is to utilize the trees, plant new trees,....

 

[Brutus]

I have a sporter style nutmeg laminate Boyd's stock on my 458x2inch American. The 450 Marlin is nearly an exact match to this wildcat.
With some poor inletting on my part, I failed to do it right and upon firing some really stiff handloads with 405 grain bullets and alot of IMR 4198 the stock cracked at the wrist. I was about to discard it when someone smarter than myself suggested an epoxy repair to it after it was properly inletted in the rear tang area. Which I then did and that was probably about 250-300 rounds ago. No problems at all that can be seen with the human eye & the rifle shoots great with anything I can stuff into the case.

info for you

 

[BigUglyMan]

Thanks, I've got a new Ruger RSM in .458 now split at the tang in its first four rounds, so I'm a bit leery. Need to talk to someone at Ruger about that.

Whole-heartedly agree that the .375 doesn't recoil like the big bores.

Wow. I would say that was abnormal. My RSM handles the recoil of the 416 Rigby with aplomb. But there is always the exception that proves the rule.

 

[blueoval56]

I have a sporter style nutmeg laminate Boyd's stock on my 458x2inch American. The 450 Marlin is nearly an exact match to this wildcat.
With some poor inletting on my part, I failed to do it right and upon firing some really stiff handloads with 405 grain bullets and alot of IMR 4198 the stock cracked at the wrist. I was about to discard it when someone smarter than myself suggested an epoxy repair to it after it was properly inletted in the rear tang area. Which I then did and that was probably about 250-300 rounds ago. No problems at all that can be seen with the human eye & the rifle shoots great with anything I can stuff into the case.

info for you

Hey Brutus, do you mind if I ask what action you used for that build? I'm trying to plan one myself. PM if you wish.

 

[Brutus]

Hey Brutus, do you mind if I ask what action you used for that build? I'm trying to plan one myself. PM if you wish.

It was already built when I purchased it blueoval. Just your typical large ring, FN built, military K98 Mauser action friend. I replaced the first 'custom' stock because the first owner cracked his solid walnut stock in the same place. Right in the wrist area. The Boyd's stock is about 85% done as it comes from this company. If I had to replace this second stock I would have no qualms at all about getting another Boyd's. Thier quality is pretty darn good IMO.

Cheers..............