Different SKS stocks (original, not aftermarket) - affect performance in any way?

A

axemaster8

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Hello fellow nutters,
An SKS has been an itch ive so far been able to hold off on scratching. However ive been starting to look into them a little bit more now. When I get one it will be kept in original condition (no aftermarket stuff).
My question is: is there any difference to performance/durability of hardwood vs laminate sks original stocks?
 
Stripes said:
From what I've gathered laminate stocks are more durable. Performance wise I don't think there's much of a difference, at least I haven't noticed a difference
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It seems to be more the fit of wood to metal (or plastic to metal if aftermarket) that affects the performance than the material that it is made of.

If I were looking for one I would try to find either original matching stock (if possible, but not likely if it is a refurb) or one that sits as tight into the stock as reasonable with no wiggling.

One thing I have noticed is that the laminate stocks tend to vary more in the thickness around the wrist of the stock, most of the birch seem pretty consistently sized, but some laminate seemed thicker, some others slightly thinner. I don't know if there were changes to the deisgn or maybe different tolerances at different plants, or at different times over the lifespan of the sks, or maybe some have been sanded down as part of their refurbishment, but it's been noticeable.

One "aftermarket" thing I would recommend is either a 1" or 2" buttpad (depending on how it fits you). The wood stocks are short and the extra length of the butt spacer makes it feel much better when you are shooting it.
 
The wood stocks scratch much more easily than the laminate stocks . I hunted deer for a week with a laminate stock sealed with true oil and it held up amazingly with only a minor mark where I fell hiking through the bush. The birch stock would have been marked a lot more as it is slightly softer. I am so far keeping my birch stocked rifle for range only.
 
The big differance I see between my birch and laminate stocks are thickness, the birch is a bit thicker overall. Especially at the wrist, likely due to strength of plywood aka laminate. Plywood is really strong when you think about the different directional layers and all the glue.
 
To each there own, I like the wood stocks.
Laminate as received, I think this is one I hunted with


Its a lot easier to strip a wood stock, and put it in a new dress. I like this old girl
 
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