I have used walnut stocked rifles for more than four decades with no ill effect... but these days, I do use stainless/synthetic guns or stainless/laminate guns on bad weather days... I have lots of rifles and always bring 3 or 4 with me on most hunts... no need to beat up on the walnut/blued guns when there are more impervious options.
Is a wood stock really that bad for a hunting rifle?
- Thread starter ecno
- Start date
As simple as this.
There is no doubt a quality synthetic stock will out perform a wooden stock in accuracy over the long haul... BUT a good wood stock, sealed properly and with the action properly bedded and the barrel free floated will shoot under m.o.a. consistently, year after year and hold point of aim good enough for hunting... and feel so much nicer while doing it. Don't think you have to go 'modern'. The only reason factories offer so much synthetic is the huge profit they make from those who think they have to have it...
Consider getting a gun with a laminate stock, either as an accessory or as the primary. Those things can take extra abuse. That way, you can stow away the original stock.
I know one trapper from Northern Alberta, who refuses to have any synthetic stock, he is wood only. He told me he's seen them snap in half in really cold weather, when out on the snow mobile. Not at issue for me though.
I know one trapper from Northern Alberta, who refuses to have any synthetic stock, he is wood only. He told me he's seen them snap in half in really cold weather, when out on the snow mobile. Not at issue for me though.
A wood stock is certainly not a detriment to a hunting rifle but if you are as you say "EXTREMELY hard" on your other guns and will be on a wood stocked hunting rifle as well then you will almost certainly get some scratches, dings and worse on it over time. If you are comfortable having the inevitable happen to a wood stock rifle that is used hard during hunting in tough conditions then go for it. Most of the time the damage on the stock is not that big of a deal and for the most part won't effect the rifle's function unless you really let it go over time and in that case you can always refinish the stock down the road if need be.
For new xbolt money there are many wood stocked very high quality rifles out there that are already “heirloom, something to hand down that will out live you and whomever you hand it down to.” Some of these are no longer in production , no plastic parts, outstanding quality and already a classic. I mean imagine if you could drive a 67 mustang that’s as good as it was the day it was made .... and is going to stay that way indefinitely with proper care — and you certainly can’t buy one new today.
Not that I don’t like the look of the medallion .. because I really do. Hells Canyon not so much .... but I mean that’s only my opinion and it’s only aesthetics — you’re basically talking about the same rifle.
Anyway if a wood stock is holding you up, I wouldn’t worry about it.
I know aesthetics certainly aren’t the primary factor in determining a quality firearm ... and on top of that it’s entirely subjective. That said life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun.
Good luck.
Not that I don’t like the look of the medallion .. because I really do. Hells Canyon not so much .... but I mean that’s only my opinion and it’s only aesthetics — you’re basically talking about the same rifle.
Anyway if a wood stock is holding you up, I wouldn’t worry about it.
I know aesthetics certainly aren’t the primary factor in determining a quality firearm ... and on top of that it’s entirely subjective. That said life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun.
Good luck.
I feel this right here is a tremendously under discussed issue in new firearms manufacture, the excessive costs manufacturers charge for entry level synthetic stocks built of generally poor construction. Not enough people understand the difference between a good stock and a bad stock.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
This be true fer sure.^
I've most always gone wood over synthetics on my hunting & plinking guns. My trap guns though have synthetic stocks for them soggy days at the prize shoots.
Wood and good old paste wax. My hunting guns get a full coat of paste wax, wood and metal, before and after the season. They are used but in better than average shape.
Learned this many years ago after a day of rain and everyone was oiling and disassembling all their guns in a panic. One old boy just shucked his gun in the corner and mixed a drink. He never touched that gun all week other than to wipe it down with a dry cloth. After several wet days I asked him on the sly what his secret was and he showed me later. A tin of paste wax older than me at the time. Ever since it has been my go to.
I will note -- do not wax your trap gun metal before a round. On about station four I thought my gun was going to spontaneously combust due to a healthy coating of paste wax and a fast round on a hot day.
Learned this many years ago after a day of rain and everyone was oiling and disassembling all their guns in a panic. One old boy just shucked his gun in the corner and mixed a drink. He never touched that gun all week other than to wipe it down with a dry cloth. After several wet days I asked him on the sly what his secret was and he showed me later. A tin of paste wax older than me at the time. Ever since it has been my go to.
I will note -- do not wax your trap gun metal before a round. On about station four I thought my gun was going to spontaneously combust due to a healthy coating of paste wax and a fast round on a hot day.
Well I have been hunting with wood stocked rifles and shotguns here in Ontario since 1967 without issue. I was a avid duck hunter and used a Win M-12 and a Win SX-1, those two shotguns seen tremendous harsh weather over the years and both look almost new to-day because every day when I came in I stripped them down and let them dry, then wiped them down and put them back together for the next day. All this can be done while drinking beer if you see the need. My Win M-70 and Win M 100 that I used for Moose and deer got the same treatment. When the stocks got a little tired looking they got stripped over the winter, checkering recut and new tung oil applied. It's called general maintenance and taking care of your possessions so they last. At present I drive a 17 year old truck that's appears only several years old because I take care of it. My equipment is well used, not abused, and always well maintained.
So a wood stocked gun will last your life time and your sons life time if cared for. No doubt a synthetic stocked and stainless steel gun will take a lot more punishment but if you don't maintain it either it will look and function like a pile of crap eventually and will not be fit to pass on as a heirloom.
So a wood stocked gun will last your life time and your sons life time if cared for. No doubt a synthetic stocked and stainless steel gun will take a lot more punishment but if you don't maintain it either it will look and function like a pile of crap eventually and will not be fit to pass on as a heirloom.
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As above in many responses, wood is not a detriment and with proper care and maintenance and a bit of proactive care sealing the wood inside the stock with wax or other sealant will provide quality service for your lifetime and that of those you pass or sell the rifle on to. I have many classic rifles with wood stocks and use them in all types of weather.
Laminated stocks is another option as mentioned, and is very stable, and attractive. Also requires sealing to be more impervious to moisture. Many of my newer and custom rifles have laminate stocks on them.
I have one factory synthetic stock on a 280 Rem rifle (Remington 700 LH XCR) for extreme hunts and very poor weather conditions, that I can switch from the attractive (to me) LSS stock that it normally wears, so that I won't damage it. Both have been glass and pillar bedded so that there isn't any shift in point of impact of its favourite load when I switch stocks. Prior to that, there was a 4" shift in poi between the two stocks.
The Medallion is an attractive rifle, and if it is what you want, get it, seal it and go forth with confidence and pleasure! May you have many great adventures with it and create some long lasting memories!
Laminated stocks is another option as mentioned, and is very stable, and attractive. Also requires sealing to be more impervious to moisture. Many of my newer and custom rifles have laminate stocks on them.
I have one factory synthetic stock on a 280 Rem rifle (Remington 700 LH XCR) for extreme hunts and very poor weather conditions, that I can switch from the attractive (to me) LSS stock that it normally wears, so that I won't damage it. Both have been glass and pillar bedded so that there isn't any shift in point of impact of its favourite load when I switch stocks. Prior to that, there was a 4" shift in poi between the two stocks.
The Medallion is an attractive rifle, and if it is what you want, get it, seal it and go forth with confidence and pleasure! May you have many great adventures with it and create some long lasting memories!
