Walnut, Laminate or Synthetic?

Maybe in Alaska, I'd prefer plastic. Here in ON, wood suits me just fine. Their seems to be some notion that the mere sight of a rain cloud or a pointy rock will have a wood stock peeling its finish and gouging itself. I dont understand it; the vast majority of wood stocks I see (including my own) look fine, with not nearly enough blemishes to warrant using some butt ****en' ugly plastic stock.
 
I have only walnut and plastic, no laminate. The walnut stocked rifles I own get used but not in really bad weather (like in PA during Deer season). I should mention that my plastic (I like to call a spade a spade) stocked rifles are also stainless steel. Don't know why I don't like laminate stocks, I know they are uber strong. I guess they just don't appeal to my sense of aesthetics.
 
"Walnut". I have hunted in some of the worst weather imaginable with wood stocked guns, never had an issue, just wipe them down down at the end of the day. Good old common sense maintenance goes a long way.

Quite remarkable how the gun has survived and flourished all these years with out synthetics.!
 
mrgoat said:
"Walnut". I have hunted in some of the worst weather imaginable with wood stocked guns, never had an issue, just wipe them down down at the end of the day. Good old common sense maintenance goes a long way.

Quite remarkable how the gun has survived and flourished all these years with out synthetics.!
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Wipeing off a little rain is not the issue.
You see a lot of old guns with bangs, dings & scratchs, perhaps if syn had been introduced at the turn of the century:D
 
mrgoat said:
"Walnut". I have hunted in some of the worst weather imaginable with wood stocked guns, never had an issue, just wipe them down down at the end of the day. Good old common sense maintenance goes a long way.

Quite remarkable how the gun has survived and flourished all these years with out synthetics.!
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I totally agree! After every day of hunting I stand the gun in the corner, let it thaw out, wipe it down with the oil cloth, run a dry patch through the barrel, stand it back in the corner until the next morning. Take care of your firearms and it will take care of you.
 
doublelung said:
Wood looks nice but synthetic is more practical for hunting with.
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Most of us [myself included] don't hunt hard enough or in extreme conditons to take full advantage of synthetics. I have synthetic stocks here that don't have a scratch on them. :rolleyes:

Walnut would do just fine for most in the real world for us extreme posers. ;)


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I have and use all three... my favorite from a asthetics perspective is nicely figured walnut, coupled with richly blued metal... beautiful! Most of our tactical type builds are in synthetic stocks... for my serious hunting weapons, I choose laminate stocks... they have the warmth, feel and balance of walnut, but are more rugged and more impervious to scratches, dings, moisture and swelling... which can shift your POI.
 
mrgoat said:
"Walnut". I have hunted in some of the worst weather imaginable with wood stocked guns, never had an issue, just wipe them down down at the end of the day. Good old common sense maintenance goes a long way.

Quite remarkable how the gun has survived and flourished all these years with out synthetics.!
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mrgoat, you just told my story!
 
I love nice walnut stocks but I find my gun cabinet is filling up with black or grey rifles. I think price has a lot to do with it. Savage and that fugly stevens stocks fit me so well and they shoot great when I look for a new rifle I tend to go that route as I know it works for me and is 1/2 the price. Walnut and even some cheaper hardwoods do have a certain feel that can't be copied I agree but if I drop my stevens off the atv no big deal but if I scratch or dent my doubles I get pissed. I actually don't own a laminated stock right now but my next rifle should be held in a boyds. I don't mind synthetics. After all even weatherbys have gone synthetic
 
Not sure what the wood is on my Cooper but I like it. The majority of my rifles are synthetic though and I don't cringe if I happen to bump them against anything.
 
Walnut, laminate, synthetic....

Like 'em all. Different apps for different rifles.

For example....

Pre 64 Win 70? Gotta have the original walnut.

Stainless rifle.... synthetic or something like a pepper laminate.

My .02

:canadaFlag:
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NAA.
 
I like walnut stocks. I understand the hoopla surrounding "expanding wood" and all that, but a good bedded and free floated walnut stock puts that all to rest, at least where hunting accuracy is concerned. As has been mentioned earlier, if wood gets a ding it can be sanded out and rubbed with some more oil, with synthetic the scratch is there for good. Not to mention, if you are using it for hunting, who gives a rat's a*s if the wood gets a scratch? If you are buying it for aesthetics then don't hunt with it!!
The problem I find is that I like stainless steel and it is difficult to get the stainless actions I want in a nice walnut stock. For this reason I am heavily leaning towards a kimber stainless classic as my next purchase
 
SuperCub said:
Most of us [myself included] don't hunt hard enough or in extreme conditons to take full advantage of synthetics. I have synthetic stocks here that don't have a scratch on them. :rolleyes:

Walnut would do just fine for most in the real world for us extreme posers. ;)
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I don't hunt that hard either.
But I layed my rifle across the seat of my 4whr one time to have a wizzzz & knew exactely what that clattering was 1/2 way thru it :mad:
 
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