For myself nothing really compares to a wood and blued rifle, my second choice is laminate, I like a stainless rifle in a grey laminate stock, my heavier rifles 416 and 375 Ruger are in Bell and Carlson's, I do have one synthetic stock on a Gunsite Scout and it will stay that way for the light weight. I would someday like to get a lightweight stocked deer rifle in something like a McMillan but it is not a priority.
Wood or the Plastic rifle stocks
- Thread starter Spruster
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My shotguns all have wooden stocks. When touching a wooden stock you mostly only feel a polymer of some sort, not wood. My rifles all have carbon stocks. There is a huge difference between injection moulded plastic, cheap composite and higher end composite rifle stocks. I don't like wood however in some conditions it is better than lower end plastic/composite options. The downside with wood, even plywood is that there is not a single fibre running left to right through a stock. With a composite stock fibres can be orientated exactly to take the loads expected in the use of a stock. A composite stock mostly has a thin strong outer shell in a sandwich construction with a lightweight fill material internally leading to possibly less heat conduction than any wood making a composite stock possibly warmer to hold than a wooden stock. I am in the lucky position that I can build my own composite stocks to any spec I like and have been experimenting as well as testing these since 15 years. The main reason why wood is used in stock making .... it is cheap.
edi
edi
This sounds pretty interesting. Ime, the feel of the cold has been very opposite, especially on the cheek while sitting at the shooting bench in colder temps. Do you use a different composite than other manufactures? I’d also be all ears where to find cheap wood? Most of my raw blanks run more than a finished carbon stock, before the work. There’s alot more to a stock then lots realize, I find this stuff quite intriguing. Feel free to show your build(s), any custom work is always worth lookin at!!
Supercub, I really dig that build there!! I’d love to build a nice 7x57 some day on a ###y old Mauser some day.
What gives a stock soul?
What gives a stock soul...hmm. Well, being crafted from something that was alive at one point would be a start. And I'm Patch...I've seen FM fluids get real western...but it still was quite a ways from alive yet
Why does that give it soul? How do you think these originated?
When we talk to rifle manufacturers and talk about stock prices it seems that standard wooden stocks are the cheapest option. No moulds or huge production lay out required, models can change easily. vs even plastic injection moulded stocks that only get cheaper if large quantities are required vs their initial mould costs. The reason why most rifle manufacturers have their base rifles with wooden stocks. Those that manufacture in large numbers have plastic stocks in their base line. Of course wood quality can go up as high as you want.
Cold from the stock depends on the material, internal foam of some composite stocks is one of the best thermal insulators, light weight soaks away less heat. Composite stocks, at least the ones we make have their main mass (highest density) in the action area, or where fittings are. Low density materials or internals where you hold or lean your cheek against.
Roughly 900 grams carbon fibre composite.
newer technology for us. around 650grams. Stock only.
edi
Wood does not automatically make a rifle look nicer either. 95% of wood stocked rifles are pretty plain and underwhelming. Then there is carving nice wood into a weatherby style squared off abomination as well. Just like architecture and cabinetry. More than one thing is at play here.
I have both, and use both. Not really picky towards one or the other, but it really depends on end use of the firearm. IMO the cheap plastic tupperware stocks are garbage.
Hunting -- Either will do, wood looks good but synthetic is likely more durable
Target/Tactical -- Synthetic
Levers -- Wood! Always wood!
Handguns -- I'll take nice wood on my single actions, Synthetic is fine on the autos
Hunting -- Either will do, wood looks good but synthetic is likely more durable
Target/Tactical -- Synthetic
Levers -- Wood! Always wood!
Handguns -- I'll take nice wood on my single actions, Synthetic is fine on the autos
Kind of hard to have soul...when you were never actually living? Don't hug trees by any means... but they were alive a short spell ago... O & G...not so much
I don’t understand people saying that wood is not durable, I have rifles that are easy 50-60-70 years old and one well over a 100 years old and all have wood stock and none have problems! I’m sure a good quality composite stock would be more durable but how much more durable does it have to be?
That said I like the look of a nice carbon fibre stock in the stalking rifle style where the weave is left apparent under the resin/finish!
Just like this…. https://fanzoj.com/collection/single-shot-rifles/fanzoj-kb-1-ti-carbon/
https://fanzoj.com/collection/bolt-action-rifles/fanzoj-ti-3-carbon/
That said I like the look of a nice carbon fibre stock in the stalking rifle style where the weave is left apparent under the resin/finish!
Just like this…. https://fanzoj.com/collection/single-shot-rifles/fanzoj-kb-1-ti-carbon/
https://fanzoj.com/collection/bolt-action-rifles/fanzoj-ti-3-carbon/
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
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- Courtenay BC.
I like both and have both however prefer the look of wood. Carbon fiber stands up better on the wet coast as does stainless steel. Carbon fiber is lighter than wood so imo its better suited to a mountain rifle.
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