Printable View
I have personally seen it happen on a 10 day moose hunt living in a tent camp. It rained everyday almost and one of the guys had his wood stock warp. He was carrying a Weatherby Mark V, not a low end rifle. He clued in to it when he missed a shot at a grouse's head. We checked his zero and it had shifted badly. You could clearly see where pressure points had developed. The next year he had a synthetic stock.Quote:
Originally Posted by werner.reiche
Like most I have both, and do use both, however I find a wooden stock and forearm not as cold during extreme weather conditions, but I do find when it comes to sighting in my hunting rifles it takes more rounds to sight in the ones with a wooden stock than those with an S stock. Wood will contract and swell over a period of time, i.e. hunting season to hunting season and I have never found that the rifles with a wooden stock are zero'd like they were when you put them away for the season. Where as a S stock is pretty much where you left it after the rifle season was over.
I love the look of wood but mostly hunt with synthetic now. If your rifle Is a 2pc stocked one like most semi's, pumps and levers then the wood stability isn't a big problem. I pc stocked rifles are the finicky ones.
A good point - all my hunting rifles are levers - 2 piece. My only 1 piece is an M1 garand which I haven't used for hunting.Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
For now, my focus has been on functionality, durability and accessibility. So i've started building my collection all around synthetics. Ruger 10/22, Tikka T3 and a Weatherby SA-08.
They all handle beautifully, are rugged as hell... and very ugly or boring.
Now that my basics are covered, I intend to get some of my dream firearms... a stainless laminated Marlin 45-70 Gov, a prime Remington Wingmaster and to top it all off...a stainless Sako Bavarian.
Those should all liven up the cabinet nicely.
Others have said wood swelling shouldn't be a concern and for rifles i totally agree, however I've seen some really nasty issues (mechanical and cosmetic) with wood shotguns that weren't properly protected and maintained.
To me, they are all tools. If I want a "wall hanger", then I will acquire a decomissioned one (maybe my grandfathers WWI LE), that someone carved intricate leaf patterns into.
If I want a tool to use, I get one, be it rod, be it LG, be it a reel, be it wood long bow.
I have zero desire to have twelve different long guns.
.22 Ruger 10/22 in wood (decent grain, wasnt wholly my choice).
.308 Browning BLR White gold...a real peice of eye candy if you love wood/wood grains
12 gauge Browning A5 also in beuatiful wood.
If I add anything else, it will be a bolt for Moose or Varmint/Predator and it will most assuredly be in wood. Likely another White/Gold.
Done.
4 tools that will cover all my needs, each is something I will admire and each will have plenty of stories to tell.
To each his own, there are always a dozen ways to skin a cat.
Only 4 long guns? Hell no. Do you only have 4 clubs in your golf bag? Hell I have 4 deer rifles......:silly:
I love my wood stocks on my sporting clay guns, for the field I prefer synthetic.
Ok so I am definitely looking at synthetic/stainless 30-06 and I've checked out the Browning X-Bolt, the Tikka T3 and the Sako A7. I have also spoken with my gun smith and it's getting tough on which one to purchase. I like all the features and the looks that the Browning has, but I've heard bad reviews on accuracy and the twist of the gun. I also like the Tikka T3 but is seems to be almost the exact same as the Sako A7 without all the bells and whistles. P.s I like the bells and whistles lol. Then I heard that Benelli doesn't like to cover their warranty on their guns. Anyone have suggestions so I can narrow down the field.
The Browning is a very nice action but I personally dislike that big palmswell on the stock. Not a bad choice in the 3 though. I personally use a Sako Finnlite in 7mm mag. I would suggest you put on your hunting coat and snap them all up to your shoulder. Pick the one that feels best.