I only own wood stocks so I'm not positive on which would be better. I'm looking into a 308 and it will be my main rifle, so I want something that's going to be able to get wet, be durable and accurate. Any suggestion?
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I only own wood stocks so I'm not positive on which would be better. I'm looking into a 308 and it will be my main rifle, so I want something that's going to be able to get wet, be durable and accurate. Any suggestion?
I mostly buy stainless / synthetic rifles unless they aren't made in that model. They are tough as hell and you won't have the wood swell and possibly warp and throw off your zero. No Brainer. Go SS.
I own both and I like the feel of wood and the durability of synthetic. If I had to choose I would take the synthetic, if it was a general hunting rifle.
I like synthetic. It is tough and I like the feel of it over wood on a field gun. All my hunting rifles that I use for hunting have them. I have wood also but never take those out hunting.
Im a wood guy, in all things. If I could afford it my entire house would be furnished with classic woods and grains.
My personal take on it when it comes to this topic.
Why buy a Land Rover,Hummer if your afraid to take it off road?
Why buy an Audi, BMWer, Porsche if your going to be afraid to drive it lest it get scratched.
If you go wood, it will show wear. Its unavoidable, and if it is pristine after a year or two, its babied (not used).
Each blemish for me is a battle scar, that adds character. A small reminder, of a specific hunt, that like any picture on any camera, reminds of the day.
I buy my cars to drive them, not sit in a showroom. When Im looking at a shiny new car and I'm spending any amount of time stressing over the inevitable scratch. I walk away and buy a car I won't lose sleep over. And if for some reason I buy a car Im going to fret over, I key it right away.
If you want a show piece, buy a show piece
If you want a rifle to use.
Buy wood if your a wood guy
Buy synthetic if your going to lose sleep worrying abut a blemish.
They both will do the job in the field.
Man we beat this topic to death annually....here's the link to the last time (7 pages 63 posts)....mind you it was almost a year ago, maybe things have changed: http://www.oodmag.com/community/show...ght=wood+stock
I'm a wood guy too and the heck with scratches or even gouges . I can repair them regardless . It's the feel and look . Wood has character whether it's scarred or pristine . Why ?. Because no inch of wood is exactly 100% the same as the next just like DNA or fingerprints . I have nothing against synthetic and it has merit but like Jben said , guns are meant to be used just like any other tool .
If you have a gouge in wood . And I mean even a gouge . Take a towel and get it wet . Lay it over the gouge and then fire up your wife's iron and move it over the gouged towel covered area and bingo your gouge is gone . This works on anything wood .
TD
Lest my point be mistaken, because I guess it could be.
Decide first if you want something to use, or a show peice.
If you want something to use, and not sit unused.
If scratches and blemishes are going to bother you, go Synthetic, if you love woods and you feel that its adds character, go wood. Its really that "simple" and not something to stress about, and if you "are", well, then dont stop at "go", go straight to Synthetic.
Every new car gets scratched. If leaving the garage and driving it (using it) and thus the likely hood of a stone chip bothers you....
theres no right wrong, better or worse....only what your comfortable with.
Me, Ive never seen the sense on buying anything I dont plan using.
The scars on my beuatiful .308? I can tell the story behind each one...And when I look at my rifle, as I lovingly carress it, oil it, shoulder it, it's my stories..aka Character.
Ever looked at some old log cabin...Gone is the beauty, its faded and scarred....I always wonder what stories the walls could tell.
I like the look and feel of wood personally. And lean to the wood side.. That being said.. I prefer to use synthetic as I find them lighter and easier to carry for long hikes in the bush. No I'm not scared Of scratches. It does add charachter.
I'm a wood guy too, but I do have an xlr which is SS with some sort of funny composite stock.
Re: composite over wood for accuracy - how wet are you planning on getting your rifle and what are your accurracy expectations? Are you doing underwater long distance target shooting? I'd think most wood stocks can handle most weather conditions and shoot fairly accurrately.
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.
I have both and if you keep oil on the stocks (I use rem oil), they don't absorb moisture. Might still swell with humidity A bonus, the cabinet smells like....guns.
I think its a matter of fashion over function. If you don't care what it looks like and this gun is going to see all the roughest parts of your hunt with not a ton of delicate handling and care, go function and go synthetic all the way. I myself prefer the look and feel of the wood and treat my guns well. Lots of wipedowns with oily rags and treatments of Birchwood Casey's Barricade and none of my guns have ever rusted. I have never had a problem with swelling or warpage when wet.Quote:
Originally Posted by CaseyMcIntyre
Going synthetic though won't lead to tears when you accidentally drop your gun and put a big ding in the gloss finish stock lol.
I ended up going with a Sako A7 SS, feels like an amazing gun. Extremely smooth and is supposed to be extremely accurate out of the box.
I grew up in a wood working household so my choice is obvious. Perfect or scared its beautiful.
My wife is addicted to those DIY shows and she watches me cringe ever show the paint over a wood finish... arg!
I don't understand to whole tactical thing either... at very minimum i like variety, but i have a coworker and that's his thing. Just don't get it... :)
Excellent investment.:thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by CaseyMcIntyre
I have a bunch of wood stocks and I do enjoy them but when it comes to going moose/deer hunting. The rifle will see rain and snow so I'd rather go for something I'd care less about, then to see a nice wood stock get all damaged.
It will be pretty awesome once I get my leupold vx r
I'm looking at the fire dot
I'm looking at 3x9x50
The VXR is very slick. I'm thinking about one myself but waiting until we see how tough they are. The electronics in the VXR are only warrantied for one year which kind of scares me. Leopold is always lifetime warranty.
3x9x50 will be good enough for moose and yet not over power when in tighter bush when deer hunting
I did not know that the electronics were only warrentied for only 1 year. I was told they were lifetime
I assumed that also but my buddy bought one and the electronics are 1yr only. Rest of scope is lifetime like all other Leupolds.Quote:
Originally Posted by CaseyMcIntyre
Wow that seems pointless.... If the electronics go the whole scope is garbage. I guess I'll be looking into another scope lol. If I'm going to pay that much for a scope it better last my lifetime
What does everyone think of the Leopold Rifleman scope 3x9x50 for moose/deer/bear
Wood stock = classy
i think we all have safe queens lol
Another vote for synthetic stocks. I have spent way too much time over the years just keeping wood sealed so it wouldn't swell / split to ever choose wood over synthetic if I had the choice for a hunting gun.
I like to hunt with synthetic. I like not having to worry about it getting wet and or scratched or anything.
I have a really nice Italian 20 ga O/U made by Marocchi. The thing is, I am always reluctant to take it out in the bush because the stock is such nice wood. Anytime Ive hunted with it I feel guilty haha. Oh well
I really think the concern, at least here in Ontario, over wood stocks and adverse weather conditions is overblown. If you climbed a mountain, or hunted in a rainforest or coastal forest, sure, but here in plain old Ontario? I dont think its an issue.
I own both wood and synthetics, and the difference between the two in feel is not comparable. The wood feels right, and looks good. Put a coat of wax on every couple years, and you're good to go.
Just looked in my safe. Right down the middle. Half wood, Half synthetic.
I like synthetic for hunting as Im not worrying as much where I put the gun, or what it might bump into.
I just love a nice walnut stock though. My CZ 452 has probably my favorite stock ever. Just fits me so perfect.
Honestly. I don't get the synthetic vs wood thing. I love the beauty of wood. I love the grain of wood. I'm impartial I guess. I've been a wood worker for many years now and just love the different wood options. Paint, light stain, dark stain, clear, burnt, done with BLO, satin vs gloss, real wood, laminate. You name it, it's beautiful IMO. I have both S and W in my collection. I only have the Synthetic because that's the only option the Axis had. I could care less if my wood gets dented or scratched. It can be fixed. Besides it adds character IMO. What gets me bent out of shape is when I get a battle scar in my metal portions of my guns. I hate bluing wearing off. I hate rust. I hate scratches. I do like my camo stuff, but they're is nothing as awesome as a piece of good hand rubbed wood.