Synthetic vs Wood

[CaseyMcIntyre]

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?

[terrym]

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.

[Jigman]

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.

[Crash2000]

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.

[JBen]

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.

[MikePal]

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

[400bigbear]

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

[JBen]

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.

[topher]

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.

[werner.reiche]

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.