Wood or Synthetic?....

[Dave McCracken]

This came up elsewhere.

"Which is better?".

"Both".

Here's the up and down sides as I see them.

Wood's not only traditional, but pretty. It does deteriorate over time, and can wick water through the grain up to the metal. It can also warp, changing the fit of the shotgun.

Wood's also easy to modify. One can shorten the pull, shave 1/16 off the face side or lower a comb. It's easy to get exactly the grip and fit one wants. Wenig sells roughed out blanks for most shotguns that we can whittle and sand down to get an exact fit. Or, refinishing a stock is a project most of us can do.

Wood's easy to hollow out if one wants a less muzzle light balance without adding more weight forward or just a lighter shotgun.

Synthetic furniture is quite durable and less likely to warp or show rough use. It's also often cheaper than wood. Some folks even like the flat black or camo looks of the things.

Synthetics are more difficult to modify, we're pretty much stuck with the standard dimensions, pads and stud locations. For many of us, this is no major handicap.

Some synthetics have the small advantage of flexing a bit at launch,spreading the recoil pulse out slightly and reducing kick, but this is hardly noticable for most of us.

None of the seven shotguns here have synthetic stocks. None came that way. We've owned or own rifles and handguns so equipped. I may obtain a fiberglass stock from Jack West with an adjustable comb and see what it does for me at trap.

What's your choice?....

[kudu]

Gonna hafta say wood. I like the feel in my hands, it feels alive. I'll leave the synthetic to the AR's and a few other tactical weapons.

Hmmm..... I wonder what my AR would look like with a maple stock...;)

[proven]

i bought my 870p with synthetic, and then bought the walnut to replace it. wood just feels better to me and i like the traditional aspect as well. it'll be a while considering both stock and shotgun are fairly new, and i take good care of my tools, but i'm really looking forward to that "well worn" look.

an AR with a maple stock sounds very interesting, i know i like the AK's with wood better. :)

[ACP230]

For me it depends on the shotgun.
I would not put wood on "Black Beauty," my Mossberg 590.
I wouldn't put synthetic stocks on the 16 gauge Winchester Model 12 that my Dad bought me as a high school graduation present.
No synthetics for my 20 gauge over and under bird gun either!

I've seen a few Stevens shotguns from the 1940s with some really cheesy plastic stocks. If I had one of those I'd be looking for a wood replacement stock muy pronto.

[CannibalCrowley]

It's wood for me. I don't know if it's just my imagination, but it seems like I can get a faster and superior stock weld with wood. It may be in part because it just feels better. Wood also looks better to me on a shotgun (and some rifles), but I'm not one who's big on all those attachments anyway.

[TrapperReady]

Wood and blued steel most of the time. I do have one 20ga with a synthetic stock. It's very lightweight and gets used if I know that there's going to be a LOT (as in 6+ hours in rough terrain) of walking for a very little shooting.

If I spent a lot of time in a duck blind, I'd be sorely tempted to get a Super X2 with plastic furniture.

[OEF_VET]

I've got some of both; wood on my 870's and synthetic on my 500's. I didn't plan it that way, that's just how it turned out.

[sm]

Have Soul, Aesthiecs, Feel.
Tweaking fit, percieved recoil...

Yes there is a place for synthetic, Harsh conditions, I can do a SX2 with synthetic.

"Both"...tools for the task...

[Smoke]

I can tolerate synthetics on a rifle, prefer wood.

I have yet to see a black shotgun that appealed to me.

This is all personal preference. Shotguns should be blued steel and wood, maybe a little Engraved SIlver. :)

Just me,

Smoke - The traditionalist

[La Pistoletta]

All steel and copper, no soft spots. ;)

[45auto]

Only wood will do! :)

[12 Volt Man]

I like wood on traditional looking shot guns. When I bought my Nova I had a choice of camo or black, so I went black.

[Dave McCracken]

I'm unlikely to set up an 870 as a full bore waterfowler, but if I did, I'd have Park'd metal and synthetic stock nicely camo'd with something like duck boat paint. Sure wouldn't do that with wood.

Both good choices, IMO, just take your pick.

[Dave Williams]

Wood. Old school.

Dave

[Black_Talon]

About 15-20 years ago I tried a Choate plastic stock in place of the walnut on my 870. I could never get used to it and put the wood back on. It was too light and just didn't "feel" right.

When I bought my new 870P last year I got one with the factory Remington synthetic stock and I really like it. It's the same size/shape as the factory wood and seems to weigh about the same as the wood stocks so the balance remains the same.

I think the black synthetic looks just fine on the parked 870P but there's also something to be said for the hand-rubbed oil finished walnut stocks on my older 870.

[Darrin]

I currently have a 590 in Marinecote with synthetic stock/forearm. When the time is right, I'm planning on a matching 590 with blued hardware and wood. I like the light/dark and dark/light contrast. The durability of the Marinecote/synthetic is what drove me to my current shotty. The traditional look of the blue/wood is just visually appealing and drawing me in that direction.

I have not yet seen an all black shotty that I would spend money on, either. (However, I would never turn down a gift! ;) )

[mnrivrat]

"Both" for me . I would not replace the wood on a nice trap gun or a firearm as traditional as a model 12 Winchester for example. The looks of a nice wood stock on many stotguns are most certainly appealing. I'm not sure wether I can "feel" much difference between wood and composite stocks other than the surface texture . Wood being smoother .

A field gun for me however is much better served with synthetics. Any shotgun that is expected to hold up under harsh conditions is better served with synthetics rather than wood in my opinion. Hunting guns and SHTF , HD type shotguns in my opinion are the best candidates for the more durable synthetic hardware.

Yes - I know that model 12's are still in use for field work and there are also over - under field guns that just don't seem to take to wearing black.
I also know that wood is quite durable and if properly maintained will last a lifetime. That's why I say both are just fine in the sense that if you prefer wood you will get along just fine.

I have repaired dozens and dozens of wood stocks over the years . Mostly on field guns with some heavy use, but also on almost new guns with little use. Wrist cracks being the most common. Some particular guns have problematic area's with wood. An example would be the 11-87 Remington forearm. I have replaced several for cracks on the rear left side. They are $92 ea. The last time I was to the local warranty repair shop where I generaly purchase parts I seen a whole box full of these with cracks in the same location.

My preferance for synthetic stocks is based on "durability" and little else - but that's enough for me.

[ruger357]

Nothing looks better like a fine wood with a deep blued 870. Well thats my choice.

[MrMurphy]

While my Lee-Enfield wears a fine wood stock, all my shotguns wear synthetic. They have been "field" guns, primarily antipersonnel in nature so I expect them to be abused if they have to.

My father's 870 HD has a wood stock and he likes it, which is why i got it in wood. :)

[M Jager]

Couldn't really care less on the guns I have right now.
All my guns are field guns that get hunted, that means they get scratched. When I find a gun I like, I buy it. If synthetic is an option I normally go that way. If the wood on the guns I have now gets scratched I don't cry about it. My HK 630 (not a shotgun, but....) is worth a conciderable amount of money. The stock was scratched up when I bought and I've put a few of my own on it. Its a tool I bought it to use not look at, and I bought it knowing that it was going to take some knocks. It may carry its battle scars but I love it for what it is and what it is in my mind is the perfect tool for what I do with it.

That being said, I am a sucker for pretty wood. Someday I will have guns that I baby and take care that their pretty stocks never get marred but right now I don't have the resources to afford that luxary.
Matt

[pauli]

wood and blue...

...or synthetic and electroless nickel :)

(checked out a marine magnum at galyan's yesterday... it felt very good)

[9mmMike]

Wood is good.

I did recently put a set of Hogue overmolded stocks on a friend's 870 MM and those are sweet. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than the factory synthetic's that they replaced.

Mike

[SapperLeader]

I stated off as a synthetic and plastic guy. My first 870 I purchased 13 months ago was synthetic, along with my first handgun, a polymer xd(august 2002). Since then Ive gone towards steel handguns(browning p-35 and 1911) and wood 870s. The wood looks nicer, is easier to modify, and for somereason is just feeling better to me. I still think synthetic is awesome for a gun thats going to be abused, and I will always have some syntheic stuff, but overall my new love and passion is for the wood and steel guns.

[Old&Slow]

Synthetic, but then I also like Glocks:D

[Black Majik]

BOTH.


Wood goes on my clay guns. Gotta shoot with some class ya know! :p


Synthetic, on the other hand is more durable and can sit around in my closet for my home defense gun.