Sporting clays semi-auto: wood or synthetic?

[sernv99]

I'm going to post a similar thread in the rifle section relating to hunting rifles but wanted to start here....


so after going through my evil black gun phase and picking up 3 synthetic stock guns, I'm looking to get back into sporting guns, specifically a sporting clays semi-auto.

what's the typical consensus about stock choice? This wont be used for hunting, well at least I dont plan to use it,....so with that, should I go with a fancy walnut glossy wood stock or look for a synthetic?

thoughts?

 

[RNB65]

Wood. Plastic can't be easily altered for length/pitch/drop/cast/comb. Also, shotguns with synthetic stocks tend to be a bit out of balance since the plastic is usually a bit lighter than wood. Makes the gun real nose heavy which is not good in sporting clays.

 

[sm]

RNB65 nailed it!

Wood.

 

[coltm]

WOOD!!!

 

[throdgrain]

It doesnt make any difference! A synthetic stock you cant chop up, but it comes with shims to alter the point of aim, and often longer recoil pads to reduce/ increase the length of pull.

 

[oneounceload]

wood - for all the reasons stated, plus it just looks better!

 

[TAB]

Did some one say wood?

I personally prefer the feel of wood. I have found that my hands sweat less with wood then synthetic.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Every handgun here at Caca McC save one has a synthetic grip.

Every shotgun here has wood furniture. Wood's easier to modify if needed, looks good even if painted black and just plain works.

 

[Snarlingiron]

I certainly prefer wood. Feels better, looks better, etc. However, when I head for the field to hunt I think the synthetic is a little more forgiving. It doesn't pain me as much to see a scratch or ding on a synthetic stock as it does on a nice wood one.

 

[chas08]

I certainly prefer wood. Feels better, looks better, etc. However, when I head for the field to hunt I think the synthetic is a little more forgiving. It doesn't pain me as much to see a scratch or ding on a synthetic stock as it does on a nice wood one.

Well said, I concur. I own both and for different reasons. Synthetic is great for waterfowling or when weight is an issue. But it doesn't compare to a fine piece of walnut. In your case I'd go with wood.

 

[Kingcreek]

should I go with a fancy walnut glossy wood stock or look for a synthetic?

I much prefer satin finish walnut over glossy wlanut, and either is better than plastic. I have more than a few shotguns and the only synthetic one (SX2) is a dedicated waterfowl piece.

 

[ArmedBear]

Hunting ducks and geese? Get synthetic.

Want a gun that feels good, and won't be tossed in plough mud? Get walnut.

Nice walnut is pretty, but appearance remains a secondary reason to get it, IMHO.

 

[Catalina25]

Synthetic guns lack personality and in the winter they're cold. Just tools. Wood guns feel warmer when it's cold and they grow old gracefully. All the little dents and dings give them character, patina. TKM

 

[mswestfall]

I'm with the wood crowd.

 

[Grayrock]

Sporting clays is like golf. You need to LOOK GOOD. You won't see plastic on the Perazzi and the Kolar and the Merkel and the Krieghoff next to you. Of course, if you shoot well enough with your evil black Mossberg pump, perhaps you can win one of those woodies off of an unsuspecting geezer

 

[RUT]

>>Sporting clays is like golf. You need to LOOK GOOD<<

That's why I wear my knickers whenever possible.

 

[ArmedBear]

There are some ugly-ass bastards who shoot sporting clays. They need to make up for it by having pretty guns.

 

[Grayrock]

They may be compensating for some of their other short comings- nudge, nudge, wink, wink

 

[HunterGirl]

I concur with, it appears, everyone here!

Wood!

 

[oneounceload]

>>Sporting clays is like golf. You need to LOOK GOOD<<

That's why I wear my knickers whenever possible.

I thought that in shooting, they were called breeks.........

 

[RUT]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breeks

There you go!

 

[paintballdude902]

a nice wood stock

 

[RNB65]

You could always buy a wood stock, have it modified to fit if needed, then paint it black so it looks synthetic.

 

[Caseyc]

Im a fan of the lumber as well, but recendly picked up a syn Benelli to thrash without remorse.

 

[Capstick1]

I shoot trap and skeet every week. I've burned up a %^&Tload of ammo through many different guns and have seen more than my share of cracked wood stocks. To me function and reliability are more important than looks and the synthetic stocks can take more abuse than most people are willing or unwilling (Ever get rained on while duck hunting?) to dish out. Out of all the shotguns I've shot I've NEVER seen a synthetic stock crack on me. I have a few exwoodstocked shotguns that I've long since replaced with synthetic furniture because the original wood stocks cracked on me. Do they look ugly? Yeah they do. But walnut stocks are expensive and I'm 100% sure no matter what abuse I throw at these synthetic stocked shotguns I'll never have to replace the stock furniture during my lifetime.