What difference does the material of the stock make?

[No_Brakes23]

I did a search for this topic, but couldn't find anything.

What real difference does the material of a rifle's stock make? Is it pure aesthetics?

What are the differences between wood, synthetic, kevlar, and laminated?

 

[geekWithA.45]

In terms of function,

Fred over @ M14stocks goes into a fair amount of detail into the notion that wood stocks shift slightly in response to humidity, which can effect the consistency of the rifle's POI. He recommends synthetics, as they are more stable across a wider range of environmental conditions.

In terms of aesthetics, nothing beats a really nice piece of wood properly treated and polished.

 

[MillCreek]

I am a synthetic stock fan, solely for the weather-resistance. Up here in the upper left hand corner of the country, it rains a lot, and one cannot always find a dry place while in the field to wipe down and maintain the long arm. But a black synthetic will never look as good as a nice piece of walnut or curly maple.

 

[Kurt]

Early experience with shifting zero's has made me a solid fan of synthetics.

Looks and "feel" are secondary, but synthetics can indeed feel quite good.

Lam's are great too.

Kevlar is synthetic.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Daddy always said, "Before you marry a woman, go look at her mother."

Life is too short to own ugly guns. I like walnut -- you can seal it so it's as stable as anything else.

After saying that, I admit I have two rifles with synthetic stocks -- a Ruger 77/22M (which I call the "Ugly Gun") and a Kimber-sporterized M96 Mauser. The latter is going to get a walnut stock one of these days.

 

[No_Brakes23]

Kevlar is a synth, but I wonder what makes it functionally different than plain-Jane synth.

 

[beerslurpy]

All the guns I own are metal and synthetic. Less problems with moisture and heat, less problems with replacing it if it gets damaged. Greater accuracy, less weight and better ergonomics per dollar spent.

I have a wood winchester model 94 and a wood ruger 10/22 back at my parent's place, but I never shoot those so they dont count.

 

[Chawbaccer]

A nice piece of figured walnut makes a gun one of a kind. Even one off the rack can be pretty unique.

 

[dakotasin]

depends on the stock, and use of the gun.

for best accuracy - my prairie dog guns and 1000 yards guns, i want synthetic, w/ a caveat: the stocks most people think of when they think synthetic, most factory stocks (especially savage), are garbage and don't belong on any gun, nevermind one for accuracy.

properly prepped and sealed, i don't think a wood stock gives any disadvantage, especially w/ shifting poi's. the trouble is, few people will go to the trouble to seal 'em up when synthetics are widely available and cheap.

bottom line: i want exhibition grade woods on my rifles, except for target apps, where i prefer a good synthetic (mcmillan, or better).

 

[JohnKSa]

Synthetics give you durability and stability.

Wood gives you beauty.

Laminate splits the difference between wood & synthetics but costs you in weight.

 

[DMK]

It depends on the gun and it's purpose. For a working rifle, I'd prefer synthetics for all the reasons everyone mentioned, plus it's resistant to cleaning fluids/oils and just easier to maintain.

However, there is no way I'd want a synthetic stock on my classic '43 Garand or on my '42 Finn M39s or even my '66 Marlin 39A. Those guns, you don't mind taking out of the safe every so often and gently rubbing down with lemon oil.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Pretty figured wood is nice... really nice. I always hated the first scratch I'd put in a hunting rifle, that's why my last one was stainless and synthetic... so I wouldn't cringe when rubbing it against a tree.

Also because it's more weatherproof an I tend to hunt in early November. Snow, rain, no big deal. It ain't pretty but it works... having said that NOT all synthetics are made equal... I think the Savage 116's stock is too soft... i'd like to see a stiffer fiberglass or kevlar stock... its still works just fine.

On wood I prefer an oil finish I can buff to a high luster or wipe down dull.

 

[20cows]

Turkish walnut!?

What about the local stuff?

 

[JohnBT]

You mean Texas walnut? Never heard of it.

Meanwhile, a beat-up, oil stained wood stock still looks better than any synthetic stock. And likely works just as well too, unless you're paddling a boat with it daily. An old 2x4 looks better than any sythetic stock. And don't even get me started on beat-up, scratched up, dried up synthetic stocks. Yuck.

John

 

[No_Brakes23]

JohnBT, that is just plain gorgeous.

 

[JohnBT]

It's not mine.

 

[Dionysusigma]

I must admit, Benelli M1 Tactical shotguns look dang good with synth stocks. M1 Garands look good with wood. But an M1 with plastic or a Benelli with wood? Not my style.

It depends on the gun, I guess.

 

[Red Tornado]

I saw a Norinco M1A with a synthetic stock at the gunshow this weekend. My eyes hurt from even looking at something that ugly and just plain wrong.
RT

 

[Essex County]

Since good walnut is scarce and has become cost prohibitive ( for me atlest for me ) I've been content with laminates..........Essex

 

[30Cal]

Walnut, well sealed inside and out works fine. I don't use rifles as canoe paddles or pry-bars.

Ty

 

[cracked butt]

Regardless of the weather resistance of synthetic stocks, I prefer wood stocks for hunting. With the exception of some of the newer synthetics with rubberized coatings, if a twig or a branch slaps or scratches across a synthetic stock, it makes a lot of unnatural noise.

 

[USSR]

One word: McMillan.

Don

 

[20cows]

You mean Texas walnut? Never heard of it.

Come to think of it, there is a walnut tree or two on our place.