Wood or Synthetic?

G

getfoxy

New member
In general on a rifle do you guys prefer wood, laminate, or synthetic. Do you preferred a blued barrel or a stainless barrel. Just wanting some opinions.

I just cant make myself buy a synthetic rifle. Im really looking hard at that Remington Sendero but that synthetic is a turnoff.
 
You can't go wrong with a Sendero the HS synthetic stock is one of the best. If I had to choose between a HS synthetic and wood I would go with HS every time. Stick with a GOOD synthtic and there hard to beat. Jason
 
Synthetics won't warp like wood does, however wood in higher calibers generally have less recoil than their synthetic counterparts. I really think both have their place. I have both and love both for their specific reasons....Example, buying a .204, i would generally not think twice about a synthetic stock, buying a .300 I would probably go with wood. I have a .270 with a synthetic stock, and my dad has the same with a wood stock. Mine has a noticeable difference in the recoil. Also, i would think twice before painting a wood stock, i wouldn't so much on a synthetic. Something about wood that is timeless and classic that i love.
 
Stainless with synthetic. I am all about extracting THE MOST from something. HOWEVER, FNH has several tactical rifles that will shoot .5-.75 MOA all day long with ammo they like that are chrome-lined chromoly barrels. I give that the nod, since I am not after a bench-rest rifle. To me, durability/reliability is king.
 
I use a synthetic stock for a truck gun. It takes the abuse of the ride alittle better than wood. Pretty wood stocks get scratched and dented, but I guess they call that character.

I wouldn't let the synthetic stock on the Sendero deter you from buying the gun. You might grow to like it, like I did. I really like my sendero.
 
I own blued guns, stainless guns, wood stocked guns, and synthetic stocked guns. I prefer the looks and feel of wood, but most of my hunting rifles are now synthetic/stainless mainly because I just don't like beating up good looking wood.
 
My first gun was a Marlin 983. It was the blued and wood version. I sold it because I wanted a more durable version, so I ended up getting the stainless, platic version of the 983. Ya, it may be a bit more accutrate with the bull barrel, and I don't have to worry about beating up the plastic stock as much. But I look back now and say d---, what the heck was I thinking.

My advice: If it's for hunting, buy the wood, beat it up and add some scratches and whatnot. Plus you can look at it and admire it when you open up the cabinet to get it out, or when your mind starts to wander out in the field.

For targets, paper, and fun: Most likely just buy synthetic.
 
I prefer laminate or synthetic. Laminate because they look awesome. Synthetic because they are tough as nails and you can paint them every other week. I had a hard time buying my 1st synthetic because I always thought wood had more character. Now my last 4 stocks have been synthetic. I have a rem700vs(basically a short action sendero). It's a great rifle and the h-s stock is awesome. I don't think you will be disappointed with the sendero.
 
You have to establish some goals before you can really answer your own question for what is good for you.

There are two different kinds of synthetics, the plastic stocks and the injected fiberglass stocks. The injected fiberglass stocks (H & S, McMillen, etc) are way better than the straight plastic stocks in as far as accuracy goes.

It can be a Sack of Heck trying to accurize a rifle with a plastic stock. Accuracy is a relative thing, to some guys, an accurate rifle is a rifle that shoots a 2" group at 100 yards. To other guys, they are wanting to shoot 1/2" groups all day long. Sporters Vs. Heavy barreled Varmint rifles in Plastic stocks are another whole can of worms with the Varmint versions seeming to be much more accurate than their sporter counter parts, especially the Savage rifles.

If you want an extremely accurate rifle, then the Laminate stocks or the fiberglass stocks will give you the best service.

If you are really wanting to be rough on your equipment, want extreme accuracy, then the Laminate stock is tough enough to run over with your truck. A laminate stock can really be abused like no other stock...no kidding!

When friends and family bring me a rifle that they want me to accurize with a plastic stock, I tell them that the first thing that I want to do is to buy a Boyd's laminate, have Boyd's put the pillars in it. Then I'll free float the barrel and bed the action. then I can get 1/2" groups out of the rifle with hand loads. They bring it to me because they are wanting an accurate rifle.

The reason that I get them to order the Boyd's stocks is they are cheaper than the H & S stocks or the McMillen stocks, and they are tough enough to be dropped out of a tree with no problem to the stock.

I have had a whale of a time with the Rem 700 Plastic stocks and the Savage Plastic stock in the Sporter versions trying to get them to be accurate with cartridges from 270, 30/06, and 7 Mag. I have reinforced the forearms with 1/4" steel rods, bedded the forearms with every kind of epoxy that you can name, along with bedding the actions with really spotty results. The truth is that the stocks are just too flimsy and whippy under the recoil of these heavy kickers. I have had good luck with the plastic stock 223's, and no luck at all with the plastic stock 22/250's and 243's.

You mentioned barrels, the stainless in the Rem 700, Brownings, Savage, and Sako are machined much smoother than the same versions of chrome moly which means less copper fouling which means easier cleanings which means less money spent on cleaning components.

Also, if a guy is not prone to take care of his equipment, the stainless will take the elements much better than the Blued counter parts.

This is just a hobby and we are really talking about whether you like Fords or Chevy's...you have got to figure out what you like within your budget constraints.

Good luck!
 
You have to establish some goals before you can really answer your own question for what is good for you.

There are two different kinds of synthetics, the plastic stocks and the injected fiberglass stocks. The injected fiberglass stocks (H & S, McMillen, etc) are way better than the straight plastic stocks in as far as accuracy goes.

It can be a Sack of Heck trying to accurize a rifle with a plastic stock. Accuracy is a relative thing, to some guys, an accurate rifle is a rifle that shoots a 2" group at 100 yards. To other guys, they are wanting to shoot 1/2" groups all day long. Sporters Vs. Heavy barreled Varmint rifles in Plastic stocks are another whole can of worms with the Varmint versions seeming to be much more accurate than their sporter counter parts, especially the Savage rifles.

If you want an extremely accurate rifle, then the Laminate stocks or the fiberglass stocks will give you the best service.

If you are really wanting to be rough on your equipment, want extreme accuracy, then the Laminate stock is tough enough to run over with your truck. A laminate stock can really be abused like no other stock...no kidding!

When friends and family bring me a rifle that they want me to accurize with a plastic stock, I tell them that the first thing that I want to do is to buy a Boyd's laminate, have Boyd's put the pillars in it. Then I'll free float the barrel and bed the action. then I can get 1/2" groups out of the rifle with hand loads. They bring it to me because they are wanting an accurate rifle.

The reason that I get them to order the Boyd's stocks is they are cheaper than the H & S stocks or the McMillen stocks, and they are tough enough to be dropped out of a tree with no problem to the stock.

I have had a whale of a time with the Rem 700 Plastic stocks and the Savage Plastic stock in the Sporter versions trying to get them to be accurate with cartridges from 270, 30/06, and 7 Mag. I have reinforced the forearms with 1/4" steel rods, bedded the forearms with every kind of epoxy that you can name, along with bedding the actions with really spotty results. The truth is that the stocks are just too flimsy and whippy under the recoil of these heavy kickers. I have had good luck with the 223's, and no luck at all with the 22/250's and 243's.

You mentioned barrels, the stainless in the Rem 700, Brownings, Savage, and Sako are machined much smoother than the same versions of chrome moly which means less copper fouling which means easier cleanings which means less money spent on cleaning components.

Also, if a guy is not prone to take care of his equipment, the stainless will take the elements much better than the Blued counter parts.

This is just a hobby and we are really talking about whether you like Fords or Chevy's...you have got to figure out what you like within your budget constraints.

Good luck!
 
With free floated barrel and glass bedded reciever my wood stocks required rezeroing every so often. I was always wondering if it was exactly on.
Since going to synthetic, my zero has only changed once in years and that was a loose scope mount screw. I had so much confidense in it that I had to shoot 3 deer and not hit exactly where I thought before I checked anything. R-700 AS, 1991 model, Neil Jones tuned trigger, bedded with Devcon and free floated, 270W that will do 3 touching with Hornady Custom 130 gr. Probably a little over 600 rounds through it now. This gun goes hunting a lot. I don't do much plinking/target shooting. In other words it gets used
I like the phosphate or whatever the rough finish is on the metal, it has been rained on many times but not used in salty conditions. It shows no wear and doesn't seem to rust. Best of all, it does not shine
 
wood is more for looks(in my book). synthetic/plastic/rubber is for looks/performance i.e. light weight,tough,unbreakable(some brands),weather resistant.

Stainless barrels are a must in my book-barrel rust on a 2-3day hunt in wet/humid weather isn't a beautiful sight on an expensive toy.

Go Plastic if you're planning on dragging the rifle thru the woods.

Go wood if the rifle's going to only see the bench and guard the safe
 
For looks, nothing beats good wood and a deep clear blueing. But for real world use, the synthetic stocks, and Stainless is better. The only thing about synthetic and Stainless i don't care for is some synthetic stocks have way to much flex to feel right, and stainless reflects to much and has spooked game for me. Now a good solid synthetic and painted stainless is a great compromise, they just look like crap in the gun safe.But they are easy to clean and don't spook game or change POI after being out in a rain or snow storm. So looks or function, that is really the question. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I think that Dakota Arms' motto says it all: "Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun"
 
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