Laminate & Laminated Stocks?

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Flynt

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Please indulge a not-completely-newbie-but-not-yet-expert question. I see laminated and laminate rifle stocks, but have never owned one. First, what's the difference between "laminate" and "laminated?" Next, am I correct in understand that one or both provides greater resistance to warping than regular wood and greater rigidity than a lot of synthetic stocks? Thanks, guys.
 
An average laminated stock weighs more than a wood stock of similiar configuration.

They are also stronger than plain wood.
 
Laminated stocks, provided they are wood laminate, are considerably heavier than other stocks typically available. Some folks hunt with them but they find their primary use in target shooting. A well made laminate stock does warp less readily than non-stabilized, solid wood. I say well made as one can laminate wood with the grain all in one direction; this setup can produce warp in and of itself. A stabilized solid wood stock will typically not warp in humidity, but they are just as heavy, if not heavier, than wood laminate . . . and more expensive.

Though wood laminate is more rigid than some of the synthetics, the high-end Fiberglass Stocks (they are actually laminate, just in multiple directions) are still king in terms of rigidity. Fiberglass is typically lighter than wood laminate.

I suppose one could make a carbon fiber laminate stock . . . lightweight, super rigid, and no warp. It might cost more than your rifle, though.
 
Laminate stacks are more rigid than wood, but there is not a big warp/rigidity problem with solid wood stocks for most applications. I use synthetic stocks, not laminate stocks, for an alternative to wood.
 
I love laminated, my Remington Model 700 ADL came with a laminated stock and it is beautiful. I kept asking the clerk who sold it to me if the price was right, because it seemed a little low to me for a laminated stock version. But the clerk double checked it and it was right. I know... sounds funny, making sure the price was right since I thought it was too cheap, but I have a conscience and it wouldn't/won't let me take advantage of someone. I don't know how much it was, its been too many years.

But I love the look of the laminate and I like that it is more weather stable then regular wood. I never noticed that it was heavier then regular wood, but it makes sense. I would think laminated would be stronger then regular wood too, sort of like the laminated headers we use in home building... of course I could be wrong too :)
 
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