Synthetic vs wood stock - different question than usual

[valnar]

Being a new rifle owner (have had handguns for years), I'm slowing building my collection to cover all my bases. What those bases are is irrelevant at the moment.

I want to own one stainless steel & synthetic bolt action gun. In a modern way, it has its own kind of charm. The others will probably be blued & wood.

The next two guns I want to buy is a 6.5x55 Swede and a .308. I'm contemplating brands like Winchester, Sako and CZ for the most part.

OK, here's the question. For reasons OTHER than upkeep and rust prevention ( of which most of these threads are about), is there a particular reason to get one stock over another for shooting?

For instance, the .308 will be the harder hitting gun, so will a synthetic stock absorb the recoil more than wood? Or will a heavier wood be better for the same reason? If you had a choice of making the 6.5x55 wood or synthetic, or the .308 wood or synthetic, which would you prefer? I want one of each, but not sure which caliber gets the synthetic.

 

[helotaxi]

The primary benefit of the synthetic stock is that it is not affected by weather, humidity or temperature. Wood stock can and do warp with changing weather. Synthetics don't.

Neither of those rounds is known for having much recoil. I would base my choice solely on what I could find that I liked in that particular cartridge that I could get for a reasonable price.

 

[briansmithwins]

Since I live in the Pacific Northwet, I'd go for stainless/synthetic on both. And then I'd bead blast and paint the stainless. If I wanted more weight, I'd go with a laminate stock.

Plain wood is actually not that great a material to make rifle stocks from. It moves with changes in humidity, swells and shrinks, and isn't as strong as the alternatives.

Just my feelings, I know others will disagree.

BSW

 

[valnar]

Thanks for the comments thus far.

Variety is the spice of life, and I favor wood/blued mostly, but wouldn't mind mixing it up for this next purchase (or two).

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Agreed, see uf you can get a nice peice of laminate wood, it is very stong and resistant, just get one that looks as good as nice walnut.

Oh, and between the 6.5 or .308, the 6.5 sounds more elegant.

 

[valnar]

The polling so far echoes my initial thoughts. Get the "classic" 6.5x55 in wood, and the new(er) .308 in synthetic.

 

[CraigC]

Yep!

 

[viking499]

I own three 6.5's and no 308's. Blued and synthetic, blued and wood, and stainless and synthetic, which I replaced with wood for the time being. For some reason, I like the stainless wood look.

308's are easy to find, 6.5's are harder. If buying new, Tikka, Sako, CZ and Howa are the only new ones I know of. Tikka and Sako are the only ones in stainless. All seem seasonal and are sometimes hard to find.

The 6.5 is such a soft shooting round, that any stock will work fine. If worried about the weather, go with synthetic or laminate.

My Tikka is my favorite gun to shoot and hunt with. Easy to carry and shoot and one of the most accurate I have with factory ammo. My CZ is second. The Howa feels the heaviest and is in 5th as far as accuracy.

 

[jmr40]

It depends on the synthetic stock. Almost all factory synthtics are cheap, flimsey, and weigh the same and often more than the same gun offered in wood. But even the cheap synthetic stocks tend to shoot quite well, are still much stronger than wood and certainly offer better weather resistance.

If you truly want a quality, lightweight synthetic stock you will need to spend at least $500 for an aftermarket stock. All of my "serious" hunting rifles have such stocks. If you want a lightweight, rugged rifle this is really the only way to go. One of the better aftermarket stocks will weigh up to a full pound less, be much stiffer and more accurate than any factory stock, wood or synthetic. Not to mention much tougher.

If I were not going to get a quality synthetic, I'd just get wood.

 

[BigN]

I prefer synthetic stocks. I have only a wood stock on one gun, my trap shotgun. I don't like dings and I think synthetic just looks better.

 

[ROW]

I don’t care for synthetic at all. I like the real wood feel, wood just looks nice.

 

[Saleen322]

I would take a hard look at a laminate. This is a .308. They are strong, warp resistant, and good looking. I like these much better than plastic. Best of luck to you with what you decide.

 

[Saleen322]

Two more .308s

One in wood..


One synthetic...


It is all in what appeals to you.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Saleen, when are you finally going to match that barrel and receiver on that .308????

 

[bushmaster1313]

Everything else being equal, the more handsome the stock - the lower the perceived recoil

 

[quartermaster]

In extreme envirinmental conditions, synthetic with SS is probably the best choice IMO, but unless they are extremely accurate I don't find them as appealing as walnut and blued. I have been leaning towards the laminates in the past few years. I think if you seal the barrel channel and all other unsealed areas that they become very stable.

It seems that the matte black is flooding the market in actions and barrels. I would guess it's a cost thing along with some of the flimsy synthetid stocks.