In praise of synthetic stocks

[ironglow]

  I hear a lot of complaints about the synthetic stocks. Frankly, I tend to prefer them; probably in the main because I am primarily a hunter rather than a target shooter.
  Dragging a fancy Claro Walnut across a hayfield in effort to bag a woodchuck, doesn't strike me as a good idea..nor does busting through brush with some exquisite
  wood work an attractive plan.
   I like my synthetics ! I can get them out and wet..they won't swell or warp, nor will the finish become irreparably marred by an errant twig or a half hidden stone.
   If I do collect a bad scratch on one of the stocks..i just get out the paint spray cans. (Krylon)
  I buy my guns to use them, showing them off, is only incidental. In the picture below are some of my "active use' guns..all with synthetic stocks.
   
    1) My first year opf production 10/22 with older, 3/4"...4X Redfield and Butler creek stock (flash painted).

   2) 880SQ with 3-9X40 Simmons and original stock done in green camo

   3) NEF Versa-Pack, .22LR barrel shown, 3 tone camoed syn stock

   4) My new Marlin 795 with Tasco Bantam 2.5X20 with original stock camoed 3-tone..makes me a good walkabout/carry rifle..weighs a whopping 4.5 lbs..shoots like a Marlin should..

[Keith L]

I agree.  While I like the look and feel of walnut, it seems to rain or snow when I have the time to go into the field.  If buying new I tend to go for stainless/synthetic so I don't have to quit when it gets damp.

[Glanceblamm]

While I will admit that the advantage of the synthetic is intriguing, everything that I own is wood stocked (cept the 66 of course)
You can take care of your wood stocked guns by applying just a few drops of linseed oil (six can go a long way) and rubbing it in by hand till you can't feel it anymore. You then buff down the wood with a clean soft cloth.
Over a time period of months/years the wood will build up microscopic layers of the linseed that will repel water and be less inclined to warp. You will end up with high-gloss and light scratches can often be buffed out.

I know that you could use a poly-ethane type of finish but somehow I don't think that this is the same as the stock doesn't get seasoned as well.
For That Inadvertent Dent in your wood...Simply fold up a damp cloth and place it over the dent and use an iron a few seconds at a time to put some moisture in the area and it will pull that dent back out.
Lot's of work I know but that fine American Walnut stock that you own is getting to be a precious commodity!

[J'hawker]

In my early days, I felt much the same way.  If it wasn't synthetic, it had better be rugged.  I didn't like any stock looking too pretty or it wouldn't go out hunting.  Now I'm older, and most of my hunting days are behind me, especially the hard ones.  I don't like getting too cold and wet myself anymore so carrying a nicely stocked rifle isn't such a burden.  I appreciate a nicely grained stock now that wouldn't have been tolerated earlier.  If I put a scratch on a nice stock now, I can always refinish or restock it anyway.  Times change, and so, I guess, did I.

[ironglow]

J'hawker;
   Now don't that beat all..how differently a couple of "grumpy old men" can look at their favorite pastime ! With me, I still try to walk those miles; and even though I am 71,
  I still can be seen doing a low crawl after varmints.
  That little 795 Marlin I believe , is going to become a fast friend. Although I walk a mile and a half each morning, the half mile being a steady run..I have a completely defunct rotator cuff..so that whopping 4.5 lbs are welcome on a long woods walk.
   Yes, real quality wood is a joy to use, and I have some of wood..my Marlin 30/30, Savage .223, Marlin .22 mag (laminated), an Anschutz and a couple others, still, the guns that see the most field work are synthetics..

[Glanceblamm]

 I still can be seen doing a low crawl after varmints. 

It doesn't get any better than this 

[od green]

I have both, it seems now days most guns come with the synthetic but all my guns are hunters and a few scratches  seem to me to build character like the ones passed down from my father and grand father. How did he get this scratch or what was he hunting when he got that one ? Some of mine I can recall like when i crossed that fence to get the deer i just shot at or going through a briar  patch, or to remind myself of when i busted my butt going down a snowy bank to get to the other side. Sure i try to take care of my guns and certainly don't go out my way to damage them but some times things do happen and it's all part of the gun having it's own story or mystery to tell.

[ironglow]

  Good point..od green !

[bscman]

I don't have a problem with a quality synthetic stock....my problems come from the CHEAP synthetic stocks.

Pretty much anything you'll find on a rimfire classifies as a "cheap" synthetic stock to me. They aren't very rigid, have TONS of casting seams, and don't have any reinforcing or aluminum pillars like you would find in a GOOD synthetic stock.

I've found that the majority of the synthetics found on rimfires from marlin, ruger, savage (especially!), or remington tend to be very flexible. If you over-tighten the action screws the stock will distort. If you float the barrel, it all goes away when the rifle rests on the forend. For the most part, it seams like all those with synthetic stocks also have synthetic (molded in) trigger guards.

Some of the higher end centerfire rifles don't seem to have nearly as many troubles...much higher quality stock, still have removable (STEEL) trigger guards, and more importantly to me a quality bedding system (usually aluminum) that will rigidly and repeatably place the action firmly in the stock.

Personally, I'm a laminate fan. Laminate is pretty dense, and more attractive than the cheap beech and such that is so common today. It is also MUCH more resistant to warping and won't flex nearly as much. I'll usually throw a few light coats of linseed oil on, followed by a good quality gunstock wax and call it a day. If you make sure to get the action/barrel channel as well, it's gunna be pretty hard for moisture to affect the stock.

I'm not a benchrest guy, either. The majority of my shooting comes in and around hunting season, or plinking in the woods. My rifles aren't babied, but I take enough care of 'em to keep them looking nice and performing well.

[ironglow]

    Yes; although I like some things about the Savage rimfires, the synthetic stocks seem light and flexible. I am pleased with my NEF and Marlin stocks however.
  Laminates are dense, pleasant appearing and warp resistant (compared to other woods).
  I have a 982L .22 Mag with cinnamon laminate; for an all day hunt ,walking over rough terrain...at my age, I appreciate the weight of the 795 for it's
  4.5 lbs.   An extra couple pounds can make a difference !
  It works better when I strap a rifle onto my mountain bike and ride on abandoned railroad beds, covering the fields for woodchucks..

[J'hawker]

ironglow,

I said I appreciate a nice stock and don't mind carrying them.  That doesn't mean I don't have synthetics as well.  I, too, have a Model 795 and think it' absolutely the best walking woods rimfire rifle I've found.  I did replace the rear sight with a Dockendorffer, but that's the only change I've made to mine.  I guess we aren't so different, except I'll still defer to you as "sir" due to your age.  I'm sure you've earned it.

[Glanceblamm]

While I don't mean to blow the post, sometimes I DO Mind carrying them so I just take the old H&R 649 instead. She shoots real nice for still hunting.

[ironglow]

  Basically, I posted this thread because I have often heard the synthetic stocks being lambasted, while almost
  never hearing about the positive features of them..just a bit of rooting for the "underdog"...

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

      Well I can see no real advantage to synthetics for rifle stocks so all mine are wood stocked and yes they get used on the range and in the field. They have been snowed on, rained on a lot. Living in the UK rains is one thing we get lots of. I will admit that most of my rifles are older and as such have properly cured wood unlike a lot of modern production which uses that horrid Kiln Dried stuff. I also find it quite amusing when I see someone saying that gun is to nice to hunt with. There are very few guns that don't deserve to be used and those are pure exhibition type ones and if I had to money you cna be sure I would be using them!

Sure they get a few marks on them regardless how carful one is but let's face it they were made to shoot so that is what I do with them. Just think I am being enviromentaly friendly after all wood is recycleable and is certainly bio degradable unlike those plastics!