Synthetic or Wood Stock for .17 HMR

[saBBBat]

I'm going to pick up a Savage .17 hmr bolt action pretty soon, but I can't decide on synthetic or wood. I guess it depends on if you are old school or new skool, but I'd like some MP.NET input on a firearm purchase.

[scrybe]

Pops has the uh... damn already forgot the model, but it's the Savage with the stainless bull barrel and amber colored laminate wood stock. Awesome rifle.

[Death.]

Well if you're afraid of the wood getting dinged up and nicked then get the synthetic stock...I only prefer wooden stocks if they are original to the rifle in question..IE synthetic stock on a k98 is a no-go.

[jeffe]

For durability and weather resistance, go with synthetic. For beauty and looks, wood.

[Death.]

For durability and weather resistance, go with synthetic. For beauty and looks, wood.

Wood stocks can be both durable and resistant to the conditons..

I mean they were on every firearm in war till the M-16 came about.

[California Joe]

I like the laminated stocks on those. I think they look nice. I'm assuming that you aren't going to war and this thing is going to sit out in the elements a lot etc. For what you'll be doing with it, it's a question of which one you think is better looking.

[saBBBat]

Yea now that I think about it, a .17 hmr rifle doesn't really have a classic look because it is a new product. I'm going to go synthetic, problem solved. Thanks

[Death.]

It will look good, btw - get ready for the negative recoil.

I shot a .17hmr rifle at a hunting class and anticipated recoil similar to a .22LR but I actually pushed the rifle forward when I fired it.

I didn't even know it had fired. hehe

[Hollis]

For durability and weather resistance, go with synthetic. For beauty and looks, wood.


OK, Wood will out last you and several of your generations. My oldest military firearm is a 1818 Springfield. It has a walnut stock. Who says wood does not last.

I have a a Number of 1800's firearms. the wood is still there. Some WWI Military and WWII.. all the wood is still there, still good to go.


Synthetic is great for the manufacturer. What does wood cost, what does plastic cost.

If your too damn lazy to clean a firearm, you should not own one.

BTW I do have a few synthetic... I am not sold on them as the end all to beat all, A good piece of wood is beautiful and practical.

[Death.]

Hollis has spoken.........................

p-)

[saBBBat]

Yea I'm not too worried about the aging of wood. I've got a few Japanese rifles in the basement that are in ok condition. I'm just saying there isn't a "classic look" to a wood .17 hmr stock. I purchased an 870 combo in wood last year. I couldn't take a synthetic pump shotgun hunting, that just isn't right.

[scrybe]

I have a a Number of 1800's firearms. the wood is still there.


Those are from back when Hollis and CJ had to bring their own rifles to join the Army.

[Seraphim]

Theres always tricks if you get small dings on your wood stock. Wood feels better than inexpensive synthetic stocks.

[TacoDelRio]

The synthetic stocks are kinda not so cool. I'd go with the laminate stock. It will probably fill your hand better.

Savage has yet to put out a synthetic stock of their own that's really nice (I think that's a point of theirs, as they offer very good barrelled actions for cheap, you add the stock if you want fancy pants).

[Hollis]

OK guys, let us look at it from a different view, Dildos are synthetic, real men get woodies.

[BillySing]

OK guys, let us look at it from a different view, Dildos are synthetic, real men get woodies.

^rofl

As most have already said, it's all a matter of what sort of harsh conditions the rifle will be exposed to.

I know I prefer a Synthetic stock on my H-S precision .243 because that little rifle has been to hell and back........Sub-zero temperatures, Driving sleet, rugged hunting conditions out in the middle of nowhere, impromptu applications of WD-40........etc etc. All of this has done sweet bugger all to the stock, The MPI hasn't shifted a thou. Of course this is a high quality stock.

Though, If your going to get a timber stock, A decent walnut is really the only way to go, in my opinion. Life is too short of laminated timber......A nice cut of Walnut, with strong tiger stripes and swirls, all finish up with a nice oil to really bring out the accents. Bloody Beautiful.

In the end, it'll prolly be your wallet doing to the talking, so just find out which suits you best in terms of Fit and Feel. That'd be the most important feature any stock should have. GOOD FIT, I can't stress that enough.

[jeffe]

OK, Wood will out last you and several of your generations. My oldest military firearm is a 1818 Springfield. It has a walnut stock. Who says wood does not last.

I have a a Number of 1800's firearms. the wood is still there. Some WWI Military and WWII.. all the wood is still there, still good to go.


Synthetic is great for the manufacturer. What does wood cost, what does plastic cost.

If your too damn lazy to clean a firearm, you should not own one.

BTW I do have a few synthetic... I am not sold on them as the end all to beat all, A good piece of wood is beautiful and practical.
Are you as stupid, arrogant, and constipated as you sound? Or, are YOU just so damn lazy, that you jump to half-assed conclusions?

[Seraphim]

Are you as stupid, arrogant, and constipated as you sound? Or, are YOU just so damn lazy, that you jump to half-assed conclusions?

Talk about jump to conclusions. Who pissed in your cereal?

[Hollis]

^rofl

In the end, it'll prolly be your wallet doing to the talking, so just find out which suits you best in terms of Fit and Feel. That'd be the most important feature any stock should have. GOOD FIT, I can't stress that enough.


I think that is 100% the issue. Sometimes there are not much of a choice. Some of the companies use some pretty bad wood, stamped checkering uggg, either way either stock will probably out last the original owner and then some.

I think bad mouthing wood for not lasting long is more BS than fact. I used front stuffers and have used them is really crappy conditions. They still look good and no problems, even with Black powder.

[Hollis]

Are you as stupid, arrogant, and constipated as you sound? Or, are YOU just so damn lazy, that you jump to half-assed conclusions?


WOW that is a mouth full, Did I hurt your feelings, I am sorry, Do you need a Hug? I know a Purple Dinosaur that will Hug you and sing to you. His name is Barney.

[California Joe]

Are you as stupid, arrogant, and constipated as you sound? Or, are YOU just so damn lazy, that you jump to half-assed conclusions?

Take a break champ.

[TacoDelRio]

Thanks. :-)

[BillySing]

I think that is 100% the issue. Sometimes there are not much of a choice. Some of the companies use some pretty bad wood, stamped checkering uggg, either way either stock will probably out last the original owner and then some.

I think bad mouthing wood for not lasting long is more BS than fact. I used front stuffers and have used them is really crappy conditions. They still look good and no problems, even with Black powder.


I suppose you have to make the distinction between "Lasting" and Remaining aesthetically pleasing. Sure, I've got an old Baikal SxS (built like a brick sh\thouse) that was my knock about gun, and she still works. But the stock ain't what it used to be. Chips, Dents, scratches..........But then again I can't blame the stock, when it was me that keep dinging it against the ute door when quickly getting out in chase of pigs. Though if it was a synthetic stock, you really wouldn't notice a whole lot of difference.

I really like my synthetic stocked H-S precision, because the stock will keep on looking good, even after being hit against things in the heat of the moment. The scope however, is something you don't wanna ding.

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/2937/243cq3.th.jpg (http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=243cq3.jpg)

[Lazuris]

Its only a .17 HMR go wood and trick it out. Check out

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com they have a whole slew of sweet looking stocks that you can customize design and colors

[California Joe]

I'm actually thinking about getting one of these from Walmart for $179.00, it's got the plastic stock but I figured I'd Krylon the thing and sniper rifle it out a little. I could paint it up like Billys H-S...:) Don't get me wrong though, I'm still a tiger stripe Maple/fancy Walnut kinda guy....

[Hollis]

I'm actually thinking about getting one of these from Walmart for $179.00, it's got the plastic stock but I figured I'd Krylon the thing and sniper rifle it out a little. I could paint it up like Billys H-S...:) Don't get me wrong though, I'm still a tiger stripe Maple/fancy Walnut kinda guy....

That would be nice, I have a .17 in thompson contender, Nice walnut. Everything is a trade off. I have a few synthetic stocks, as with everything, it is a trade off, they have a purpose. One of those purposes is NOT the complete replacement for wood. Sometime those dents and dings tell a story. One thing I wished old military rifles could do, is tell about their experiences. I pick one up and carefully look and feel it's texture. Only if they could talk. BTW I picked up a very nice M 98 Krag Carbine made in 1899.

As for old this is a '73 Winchester I restore (Yes posted before) it was made in '81, I believe. ORIGINAL WOOD

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k226/Hollis6475/DSCN0081PS.jpg

I looked at wood (Nature) and Steel (Man) as blend of two worlds. I guess I should finish my book, Zen and the art of Shooting.

[California Joe]

I get it Hollis. I know an old man that has an original Berdan Sharps, along with about 400 other firearms that belong in a museum and when I held that thing it's like believing in reincarnation. The stories they could tell. They literally are history.

[Hollis]

CJ, a friend stated once, "If you don't know where your coming from, you'll won't know where your going."

For me, part of it is to beable to reach back and touch history.

[Seraphim]

I took my 17 out yesterday, still shoots like a dream.