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Wood or Plastic ... or does it matter?

kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
Bullseye mentioned on another thread that more people prefer wood stocks/furniture over Plastic ..... is it true or does it matter?

Your opinion matters! How do you vote?

Since I posed the question I'll tell y'all how I feel ...

I have to say, wood can be pretty, plastic is practical; As long as it shoots sub MOA ...

I DON'T CARE!

=================================
The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
... there are so darn many models to choose from!
kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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Comments

  • thesupermonkeythesupermonkey Member Posts: 3,905 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Blastic (or Black Plastic).
    It just looks so mean!
    Although I've seen some Fals with drop-dead gorgeous wood.


    Don't worry about the bullet with your name on it, worry about the fragmentation grenade addressed 'To Occupant'.
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  • pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have to admit that I am a wood freak. I'm in the middle of a re-stocking of my .257 Weatherby with a beautiful piece of Myrtlewood, and I have a .300 built with a gorgeous piece of tiger tail maple.

    Even though I prefer wood, you can't beat plastic/fiberglass for durability. Moisture does not effect them and they don't change over the years like wood does. I tend to leave the pretty guns in the safe and opt for my stainless synthetic for hard hunting...

    ...and like kimber says, no matter the selection they must shoot!

    Gun control is hitting your target
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  • 101AIRBORNE101AIRBORNE Member Posts: 1,252 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wood and black plastic.
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have seen some crappy wood, and so have you. Some of these patched together imports have junk on them. On the other hand, I love beautiful wood. I used to love the Lew Horton grips on those snubbie 629s, for example. And the grain in some of these new rifle stocks is drop-dead gorgeous (no pun intended; well, maybe just a little...). As for polymer, resin, plastic, whatever, there is cheap plastic and there is the good stuff. The best stuff apparently comes from Germany, where they have strict guidelines for the creation of polypropylenes and various plastic compounds. I happen to know there is an association of manufacturers trying to get similar codes in place for plastic in the USA right now. I love a beautiful vintage wood stocked gun, and occasionally wood makes sense on a modern piece as well. But for modern guns, I think the right combination of steel and other metals and alloys, combined with the judicious use of quality polymers, is where we are going, like it or not. I hear, however, that plastic loses moisture over time and can become dry and brittle. This may not be true of all compounds. I am still a student when it comes to this topic, but as far as wood goes, I know what I love when I see it. And I know when NOT to change a good wood stock for an aftermarket plastic job. At least, I sure hope I do.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • GreenLanternGreenLantern Member Posts: 1,647 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It all boils down to the individual gun. Plastic on an SKS? Not a chance. Wood on a G3/HK? Not a chance.
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  • CAndres35CAndres35 Member Posts: 453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i dont think i will ever get used to the artificial stocks. it is wood all the way for me!!! i dont own a long gun with anything but wood, however have to admit that one or two of my handguns have olastic of some sort on the grips. i think its called "micarta" or somthing like that. my rugers have wood grips and i have purchased several extra sets in case they quit making them. CARL
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  • squeakycsqueakyc Member Posts: 204 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wood all the way. I only collect and use hunting weapons manufactured before 1950 and I don't find many with synthetic stocks. Natural wood looks good, feels good and ages well. Nothing better than a nice piece of walnut.
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  • Warpig883Warpig883 Member Posts: 6,459
    edited November -1
    Plastic belongs on tupperwear, I hope Glock is reading this thread.
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    I would have to say wood... Classic has done stocks, and made grips using wood.. they turn out so beautiful... it has such a warm feel to it and only adds to the value of the gun... He has also rehandled knives with everything from mother of pearl to bone... but the one I prefer is bone or anything in stag...

    He doesnt use plastic unless the client requests it..


    One woman's opinion
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  • concealedG36concealedG36 Member Posts: 3,566 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Even though I'm a Glock fan I will have to vote for


    WOOD

    Gun Control Disarms Victims, NOT Criminals



    Edited by - concealedG36 on 07/10/2002 22:21:05
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  • hobbisthobbist Member Posts: 176 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My opinion: if original stock was a wood it should be wood, if it was plastic it is plastic. Unless you going abuse it, in this case plastic is better. Wood stock is more elegant especially for the classic rifles.
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  • 4wheeler4wheeler Member Posts: 3,441
    edited November -1
    Wood is beautiful but I prefer plastic(camo).

    "It was like that when I got here".
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I wouldn't want anything but wood on my 12ga. Remington 1100 Magnum, but for a gun that you want to be able to take a beating and use as a beating stick would have to be synthetic. Something that is impervious to the elements. I would also want the barrel and receiver to be brushed stainless steel(less reflection and also impervious to the elements).

    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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  • cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,642 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I thought I found a jewel. Ruger 77/44 SS & Walnut. When it arrived I found that it was SS & syn (mis-print). No wonder I never had seen one advertised - Ruger didn't make one. I wanted a SS / Walnut so bad that I also bought a blue / walnut and traded stocks. Sure, I no longer have an original, but I love the beauty of wood so much, it didn't matter. BTY, a fellow bought my blue/syn without a word.

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
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  • groundhog devastationgroundhog devastation Member Posts: 4,495
    edited November -1
    From a long time shooter and an accuracy nut! "Board certified"!! I have long been drawn to a pretty piece of wood!! HOWEVER, A lot of them pretty pices of wood are too pretty to ride a pick-up, march through a bramble thicket or be subjected to the other things hunters can put them through!! Also after shooting several Synthetic stocked rifles I am thoroughly convinced that the synthetic VS wood in any given caliber is superior to relaying felt recoil to the shooter!!! From now on, If I'm going to hunt with it, it will be synthetic! If all I want is to show it off and impress somebody with a "purdy" gun I might have wood!!! GHD
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Polymer is supposed to be lighter and a natural recoil buffer. That's why Ruger is using it on some of the P-Series Pistol Frames. I'm not sold on that yet.

    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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  • Dyer_MakerDyer_Maker Member Posts: 1,018 ✭
    edited November -1
    What would laminated stock be considered? I love a nice wood stock, But I only own a shotgun with a wood stock. One of my rifles is a laminated stock, The other is a grey spider web graphite stock. Both are very nice looking guns. So my vote is synthetic. lol
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I guess I would disagree about the G3 because I prefer the look of the CETME to the G3 Carbine -- I'd like to find a G3 Carbine with the CETME wood furniture on it, frankly.

    As for the elements, wood stands up fairly well to abuse, but I do think a good polymer and stainless can be the practical way to go if you need a utility gun for marine use or in a lot of bad weather and you want the gun to remain in "as new" condition. If you don't mind wear, fine. But of course rust ain't good for reliability so there are practical limits to materials in the worst conditions. At the very least, I would want a good coat of laminate on a wood stock for hard outdoor utility. I'd do a laminate spray job myself if I thought a set of stocks needed protecting.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I like to see nice wood on a firearm when it is appropriate, particularly older doubles and lever actions. But for practical use, I like the plastics *if* not Coney Island cheesy. I don't own much that doesn't go in the field and wouldn't *buy* anything that won't be used. Pretty wood won't stay pretty banging around in the woods or duck boat. Likewise engraving, etc. When was the last time you saw an engraved claw hammer with a bird's eye maple handle? I detest the laminated stocks and the Weatherby-style high gloss items. And have never seen one I liked enough to buy simply for the action, 'cause the stock would be off it before it came home! Otherwise, like Brett, "Frankly, I don't give a damn."
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    On a quality gun nothing beats the look of a beautiful piece of wood. Actually a beautiful piece of wood even makes a cheap gun look pretty damn good! If the wood looks cheap, as so much of it now does, then you might as well go with synthetic. It doesn't look any worse and stands the weather much better. Out of over 70 guns in my safes (barring the glocks etc..) only 3 have synthetic stocks, and many have stocks that I built for them.

    Did I mention that I like wood???

    Lt the wood worker

    "We become what we habitually do. If we act rightly, we become upright men. If we habitually act wrongly, or weakly, we become weak and corrupt" - *ARISTOTLE*

    **Like Grandad used to say--"It'll feel better when it quits hurtin"
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  • AlerionAlerion Member Posts: 61 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    On long guns I'll take good wood over good plastic any day!

    And I'll take good plastic over cheap wood.

    If I have to I'll take cheap wood over cheap plastic.

    And cheap plastic I won't take at all!

    Tom

    (But I still like nice soft Hogue wraparounds on handsguns!)

    So, just how does rendering me defenseless protect you from violent criminals?
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wood. But I often restock with laminates.

    On revolvers I like decelerator grips.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I like "SYNTHETICS". Plastic is junk. Kevlar and Fiberglass strands held together with epoxy is the only rifle stock I want on anything for "serious" shooting. Less felt recoil due to transferring the energy through the glass strands which run in all directions as opposed to transferring the energy right down the wood grain and into the shoulder. Also, a good $300-$450 dollar synthetic stock will outlast any piece of wood ever made and have a fraction of the battle scars many years from now. I just think they hold up better to time and abuse, they also don't rot from the gun oils and darken/soften.

    HS Precision
    McMillian
    Brown Precision

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • sandman2234sandman2234 Member Posts: 894 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hmmm... yes, I like stocks.

    Have Gun, will travel
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