strubedog Posted November 14, 2004 Report Share Posted November 14, 2004 Just thinking about buying a new gun and in the back of my mind I am thinking it will be a gun I will never get rid of. This said I have a son who will most likely get it someday. Here in lies the thing I need to sort through. If I was inheriting a gun I would want a wood stock because of the beauty/character. On the other hand I like the idea of laminate/composite stock so I don't worry about scratches, swelling in rain etc... Any ideas you can throw at me to get me to make up my mind would be helpful. How much wet weather does it take to screw up a stock? (not sure if mfg. have different quality finishes on the stocks but it will be a tikka) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted November 14, 2004 Report Share Posted November 14, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns Make mine walnut. I want the nicks, scratches, gouges------they are memories of every hunt. I can tell you which hunt I was for everyone. Like the big gouge when I slipped on a talus slope on my sheep hunt. Or the worn blueing from the scabbard on several elk hunts. I've hunted in all kinds of weather & have NEVER had a problem with a warped stock---never have lost point of aim by swollen wood. IMO----fiberglas stocks, Stainless Steel, composite etc------just more marketing. That's my 2 cents worth----Free of charge of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut_Buster Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns I dunno... For some reason I like stainless and black. Composits are alot easier to maintain and lighter weight. I haven't given much thoguht in to my pass down gun. Prolly be my Remington 788 243. But I ain't thinking bout that yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns [ QUOTE ] How much wet weather does it take to screw up a stock? [/ QUOTE ] Depends on the piece of wood. I have a .220 Swift Ruger with a beautiful piece of walnut on it (for a standard factory gun). It swelled/warped enough to change the point of impact. So I had the barrel channel opened up. It did it again!! It has never been wet. Now the channel is sufficiently opend to where I'll not have the problem again. That aside............I've never had any of my other wood-stocked guns affected. And a couple of them have gotten drenched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strubedog Posted November 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns I talked to my dad who also said if my kids will inherit the guns and have sentimental value to them with it being my gun that wood is the way to go. Wood it is. Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns Hope that is a long ways off, but my wife would have to decide if I make a departure which of my two daughters would get which. Going to hopefully get a BAR high grade in 30-06 one of these days just because I want one and it will definitely be a keeper to be passed on. My model 700 .270 will also always have its place, have killed a lot of deer with that gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strubedog Posted November 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns Yes I hope it is a long ways off but being a father who loves his children we have a trust, living will, etc... and I am only 31 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strubedog Posted November 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns You are right, wood doesn't make it sentimental but makes it beautiful and for sure adds to a sentimental piece. I have my grandfathers ithaca model 37 20 gauge and love the character that grouse gun has. Composite serves a purpose (I own a rifle and shotgun that are synthetic) which I like but it looks cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns My favorite gun is a Marlin 336 that my grandfather bought the day he got back from WWII. He hunted with it when my mother was a little girl. When I was young he would take all the grandsons out for target practice. I think I was about 8 when I fired the first time. I was afraid to shoot it for years. When my grandfather died the gun went to my mother and she gave it to me. It had been abused by other grandsons for years and was in really bad shape. I completely disassembled it and rubbed it down with 000 steal wool and reblued it myself. The gun would probibly sell for $150 at a pawn shop and is the least valuble gun I have, but it holds more value to me than any gun I own or will ever own. What the gun looks like or is worth makes no difference. It's the story behind the gun that does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strubedog Posted November 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns "What the gun looks like or is worth makes no difference. It's the story behind the gun that does." That may work in theory. If I had a choice of have a sentimental 65 corvette(wood stock) or a sentimental rusty pinto (plastic gun) I would choose the vette everytime. I would gurantee many a shotgunner rather have a grandfathers old belgium A5 then a mossberg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad dryden Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns I would go with the wood but thats just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns [ QUOTE ] "What the gun looks like or is worth makes no difference. It's the story behind the gun that does." [/ QUOTE ] Yep. Got an old smith and wesson 32-30 that is pretty darned old. It belonged to my grandfather, as the story goes it was supposedly given to him by a cop buddy of his who had taken it off a mobster. Pretty interesting history if it is all true. I really have no reason to doubt any of it, just wish I had been able to hear the stories directly from my grandfather. The cop gave the gun to my grandfather for his protection and he carried it with him in the mines when he would deliver payrolls. Have never shot that gun myself, but have kept it in as good a condition as I got it in and one of my kids will get it someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns [ QUOTE ] That may work in theory. If I had a choice of have a sentimental 65 corvette(wood stock) or a sentimental rusty pinto (plastic gun) I would choose the vette everytime. I would gurantee many a shotgunner rather have a grandfathers old belgium A5 then a mossberg. [/ QUOTE ] I see it just backwards. I see the shiny Pinto as the wood stocked gun and the synthetic or laminated stocked gun as a beat up vette. (Performance) You can get the best of both with an Acrabond stock. They are laminated walnut but it is done in thicker layers. It does not have the plywood look of the typical laminate. They are not cheap though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest huntinsanobsession Posted November 27, 2004 Report Share Posted November 27, 2004 Re: Sentimental Guns when i buy my own gun it is going to be wood cause i love wood it makes it look real the plastic and fiberglass and all that stuff just make it look like a cheap happymeal toy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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