UPDATED-Synthetic Stock

[tazman2800]

Update: Pictures added. Went with a laminate stock from Stocky"s Stocks, just need to put the scope on.


I looking for suggestions on where to buy a synthetic stock. I have a Winchester Model 670A in 30.06 and the wood stock has worn so bad that the bolts can no longer be tightened down. As you shoot the barrel warms up and the bullets start tracking high and to the right. I am going to put a new stock on it and give it to my 18 year old son for Christmas. This will be his first hunting rifle and was my first hunting rifle that I have had for 32 years. I know some will say don't do it, get him a new rifle. But I want my son to kill animals with the same gun I used to kill my first deer. Thanks for any advice or suggestion you can give me.

[carpsniperg2]

H.S. Precision's makes some great stocks.

[Bob33]

Given the tradition and history, I think I would at least explore seeing if that wood stock could be repaired first before replacing it.

[yorketransport]

Given the tradition and history, I think I would at least explore seeing if that wood stock could be repaired first before replacing it.

I agree. Look into having pillars installed in the stock. It would help improve the function of the gun while maintaining the history and original feel.

Andrew

[RadSav]

Given the tradition and history, I think I would at least explore seeing if that wood stock could be repaired first before replacing it.

I agree. Look into having pillars installed in the stock. It would help improve the function of the gun while maintaining the history and original feel.

Andrew

   That's an easy one to bed too!

[tazman2800]

I will keep the woodstock and refinish it to go back on the gun at a later date. I would like him to have a composite for hunting in  the brush and in nasty weather.

[tazman2800]

One more question? what are the pros and cons of a laminate stock.

[carpsniperg2]

Fit and feel. Most syn stocks are lighter as well. Plus you don't have to worry about putting chips in the stock. Chipped plastic looks a lot better then chipped wood!!!

[RadSav]

One more question? what are the pros and cons of a laminate stock.

The Cons are that they are heavy and they can not obtain the same level of traditional cosmetics.  And usually they are made from laminates of maple which can not be checkered in traditional manners.  Though some of the laser work they come with is quite spectacular.  Not all the designs are that much heavier than a beefy production stock.

The Pros  Stiffness, resistant to weather, scratches are easily repaired, quieter than composites, warmer than composites, maintain that feel of wood, easy to get good bedding to stock bond, balance the gun better than near all composite stocks, easier to cut down for women and kids with shorter LOP than composites, get as accurate as composites in my experience, generally a high quality laminate stock is cheaper than a high quality composite, pillars are easily mounted but pillars are not as necessary as they are on wood (my best shooter does not have pillars), and the list could go on and on.

My custom wood stocks are a true thing of beauty.  They feel, look and smell the way a rifle was intended.  But, I almost shed a tear everytime they touch barbed wire or bounce off a rock.  And I find I do not use some of my favorite guns as much since having custom stocks made for them for fear of destroying it's fine craftsmanship. 

I also have some fine high quality crafted composite stocked guns.  A recent purchase I made here on H-W was a Kimber Montana in .325.  I decided that before I put the first round through this gun to go the way of NULA and full bed the action and barrel.  After a single fowling shot the next 10 rounds grouped just a hair over 1/2" with Nosler factory ammo.  It's a shooter for sure, but about as ugly as a gun can be.  It came with the proud scratches of success from the previous owner.  Those will be there for the life of the stock unless I got REALLY carried away (which could happen   I am an anal retentive SOB or so the squaw routinely tells me)

My composite stocked gun...I love 'em!  Usually the first ones I take out of the safe when I decide to put the bow down and chase the local game.  Tough as nails, never change zero and I'm lucky that every single one of them like everything from cheap Core-Lokts to Nosler Custom loads.  Never had an instance where weather effected their performance.  And when I get over excited and bang them around scrambling for a shot I don't lose a single tear.  Just hit 'em with a buffing wheel, seal and ready for the next varmint, bear or whatever the tag says that day.  I personally bed each and every one myself as rarely do they come as "Drop-In" friendly as the manufacture says.  Some have pillars some do not.  Haven't noticed a difference when bedded properly.  I usually mail order mine through "Stocky's Stocks" but there are a good number of quality sources out there.  I chose Stocky's because the finish quality is even more outstanding than the customer service which is very impressive.

I'm not familiar enough with the differences between the model 70 and 670 so I'm not sure what the availability might be.  Could be a non-issue or could be a major hassle.  I just dont know.

Carp probably has more experience than I as the bow is my primary hunting tool.  That being said I have never put a chip in one.  I'd think if they are fitted properly and the sharp corners are rounded or protected by a proper fitting butt pad that shouldn't be a very common problem.  Spent about 20 years with a laminated recurve bow riser without a single chip.  Certainly could happen though.

[RadSav]

I might add that the only aftermarket stock I have ever purchased and 100% regretted was a Bell Carlson.  I had read some very good stuff about them and was excited to put one on an A-Bolt I picked up for cheap.  First thing I noticed was the "drop-In" fitting was not even close for the A-Bolt.  Then not only was the action fit so poor the safety would not function, but I had to cut the butt/cheek of the stock down 1/4" so you could operate the bolt.  Then the magazine plate had to be trimmed so it would close.  Finally about 40 hours later it was operational and the gun was grouping fine even though I had to really dig in to the cheek weld to line up on the scope with medium height scope rings.

The stock came with a soft touch finish and Mossy Oak camo (features I paid extra for).  My first trip into the bush with it was a horrible windy rainy day and I slipped in the berry patch often and got my boots really stuck in the mud a few times - Super wet and nasty!!  Two hours into the hunt the soft touch finish started to bubble up and flake off.  Looked like a dog with a bad case of mange by the end of the day.  By the end of my second trip about 50% of the Mossy Oak pattern was worn off leaving nothing but the white primer exposed.

I did have a great time with a new Christmas gift sawsall cutting it up into little tiny pieces before throwing it in the trash.

Some people seem to really like them.  After my experience I can not for the life of me figure out why.

[tazman2800]

Radsav, I have been looking at laminates from Stocky's Stock and I really like the looks, as far as scratches go I think they add history to the gun. As far as the weight, he is 18 years old and strong as an ox so weight will not be an issue. So you say you wouldn't worry about pillars but you would bed the stock to the gun. Would you use the bedding that Stocky's Stocks sell.
One of the reasons I chose Stocky's is because they sell blind magazine stocks like my 670 requires and I have been having a hard time finding this stock.
Thanks for all of the advise, I think the laminate stock will make the old gun look like something my son can be proud of. I never did like the looks of the factory stock anyway.

[RadSav]

Radsav, I have been looking at laminates from Stocky's Stock and I really like the looks, as far as scratches go I think they add history to the gun. As far as the weight, he is 18 years old and strong as an ox so weight will not be an issue. So you say you wouldn't worry about pillars but you would bed the stock to the gun. Would you use the bedding that Stocky's Stocks sell.
One of the reasons I chose Stocky's is because they sell blind magazine stocks like my 670 requires and I have been having a hard time finding this stock.
Thanks for all of the advise, I think the laminate stock will make the old gun look like something my son can be proud of. I never did like the looks of the factory stock anyway.

The last one I did was the A-Bolt replacement for the Bell Carlson.  So that was the Apache Laminate Thumbhole stock.  Other than needing to open up the barrel channel a little for the 7mm Mag it really could have been a drop-in job.  The action was cut absolutely perfect!  Only thing needed in the action area was to shave about .015" where the magazine plate attached.  It worked as received, but you had to get it just right.  Not always easy if using gloves in the late season so I shaved the small amount, resealed and it works great.

So I certainly could have dropped it in and had it shoot as well as the factory stock did.  However, it is so easy to bed laminates and I was going to neutral bed the barrel tip anyway (almost a must for older A-Bolts) so I did the action as well.  No pillars.  This gun went from a 3" factory stock group to a sub MOA (about 3/4" with Nosler factory ammo) Devcon 10110 "Plastic Steel Putty" in my opinion is the cadillac of bedding compounds.  However, when I was set to go I found my old stuff had gone bad and my local Grainger was out of stock.  So being the impatient *censored* I am I ran to O'Reilly's and picked up some JB Weld.  A bit messy and thin compared to the Devcon, but the end result was as good as always - Gun shoots great!  And, the JB actually matches my stock much better than the near black Devcon.

I have never liked Acraglass or Acraglass Gel.  Never seemed very strong to me from a repeated compression point of view.  So I have never used what Stocky's sells.  I like the idea of having a metal filled material.  May make no difference at all.  I just didn't feel good when I tried the stuff 20 some odd years ago.  Not sure who else besides Grainger regularly stocks the Devon 10110.  Perhaps others could help you with that.

If I remember right the Tundra thumbhole and the Heritage both come standard with inletting for the 670.  I think you will be very pleased with the look and feel of those stocks.  They are in my opinion the very best.

Good luck!  Hope your son enjoys the final result.

[tazman2800]

RadSav,  I will be following your advice on using Grainger for the bedding material.

If you get a chance could you PM we some advise on how to bed the rifle or point me in a direction as I have never attempted this.

Thanks for you help and advice, I will post a picture after the gun is finished.

[huntnphool]

I've purchased a couple laminated stocks from http://rifle-stocks.com/sporter_hunting_styles.htm and am very happy with them.

[tazman2800]

Thanks for all the help I have updated with a picture, all I need is to bed the rifle and install the scope.