May Have Subconsciously Converted from a Wood to Synthetic Stock PCP Guy...

[JoeKool]

Hello AirgunNation Peoples,



May have subconsciously converted from a wood stock to a synthetic stock PCP guy. Growing up, my dad’s hunting rifles and shotguns (that he shared with me) were all beautiful new or older beautifully patinaed guns that he was passed down from his father and uncles that he hunted with when younger.



He showed me how to clean, dry, and oil the guns properly after we hunted and before they were returned to their cases each and every-time.



When I saw my first synthetic stock rifle(powder burner), I thought to myself, “What a cheap looking thing that is, wood is way better than that!”



I held to this belief when I got into PCP’s.


But, recently I evaluated some of my airgun arsenal and I have pretty much converted everything from beautiful walnut stocks to more durable and damage resistant synthetic stocks. I actually don’t even miss the pretty wood. Found that accidentally scratching or denting my soft-touch synthetic stock is the last worry on my mind as opposed to the beautiful wood ones. It makes, at least for me, a more enjoyable hunt. Because I am not so anal about protecting the finishes of the wood. I even let my own 11 year old shoot them without biting my nails the whole time as opposed to the fine walnut stocked PCP’s.



Anyone have similar experiences with wood stocks versus synthetic ones?



FX Streamline Walnut .22

&

FX Dreamline Classic Soft-touch Synthetic .177

 




FX Crown Walnut Stock

&

FX Crown .25 Soft-Touch Synthetic Stock

FX DreamPup Soft-Touch Synthetic .22

FX Wildcat MKII .25 Walnut 

&

FX Wildcat MKIII Sniper .25 Soft-Touch Synthetic 

No doubt the wood is pretty, but is that the only benefit??

 

[Yo]

Some may chime in to say more consistant stable accuracy with a wood stock as opposed to the synthetic however I have many of both in the same calibers and model guns and haven't noticed it or wasn't paying enough attention or maybe even just plain lucky I guess.

When experts such as Motorhead says something I really try to pay close attention...

 

[sonny]

The FX synthetic stocks are awesome, I do like a nice piece of lumber but I too like the synthetic's for much the same reasons as you. As for stability wood swells, shrinks, twists, and warps so....

 

[Pale_Rider]

I think the main advantage of wood stock being better for accuracy is the weight and solidity. If you make a synthetic stock the same weight and solidity as the wood stock they should shoot the same. Even with the lighter more hollow synthetic stocks I don’t think there’s any drastic difference in accuracy. Unfortunately I don’t have a gun with both synthetic and wood stock to compare

 

[lenweber2]

I have several powder burners with outstanding wood. One the wood was $700 40 years ago before cut into a stock. But my later years I've gone over to synthetic stocks for most guns either powder or air. I just don't worry about damage while hunting/pesting.

 

[thumper]

Nope. Don't do synthetics.

My wood stock guns get used. Scratches or dings are memories to look back on. If I had one I was so concerned about scratching, I'd get rid of it. Useless to me if it's got to stay at home. 

I don't drive fence posts with mine, or throw them on the ground, but they get used like they are intended to and still look pretty good. Some are older than I am. 

As far as the stability thing, all my guns have floating barrels and the wood doesn't influence them at all. So that's a moot point to me. 

Wood everytime for me. 

 

[Vetmx]

Sorry to see you go. I never will. It’s easier for me to justify the price of a gun if it has nice wood. I also like the sound/harmonics of a wood gun. Laminates are very stable. Plastic, call it what you want if it makes you feel better, is just too Fisher Price for me. Even my beater Savage .223 is laminate. It’s beat up but still looks better than beat up plastic.

 

[vmaxpro]

For me, airguns or firearms. I like both for different things. I will only shoot wood stocked shotguns, dont know why lol. All my big game rifles are wood, all my long range varmint rigs are synthetic, my airguns are mixed, my br rifles are fiberglass. Hunting to me is a very traditional thing so I feel better with a wood stock for some reason. Guess its all personal preference! Oh, also if Im hunting in some wild weather Im taking synthetic regardless.

 

[Pale_Rider]

If there really is any slight accuracy advantage having a wood stock I don’t think it’s enough to trump the peace of mind that a synthetic stock brings.

Out of my best synthetic and best walnut stocked gun, my synthetic gets shot way more(target shooting or pesting)

 

[randy_68]

I like both but my most used guns have synthetic stocks . Such as my 2 Hubens. Bonus is that we had them hydro dipped and they look great plus we had a sure grip applied. Very similar to FX soft touch.

I like wood stocks on my springers. Just seems thats the way it should be. Never owned a springer with a synthetic stock.

Oh, and I'm not a good enough shot to notice an accuracy difference between the two especially in the field. 

FWB 124D with homemade stock

1999 RWS 52 .177

 

[L.Leon]

While I can definitely admire a beautiful walnut stock for me synthetic is the way. Less worries about the eventual scars acquired/earned in the field.

 

[Guest]

I am wood all the way...hence why I instinctively liked a good old AK over M4

 

[Pale_Rider]

I like both but my most used guns have synthetic stocks . Such as my 2 Hubens. Bonus is that we had them hydro dipped and they look great plus we had a sure grip applied. Very similar to FX soft touch.

I like wood stocks on my springers. Just seems thats the way it should be. Never owned a springer with a synthetic stock.

Oh, and I'm not a good enough shot to notice an accuracy difference between the two especially in the field. 

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FWB 124D with homemade stock

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1999 RWS 52 .177

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That’s also a plus with synthetics: I’m more willing to hydro dip a synthetic more so than a pristine walnut

*Cool designs you picked for the hubens

 

[Ranchibi]

I had been eyeballing my bucket list RAW for sometime and when I got my Compatto, Regal and then Raptor, I found I was much more hesitant to take the Regal into the field than my synthetic guns....lo and behold, RAW came out with their Chassis system and made my purchase a no brainer! It is also lighter, narrower and more customizable for fitting. So, yeah, I do luv a beautiful wood stock and there is a definitely a place for them.

 

[JungleShooter]

May have subconsciously converted from a wood stock to a synthetic stock PCP guy.

Joe,

I know that people aren't born as Christians – they actually have to convert to the Christian faith (and be "born again" as this is called).

Forgive the comparison, but with airguns I believe this is different: You can actually be born a synthetic stock guy.

This is how I came into the airgun world. Pardon my diapers, my AG birthday is rather recent.

Let wood stock guys persecute me for my beliefs and blaspheme my stock as "tacticool" and "space cadet toy." I will NOT recant. With my German compatriot Luther I say: "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise." Synthetic stocks or bust! (or black wood if synth is not available)



Matthias

 

[Ghostranger169]

I'm with JoeCool. Coming from a shotgun sports background, I have always found even the nicest wood stocks on airguns to be.... lacking. And in some cases, "forced" looking. Of course, my perspective is a bit affected by looking at hand selected, nicely figured, turkish walnut wood on expensive heirloom shotguns(Perazzi, Krieghoff, Beretta, etc...) for years. 

I like the feel and look of the new soft touch synthetic stocks. The hydrodipped synthetics(camo patterns, american flag, skulls, etc.) are a cool look for aiguns too. If I need more weight, simple walnut wood will do(aluminum bottle and strategically place lead tape is just as helpful). Sand paper and an oil or gloss finish can make these look surprisingly nice as well.

 

[TheIceman]

It's the same way with our cars, houses, and people we find attractive. If everyone was the same, what a dull world it would be. I think my military time influenced me towards the synthetic stocks. I love the looks of the different stocks here, and laminates are very beautiful indeed, but I wouldn't be able to bring myself to take them into the woods for fear of damaging them. For me, air rifles are primarily hunting tools. Expensive, and very fun, hunting tools. The synthetic stock look just contributes to the overall feel of being the most fearsome and dangerous creature on the prowl day or night. Hey, let me have my dream, okay? As long as each of us are having a great time and enjoying this hobby, then shoot whatever pulls your trigger. See what I did there?

James

 

[JoeKool]

Nice AIRGUNS everyone!!!



I’m not anti-wood just finding these FX synthetic ones to be just as good and even more carefree for real world use. The extra weight of fine wood can feel a little more solid and sturdy especially off the bag or bipod (bench shooting). Besides being weighted to help the airgun just sit there solidly, I never noticed a difference at all with POI in a wood versus a synthetic airgun. I have some mint condition walnut springers that I absolutely love but wouldn’t want to be in the woods and have it start poring down raining. Same would go for the walnut PCP’s, I’d be heading for shelter and the hunt would be over. But with the synthetic ones I may just keep hunting.



AA Pro-Sport .22

 

[Blackpaw]

I have a Brocock Compatto with the “soft touch” synthetic stock and it gives the rifle a solid feel to it and my coming Crown Continuum is in synthetic. My Beeman R9 TK has a fiddleback maple stock. My powder burners are a mix of synthetic and wood.

 

[Dairyboy]

I love a nice piece of wood but my guns are tools not pieces of furniture. I only have synthetic guns except for my trusty 870 wingmaster and an old Stevens single shot 410 which both were gifts 10-15yrs ago. With what I deal with here on the farm wood is not practical at all. There's just something in me where if I buy a nice wood or laminate stocked airgun it will sit for fear of getting scratched and dirty. Synthetic all the way for me