Walnut or Laminate?

[long40shot]

For a hunting/p-dog stock. Which would you choose? I wouldn't use it in wet conditions.

 

[Nomad47]

Laminate.

 

[ND shooter]

Laminate.

^^^^

 

[John Russell]

Good bedding job and free floated barrel and I don't think you will ever see an issue.

With a good bedding job and floated barrel, it makes no difference.

 

[ChuckMiller]

If I have to carry it and care what it looks like then walnut. Shoot it off of a bench then laminate .

 

[snert]

I am old school....I love old walnut 40X stocks, so...walnut

 

[jonbearman]

I love walnut so count me in.

 

[MrBottleneck]

Without a doubt walnut.
Walnut smells so good when working with it.

 

[Jammer Six]

Walnut. There is no logic that can top this particular emotion.

 

[joshb]

I like to sit in front of the tv and polish my wood.
There's nothing better than a nice piece of walnut.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Laminated Walnut


Ray

 

[joshb]

Laminated Walnut


Ray

 

[DOGCAPPER]

Curly maple said the blackpowder man!!!

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Walnut/maple laminate

 

[Ledd Slinger]

The key with ANY wood stock is to keep it sealed properly. As long as the wood was cured properly prior to cutting the stock and you use a good sealer with full multi-coat coverage inside and out, it shouldn't have any trouble in hot or wet environments.

I personally prefer fancy walnut. It's harder than laminate and the looks are far better. I have multiple Walnut stocks and never had one warp due to wetness or high heat.

Nothing wrong with laminate if the stock is made properly. Just boring looks is all. Tho a walnut/maple laminate, as metioned above, may be good looking.

 

[Nomad47]

I guess I should have said if you like the looks of a traditional rifle, go for the walnut. And I have always liked checkering on a walnut stock. But if you want a little pizzazz, go for a laminate.
My Ohio State Buckeyes stock.

 

[SheepDog]

I work with wood a little (I mostly work with steel) and I can tell you that I don't know any wood that is stable. They all move with moisture content (humidity) and temperature - especially when you heat it on one side like a barrel does in a wood stock. A laminate wood stock is stronger than a solid wood stock. It resists twisting and warping better than a solid wood stock. They can be quite nice looking even though a good piece of hardwood is sometimes better looking to me. Using different woods to make a laminated stock is the norm but there is no reason you couldn't use the same kind of wood throughout the stock to make a laminated stock as long as you move the grain around to gain the strength you want it to have.

 

[JRS]

If you don't want it to warp or twist, have the wood stabilized

 

[Jammer Six]

I do work with wood, and retired from a career working with wood. I'm a walnut guy in spite of the fact that it probably moves a little more than other materials.

At the dimensions of a large rifle, that movement would be quite small, and easily managed by design. It's not a new problem, and the design solutions were found long ago.

 

[kolob10]

I love the looks of a finely figured walnut stock but if it is going to the field, I will choose synthetic. Laminate shoots great off the bench.