if your starting with a 30/06 basic action ,
Id strongly consider building a 35 whelen,
every time Ive built one, someone starts waving much more cash , then it cost me to build it,
when I'm broke and they find out they now own one.
and thats rather amazing ,
since they are not cheap to build, the last one I built was on a laminated stock ,
with a 22" fluted stainless barrel, it looked rather similar to this picture , but with an endfield action with the rear sights milled off and a green/grey laminated stock
http://rifle-stocks.com/
https://www.boydsgunstocks.com/
Laminated Stocks What Are The Pros and Cons
Posted By:
StrayDog
Laminated Stocks What Are The Pros and Cons - 07/20/19
I'm not seeing as many at the range as a few years ago. Wondering if they are too heavy, or not as stable as composite stocks?
Posted By:
hillbillybear
Re: Laminated Stocks What Are The Pros and Cons - 07/20/19
Weight is the big thing I have noticed. Never had any stability issues.. I do like them a lot.
Posted By:
Coyote_Hunter
Re: Laminated Stocks What Are The Pros and Cons - 07/20/19
Pro
1. Strong
2. Stiffer than many/most synthetic stocks
3. More stable than wood
4. Variety of colors and color combinations
5. Often less expensive than wood
6. Heavier than wood (desirable for some shooting situations)
Con
1. Heavier than wood (not desirable for some shooting situations)
2. Not as stable as a good synthetic
For me the choice of laminate depends on the rifle and its usage. For my 6.5-06AI heavy-barrel, I intentionally chose laminate for the added weight and stiffness. This rifle is primarily a target rifle, although I've used it to take antelope.
The nutmeg factory laminate on my Ruger .223 is still there. It came that way (used) and I wasn't particularly concerned one way or another. Got it primarily to have something to shoot while my heavy-barrel Ruger .22-250, also in a factory laminate, cooled.
My .308 Ruger Scout came in a laminate stock, which I replaced with a factory synthetic. Weight and balance were my main concerns and the synthetic dropped the weight to 6.25 pounds per Ruger. Although it has a forward mounted scope, this rifle is intended for use with the factory ghost ring. With the 16.1" barrel it is a handy little rifle tht is a joy to carry. I could probably sell all my other rifles and be just as successful in the woods and sage using the Scout. (Not going to happen, though.)
One of my .30-06 rifles, a stainless Ruger, came in a nutmeg laminate stock that I replaced with a boat-paddle. This is a hunting rifle where weight is a concern and I wanted a stock that was impervious to weather.
Never had any problem with wood stocks and weather, but I float all my barrels and seal the wood. Still, I prefer synthetic for wet weather.
Posted By:
StrayDog
Re: Laminated Stocks What Are The Pros and Cons - 07/20/19
Sometimes I have hunted in cold places like Canada, and noticed how cold a synthetic stock feels, almost as cold as the rifle barrel. I'm thinking the wood laminates would be better to have in hand or across my lap. The only con for me is with my conservative taste, the color combos I like are usually sold out for a short action m700.
Posted By:
Oldelkhunter
Re: Laminated Stocks What Are The Pros and Cons - 07/20/19
Serengeti(are they still in business?) made a beautiful walnut laminate stock. They were pricey but they were beautiful.
Only Cons I see are Weight. If it is assembled and glued correctly it is probably stronger then a fiberglass stock.
https://www.stockysstocks.com/stocks-by-brand/stocky-s/stocky-s-accublocks.html