Stock material effect on accuracy

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Stock material effect on accuracy

Post by beerd » 05 May 2014, 2:18 pm

Wondering what peoples thoughts on this are.

Do you think one type of stock material makes for a more accuracy rifle?

Obviously not comparing a bedded timber one vs an off the shelf synthetic or anything like that.

Just wood vs synthetic vs laminate.

Any effect on how the rifle shoots?
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Re: Stock material effect on accuracy

Post by WesleySnipes » 05 May 2014, 11:51 pm

Not an expert, but as long as it doesn't affect the harmonics of the barrel and the action is torqued down to the stock I don't see why it would make any difference between materials if bedding isn't taken into account.

Some rifles though are designed with points of contact with their stocks and shoot better that way.

What you might notice with the cheaper synthetic stocks in particular is that the fore end of the stock will bend under certain conditions, such as when you are shooting with a bipod on, creating a point of contact on a 'free floated' barrel which would definitely affect the rifle's performance. While wood isn't as flimsy as some of the synthetic stocks, wood can also warp if not taken care of.
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Re: Stock material effect on accuracy

Post by Joom » 06 May 2014, 3:29 pm

WesleySnipes wrote:Some rifles though are designed with points of contact with their stocks and shoot better that way.


Yep, if you had a factory stock designed in a particular way and swapped it for an aftermarket one which cradled the action differently that could cause issues.

Wouldn't be the result of the stock material as such tough, but the different stock.
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Re: Stock material effect on accuracy

Post by Aussier » 06 May 2014, 3:31 pm

Joom wrote:Wouldn't be the result of the stock material as such tough, but the different stock.


Yep.

Assuming we're talking about a 'normal' action setup which will liking being bedded with a floating barrel, it shouldn't matter what the material is of the stock it is sitting it.

There are some like the Ruger American and Sako A7 though I think? Which have different factory mounting styles.
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Re: Stock material effect on accuracy

Post by Prettybird » 06 May 2014, 3:32 pm

One exception to that would be stock swelling.

Get stuck in the rain with your walnut stock and it could be effected where a synthetic would not.
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Re: Stock material effect on accuracy

Post by Rakk » 06 May 2014, 3:33 pm

Prettybird wrote:Get stuck in the rain with your walnut stock and it could be effected where a synthetic would not.


Plenty of clearance when floating the barrel usually prevents that though.
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Re: Stock material effect on accuracy

Post by AusC » 06 May 2014, 3:39 pm

WesleySnipes wrote:While wood isn't as flimsy as some of the synthetic stocks, wood can also warp if not taken care of.


A mate of mine had to have his Tikka stock fixed due to that.

Shot half MOA, suddenly increased to 1.5 MOA for no reason he could see.

Took it to the smith and found the barrel channel had bulged under the barrel out of view due to moisture and was creating a pressure point.

Carved out the channel again and sealed it, problem fixed.
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