Maintaining walnut stocks a pain over time?

[samf]

Hi guys,

I've recently got my license and have sent off a pair of PTA's for my first rifles.

I've put in for a Browning X-Bolt, didn't put the exactly rifle on though so can still go between the Hunter which has a walnut stock, or a composite or stainless version for the different stock and barrel material.

Walnut's nice and everything... Long term though, is maintaining it a pain.

I'm no gun smith but obviously there are the gun oils and all that gear for keeping them. Does it become a pain keeping the walnut from degrading and would I be best to go with something synthetic?

Same for the steel I guess as there are blued or stainless versions in various combos.

Thanks.

[Herdsman]

Hardly.

It's just a rub down and a wipe with oil every once in a while.

What's 1 minute minute when it comes to cleaning your rifle?

[Monty]

Laminate stocks, and to a lesser extend, synthetic stocks both need care too though.

If you never do a thing for them they'll wear out like anything else.

[Hercl]

Nah, isn't a problem at all.

Get walnut, it's the business. Synthetic is crap.

[Norton]

Not any different to cleaning any stock. Just a clean and a wipe down.

When you say "keeping the walnut from degrading", it's not soggy bread Walnut will last you a while...

[Blackened]

As above walnut is no problem to maintain.

On the subject of steels, I find blued is easier to keep looking clean than stainless.

Stainless seems to really show it when there is a small amount of grime on there where blued always looks good unless it's literally filthy.

I'm a fan of the blued/walnut combo myself.

[Lorgar]

Nah it's all good.

One of my rifles is blued/walnut and the other is stainless/laminate and cleaning them both is exactly the same.

Get whichever finish you like most and you'll be happy with it.

[samf]

Thanks guys... Walnut it is