Author Topic: Walnut or Laminate (Read 805 times)

powermad · « **on:** April 03, 2004, 10:41:51 AM »

As for as durability is concerned, which would be a better choice for the Encore? Walnut or Laminate. I just put together my first Encore and have yet to buy a stock for it. I am used to shooting bolts with Kevlar/Composite stocks, and I have never owned a wood stock long enough to actually use it.

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2004, 11:09:30 AM »

I got my first Encore recently and it came with the standard T/C Rynite synthetic stock and foreend, but the prior owner had a Pachmayer Decelerator pad installed. I love it! Right now it's wearing a heavy barrel 26" 25/06 and that pad is wonderful.

I am pretty hard on equipment and have been know to take a spill or two and I aint getting any younger nor sure footed. I just can't see taking any wood stock hunting and pushing through those gotsha bushes and scratching it up and such.

When I put the 15" 30/06 pistol barrel it is wearing the new T/C rubber grips and forend. Now having a few Contenders for quite a while with the Rynite, that rubber is a big improvement.

doc-and · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2004, 12:50:41 PM »

Hi powermad,

As I have three different stocks, I think I can lend some insite to your question. First the walnut stock is servicable, doesn't weight a lot more than the composit stock, but is thin through the wrist area and I've heard of crack stocks with heavy calibers. Since I haven't shot mine with the heavies yet I can't comment. My second stock is a laminate from EABCO It is heavier through the wrist area and should stand-up to the heavy calibers better (Will be shooting 45-70's with 500gr bullets in it) and the weight will help dampen the recoil. My third stock is TC's composite which I like for carrying as it is lite weight and I don't care if it gets ding or scratched. Since I currently have 6 Encore frames I have 4 set-up as rifles/carbines and 2 set-up as pistols. I'll be adding a second laminated stock to my collection for my varmint rig in 6mm Remington real soon.

Just my opinion
doc-and

Leaving Kalifornia - Heading for Florida

longwinters · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2004, 01:48:04 PM »

Thomas, I can see why you like the synthetic. Out there in Arizona everything scratches, bites and stabs. I dont think there is any country around that is harsher on man or equipment. I love Arizona, but it is a difficult habitat to hunt in.

long

Lone Star · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2004, 03:04:16 PM »

I have a Boyd's laminated buttstock and a V V laminated forend on my 16", .45-70 Contender. I replaced my walnut stocks with the laminated and won't go back. I am fond of laminated stocks due to the look and the durability, and the Boyd's is stouter through the grip area. Scratch the stock and just sand it a bit and put on a coat of clear and it's fixed. Laminates are a little heavier than walnut, but with the .45-70 I don't complain! :roll:

powermad · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2004, 03:14:56 PM »

Lone Star
How do the Boyd's buttstock and the VV forend match up? I've yet to find a forend that is mass produced with the length and width I am looking for. I have a 26" heavy barrel on the Encore and would like a target style forend, probably around 14" x 3" wide. I may have to have one made by VV or Bullberry.

contendernut · « **Reply #6 on:** April 03, 2004, 04:06:13 PM »

doc-and,

T/C has changed the walnut stocks so that they are thicker in the wrist area. Or at least the last few carbines I've handled had the thicker walnut wrist like the EABCO stock sets.

longwinters · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2004, 07:43:31 AM »

Speaking of switching out buttstocks on the Encore. how does it come off of the frame? I see nothing on the outside and have not looked inside the frame yet, but was just wondering.

long

contendernut · « **Reply #8 on:** April 04, 2004, 09:02:31 AM »

On the bottom of the stock there is a T/C logo. Unscrew the screws and you'll see the bolt to remove the stock.

Bullseye · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2004, 05:37:41 PM »

I think it depends solely on what you like the look of the best. All my guns including my Encore and Contender Carbines wear Walnut stocks. I just plain like the looks of them best. I have guns with walnut stocks that have been used for hunting for 20 years and they still look great. I do not baby my guns, I put them on a sling and head for the woods and have never beat guns up like some used one I have seen. Always makes me wonder what people do to tear a gun up like that. Anyway IMO it is just personal preference on what looks the best to ya.

Raven · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2004, 08:26:41 AM »

Powermad,

I too have a boyd's pepper laminate butstock and a Virgin Valley forend with hanger bar. The laminates match up very well. It is probably too small to see very well, but I have this stock set on the encore in my avatar image attached. The boyd's butstock is very thick and heavy. My only complaint would be that the forend that I had VV make turned out to be just a bit too narrow and light to balance well with the thicker Boyd's stock for my taste. If I would have specified a slightly beefier forend, it would have matched up perfectly and made for a little better balance. This is a pretty small issue and probably no one but me would notice. If you want a laminate stock with a forend hanger bar set up, I would not hesitate to order the forend from VV and the butstock from Boyd's, overall they look great together. You will save at least $100 on the butstock purchase from Boyd's vs VV.

One thing to keep in mind is the turn-around time with VV or the any of the other custom makers for that matter. It took at least 7 months if not more to get the forend from VV. Since it took so long to get the forend from VV, I ordered a laminated pistol grip for my Encore from Bullberry. They quoted a six week turn-around time and I am now into my 13th week of waiting.