Remember that lighter will sometimes mean more recoil.
That said, I would opt for the factory synthetic and do the following.
1. Remove the factory butt pad and fill the hollow stock with carpet padding or spray in expanding foam. This will deaden the hollow sound and feel of the stock.
2. Install a prefit sims recoil pad. They make one for that model stock and it fits nicely with no gunsmiting and it works!
In regards to your barrel choice, I know that when Virgin Valley was in business they offered a carbon wrapped barrel that was a barrel that had been turned to a very small diameter and then wrapped with carbon for strength and light weight properties. The down side was the price, about $900. I don't know if a barrel of this type is available from another vendor for less.
Smoky
