Thread: lifespan of synthetic rifle Stocks

They've been around a few years' now. Do they deteriorate with time sunlight or solvent exposure. ?

Fiberglass canoes rot. Bedding compound needs to be replaced periodically. The plastic trigger guard on the Venerable Mohawk 600 Expands and warps.

Is a 10 year old fiberglass stock safe to use? Has anyone here had problems? Will my thermoplastic stock loose tolerance in the bedding? I'm thinking .it could be something like a climbing rope or motorbike helmet that needs to be replaced regularly.

99% of the time your rifle will be stored inside a nice safe away from nasty UV rays etc. and that is the real killer in plastics though fi-glass is no where near as bad. i would definitely get the stock checked if it suffered impact or you notice discolouration etc. same as if i noticed my groupings altering as it could be a bedding issue.

Good question bagheera..

Be interesting to know how durable folks have found their soft touch stocks made by the likes of sako and browning seeing as theyve been around for a bit now....

The stock on my 25 year old Remington Mountain Rifle seems fine.
Doesn't see too much action though mind you.

Yep, they deteriorate.... They need replacing at least every 5 years, but must come with action, barrel, suppressor etc etc..... At least it's a good excuse for a new one

In truth I have no idea and curious as well

There apparently were synthetic SKS stocks used on some rifles during the later parts of the Vietnam War, or shortly after that. Some must be coming up on 40 - 45 years old?

All the more reason to grab a carbon upgrade

Originally Posted by Tommy

There apparently were synthetic SKS stocks used on some rifles during the later parts of the Vietnam War, or shortly after that. Some must be coming up on 40 - 45 years old?

Attachment 74225

ssshhh . the wife has an sks with a synthetic stock, i cant afford to buy her a new rifle without losing $ from my new one (still deciding on what)

My Ruger M77 MK11 .223 was used almost daily for 10 years, the plastic stock is still sweet. It's about 15 years old now all up...no issues.

It's had 3 butt pads though, worn out from me using it like a third arm when climbing down step bluffs etc.

Not sure on other makes, as my other rifles (some much older) live mostly in the gun safe, so they've hardly been tested.

Kj

Retro AR's from the 60's & 70's have polymer ergo's and are still going strong.

My Browning A-Bolt synthetic bought new 25 years ago has shown no deterioration from cleaning solvent, sweat, blood or sunlight. Ditto Ruger mini-14 synthetic about 15 years old. Both rifles used professionally.

Have seen a few rifles & shotguns with soft rubber inserts glued into the grip panels, sometimes the inserts had rotted or peeled. A Sako 75 synthetic for example.

Originally Posted by rockland

My Browning A-Bolt synthetic bought new 25 years ago has shown no deterioration from cleaning solvent, sweat, blood or sunlight. Ditto Ruger mini-14 synthetic about 15 years old. Both rifles used professionally.

Have seen a few rifles & shotguns with soft rubber inserts glued into the grip panels, sometimes the inserts had rotted or peeled. A Sako 75 synthetic for example.

Yeah, those Sako Finlite stocks were prone to that happening. The rubberized parts don't last long.

Biggest problem with the early stocks, i.e. WWII and the 1950s' Tenite stocks made for Yank sporting rifles, was structural degradation resulting in brittleness, due to absorption of water. Chemicals can also be an issue. Plastic tomato sauce (aka Australian gravy) bottles are reportedly made from three layers of plastic, with the innermost layer, if I recall correctly, being most resistant to the corrosive effect of the red stuff.

Breakfree CLP works well as a protective product on the original Ruger synthetic stocks and Armorall could be an option. Best advice that I am aware of is:

Wash with soap and water and remove the barreled action before you use barrel solvents.

OK.
No reports so far of legacy fibre glass or Kevlar stocks Shattering under recoil.
I'm still using my father's SMLE III * with walnut & beech stock mfg 1943. Is anyone planning on handing their T3 or carbonlite on to their grandchildren?

I have a Remington M700 SPS Stainless with the ejection molded black Tupperware stock. It looks brand new going on about 8 years. The rifle shoots 1Moa to minus moa with inexpensive Rem Core Lokts and Hornady American Whitetail. I have thought about upgrading the stock but as long as it shoots well I will just keep it. Been used in all kinds of weather.....rain, shine, cold and heat.....just keeps doing its job