Wood finish on deer rifle

[E-Rez]

Ok guys n gals, this summer I'll be purchasing a Browning X-Bolt in 30-06 for deer hunting and whatever other large animal I feel like pursuing. But, I'm having a heck of a time trying to decide between the standard and Medallion packages. I absolutely love the look of a high-gloss walnut stocked rifle, but a lot of talk nowadays is on how there shouldn't be any glare on your gun.

What's all y'alls take on this?

[Hunting Man]

In over 40 years of deer hunting I've never had a deer spook from my rifles. If they see my rifle they are either going to be dead or are not shooters. I even have a TC nickle finish muzzleloader. I love the look of fine walnut or curley maple so I vote for fancy wood. Yes you may scratch it but ..... and for those saying that wood can't take the weather, (warpage), never had it happen to me and + 20 rifles or so in rain, snow. I did breakdown and got a TC Triumph with the composite stock and do like it, but its not wood. My son had the Browning Medalian A-bolt in 260 rem with the boss system and couldn't stand the ear piecing noise. Sold it.

[carver]

How long have gun manufactures been putting wood stocks on guns? Doesn't seem to make much difference to the criters that live in the woods! My vote would be, go wood.

[E-Rez]

I guess i should have clarified myself a little better...i'm trying to decide between the non-glossy wood and glossy wood. The plain-jane x-bolt or the x-bolt medallion, respectively.

[Hunting Man]

I would take a really nice grained oiled stock vs a no grain glass finish, The grain makes the rifle come alive like a work of art.

[JLA]

I agree, id go with the standard one as well. Simply because its going to be a tool for putting meat on the table and youre gonna subject it to being put in the dirt, banged against the tree or dropped off your ATV at some point. get a standard package and sink some money into a good scope.

[Marlin]

I would have to agree with Hunting Man.

My favorite deer hunting gun is a Browning BLR Lightning .30-06 with the high gloss finish. I, too, have never had a deer spook due to the finish on the rifle, including very bright sunny days.

I would think that it would be a matter of taste and what you, the shooter, like best and are comfortable with having.

[E-Rez]

I'm a little confused here...didn't Hunting Man say he likes a non-glossy stock?

[JLA]

thats what I gathered

[dianalv]

Originally Posted by E-Rez

Ok guys n gals, this summer I'll be purchasing a Browning X-Bolt in 30-06 for deer hunting and whatever other large animal I feel like pursuing. But, I'm having a heck of a time trying to decide between the standard and Medallion packages. I absolutely love the look of a high-gloss walnut stocked rifle, but a lot of talk nowadays is on how there shouldn't be any glare on your gun.

What's all y'alls take on this?

My advice is buy what brings you pleasure to look at, hold and shoot. If you buy the Medallion, you can wrap it in camo wrap during hunting, which protects the stock and eliminates glare, not that I've noticed that glare off a rifle stock ever caused a problem while hunting. Usually the deer hears you or smells you long before they see you.

Camo wrap is part of my medical field kit anyway, and wrapping it around the rifle makes it multipurpose and frees up room in my pack. It's self adhesive and will wrap sprained ankles, or make a pressure bandage on wounds, whatever you need. Useful stuff. Doesn't leave a residue on the gun and you can wash and reuse it.

I have several beautifully stocked guns and that's what I do when I hunt with them.

[JLA]

Originally Posted by dianalv

My advice is buy what brings you pleasure to look at, hold and shoot. If you buy the Medallion, you can wrap it in camo wrap during hunting, which protects the stock and eliminates glare, not that I've noticed that glare off a rifle stock ever caused a problem while hunting. Usually the deer hears you or smells you long before they see you.

Camo wrap is part of my medical field kit anyway, and wrapping it around the rifle makes it multipurpose and frees up room in my pack. It's self adhesive and will wrap sprained ankles, or make a pressure bandage on wounds, whatever you need. Useful stuff. Doesn't leave a residue on the gun and you can wash and reuse it.

I have several beautifully stocked guns and that's what I do when I hunt with them.

Diana has a fantastic point about the camo wrap, just make sure you get the right stuff. they do have that stuff thats nothing more than cloth tape and doesnt stick very well, yet leaves an awful PITA to remove residue on your gun after its been on there awhile. then they have the good stuff thats stretchy like an ace bandage and only sticks to itself. thats the stuff diana is referring to. Happy hunting...

[Hunting Man]

what I wanted to convey and should have said, I would rather have a great figured stock and would take an oiled one vs a glossy one to acheive my goal. I want a stock to dazzle in the light. I think the hard glass finish does give some additional protection, not from falling off an ATV though. Two rifles side by side and equal stocks, take the glossy finish. Sorry for the confusion, I hope this clears up my post. I have substituted figure for grain as the two have nothing to do with each other. I think you'all know what I mean, a highly figured stock is pretty no matter what finish is applied. For strength the grain should run horizontally front to back.

[E-Rez]

Got it!

[zkovach]

get whatever you like the most. i dont believe it will impact your hunting in any way. I hunting with my howa that is stainless steel and a salt and pepper stock. i have always put the deer down before they had a chance to admire the glare and colors of my rifle.

[E-Rez]

I'm coming off a Ruger M77 MKII with a stainless tube and salt and pepper stock...gorgeous gun but not the tack driver I'd like, and it gets to be a tank when doing deer drives.

[JLA]

I do all my hunting with a WW2 era 03A3, no scope. It has been beat into the tree, banged against the truck, and yes, it did fall off the ATV once. It has a military repriduction oiled walnut stock. And when i line it up on a deer, the metal hits the meat... Dents dings and scratches add character. its kinda like an old soldier. you almost never see one that doesnt have battle scars

[E-Rez]

We've got many guns in our house that have been handed down from great-grandfathers that are full of dings and scratches. Each one has a story.

[wpage]

If you are buying new and have the choice. Get the one that excites you most...
Sounds like you already know and there is no reason not to.

[bluesea112]

If you get the gloss stock, I unconditionally guarentee that it will get a scratch or two on the first one or two hunting trips. That is the nature of the game. Gloss is beautiful, even with a scratch or two. I have a gloss A-Bolt in 300 RUM, and it has 2 small scratches and 1 ding. All 3 show up like a diamond in a turd. However, I know exactly when and where each blemish was awarded to the rifle. I say they give the rifle character. It is still a beautiful rifle, and the gloss finish has never scared an animal. Now it is a beautiful rifle with character. If the rifle did not kick the dog snot out of me, I would probably take it hunting more....and it would surely have a few more character marks.
Buy the gloss.....I think you already know you won't be completely happy if you don't.

[E-Rez]

I think you're right.

[gdmoody]

There is nothing like a beautiful wood stock!

[BobMcG]

Get what you like the looks of best, you can always give it some protection if need be.

Oil, satin, high-gloss, I like and own them all. If I'm headed into the woods with a high-gloss model though, it wears a set of rifle skins for some protection.

[Zane71464]

Originally Posted by E-Rez

Ok guys n gals, this summer I'll be purchasing a Browning X-Bolt in 30-06 for deer hunting and whatever other large animal I feel like pursuing. But, I'm having a heck of a time trying to decide between the standard and Medallion packages. I absolutely love the look of a high-gloss walnut stocked rifle, but a lot of talk nowadays is on how there shouldn't be any glare on your gun.

What's all y'alls take on this?

I love that high gloss finish, and Ive never had not one inccident where the finnish ever hampered a hunt. Just my opinon.

[Zane71464]

Originally Posted by bluesea112

If you get the gloss stock, I unconditionally guarentee that it will get a scratch or two on the first one or two hunting trips. That is the nature of the game. Gloss is beautiful, even with a scratch or two. I have a gloss A-Bolt in 300 RUM, and it has 2 small scratches and 1 ding. All 3 show up like a diamond in a turd. However, I know exactly when and where each blemish was awarded to the rifle. I say they give the rifle character. It is still a beautiful rifle, and the gloss finish has never scared an animal. Now it is a beautiful rifle with character. If the rifle did not kick the dog snot out of me, I would probably take it hunting more....and it would surely have a few more character marks.
Buy the gloss.....I think you already know you won't be completely happy if you don't.

Totally agree on that one!