Wood for AR's

PolarFBear · February 23, 2018, 07:17 PM

Since the "sinister" black finish of the modern sporting rifle is such a fright for so many people is there any wood furniture options for it? My Ruger mini-14 functions in the same manner as the AR but doesn't incite the "fear" that my Colt H-Bar does. As an alternative can the hand grip be minimized or disguised?

Big Shrek · February 23, 2018, 08:07 PM

Yep, lots of options too...

Look for the California Compliant stocks as well...

10-96 · February 24, 2018, 10:20 AM

Brownells sells a wood kit (it's been a while since I looked). Boyds stocks also has some offerings. I've got a walnut set on one of my A2's, but I've forgotten where I got it... "Precision" something er other.

turkeestalker · February 24, 2018, 10:26 AM

Windham offers AR platform rifles with wood furniture that I believe is made by Boyds.
The one I purchased in .308 is gorgeous to me, and the bonus is my sons both throw up a little in their mouths when I get it out at the range!

Chipperman · February 24, 2018, 11:12 AM

Eh, the Antis will just call it an Ak47 then

MagnumWill · February 24, 2018, 11:43 AM

Having trouble putting up a picture on my phone, but all you need to do is Google “AR15 PDW wood” and you can see why wood looks good on anything

Mobuck · February 24, 2018, 04:05 PM

By the nature of the stock shape and cut-outs, a wood stock would be fragile and prone to splitting.

johnwilliamson062 · February 24, 2018, 07:59 PM

Quote:

By the nature of the stock shape and cut-outs, a wood stock would be fragile and prone to splitting.

Inserts, epoxy, resin stabilization, adding meat, can all address these issues. Certainly the 'long way round' though.
I've looked at some of the options. I was not impressed.

turkeestalker · February 25, 2018, 10:00 AM

Not traditional lumber I admit, but to my eye it is very appealing.

I've seen one AR platform rifle that had traditional wood furniture rather than the laminate like this one, (I don't typically care for laminates, but it works with this rifle).
It was gorgeous, but I can see Mobuck's point that it would definitely be fragile.
I can also see johnwilliamson062's point that while I believe that this laminate stock set on my rifle is plenty durable, it's not a look that everyone is going to care for.

(I'll also admit that I like this enough that I purchased Magpul furniture with similar ergonomics, to preserve the laminate while in the field. She gets all 'gussied up' in the laminate for around the house and at the range.)

**4V50 Gary** · February 25, 2018, 11:39 AM

Best wood stock and forearm and grip I've seen were made by Dave Nolan. A former instructor at TSJC, he got a free floated handguard unit and bored out a piece of walnut to slide over the handguard. Afterward he milled out the center of the handguard for a hand stop. He also bored out a piece of wood to go over the buffer tube and then carved that. Both the forearm and the grip were checkered with 22 LPI checkering. You can reach him at Nolan Customs.

COSteve · February 26, 2018, 10:09 AM

I've had my A2 walnut stock and triangular A1 forearm, along with my custom walnut target pistol grip I made myself on my long range 'Apple Shooter' for almost a decade on my RRA A4. As I remember, for a short time RRA was selling the set for $140. I still have their slim walnut pistol grip. Yes, it adds about 10-11oz of weight but that's a good thing for longer range shooting.

johnwilliamson062 · February 26, 2018, 03:52 PM

Quote:

I can also see johnwilliamson062's point that while I believe that this laminate stock set on my rifle is plenty durable, it's not a look that everyone is going to care for.

That laminate is actually a compromise I could live with. I have the 10/22 Intenational with a similar laminate pattern against stainless that I really like.
Is that receiver duracoated? Hard to tell if it a silver color or the light.

surveyor · February 26, 2018, 04:19 PM

The boyds are stocks are a diffrent shape than the lucid stocks.
Think like the windham vex series for the boyds set
Versus the ones that rock river used to carry. That style is lucid.
The butstocks are cut like the shown in post 11.
At one time there was a freefloat option using a triangular wood forearm mounted on a armalite freefloat mn tube. There was also a wood cover that went over a round freefloat tube.

I prefer the lucid for traditional cut

turkeestalker · February 26, 2018, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Is that receiver duracoated?

I'm not sure what Windham uses but it is a finish much like duracoat if not.
It's not exactly a silver, it's more a color like what auto makers call 'champagne', just flat?

COSteve · February 26, 2018, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surveyor

Versus the ones that rock river used to carry. That style is lucid. The buttstocks are cut like the shown in post 11.

Not exactly. I don't believe that the Lucid forestocks have the cooling holes top and bottom like mine do (top set as shown in this picture). Plus, at $300, that's quite a price jump from what I paid.

T. O'Heir · February 27, 2018, 01:21 PM

An AR stock doesn't have to be black or wood. Lots of coloured stocks available. Pink and Yellow, et al.

zipspyder · February 27, 2018, 01:23 PM

My word some of those look incredibly nice with wood on them. Next present to myself!

berettaprofessor · February 27, 2018, 04:55 PM

I'm guessing the wood makes them heavier. And there's no way I'm going to carry around a heavier rifle because some @)#(*)( is scared of the way they look dressed in plastic and aluminum.

And that's all I've got to say about that. Besides, I don't like the looks of wood on them.

zipspyder · February 27, 2018, 04:57 PM

Someone needs to start lifting.

BTW just checked average prices on some of them...pass.

turkeestalker · February 27, 2018, 08:31 PM

My Windham is 8.5 lbs. less the optic, that is a lot to heft all day in the wilds... though I do have a couple of bolt actions as heavy.

COSteve · February 28, 2018, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turkeestalker

My Windham is 8.5 lbs. less the optic, that is a lot to heft all day in the wilds... though I do have a couple of bolt actions as heavy.

You think 8.5lbs is heavy? We use to hump our M14s all day long with and extra 4 mags and a pack. My M1A weighs 10lbs 14oz with a 20rd loaded mag, each loaded mag weighs 1.5lbs, and our packs and web gear weighed about 45lbs. The pack got old but I never thought the M14 felt too heavy to carry all day long out in the field.

johnwilliamson062 · February 28, 2018, 10:58 AM

Quote:

You think 8.5lbs is heavy?

I don't think a foot patrol is the scenario he is thinking of when commenting. I've run with telephone poles and sand filled ammo cans before, but I sure wouldn't want to lug them out hunting or even on a range trip.

COSteve · February 28, 2018, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnwilliamson062

I don't think a foot patrol is the scenario he is thinking of when commenting.

Hunting deer, elk, or people out in the woods - what's the difference?

turkeestalker · February 28, 2018, 05:49 PM

Compared to one of my Winchester 94's weighing less than 6 pounds, yes... I think that 8.5 pounds plus the weight of the optic is heavy to lug through the woods all day.

That is of course my own opinion and you get to have your own.

johnwilliamson062 · March 1, 2018, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Hunting deer, elk, or people out in the woods - what's the difference?

Uhh... to begin with I'm not carrying 6 pounds of loaded mags hunting. Second there is a good chance I am catching a casual nap at some point during a day hunting if from a blind or stand. THird, I plan to fire one round slow fire, so i don't need a heavy rifle to soak up the recoil. Fourth there is little chance I will be using my rifle as a club or attaching a bayonet to use as a spear.
I could probably go on for a few pages.

February 23, 2018, 07:17 PM	#1
PolarFBear Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2015 Location: NE Tennessee, a "Free State" Posts: 478	Wood for AR's Since the "sinister" black finish of the modern sporting rifle is such a fright for so many people is there any wood furniture options for it? My Ruger mini-14 functions in the same manner as the AR but doesn't incite the "fear" that my Colt H-Bar does. As an alternative can the hand grip be minimized or disguised?

February 23, 2018, 08:07 PM	#2
Big Shrek Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: NorthWest Florida Posts: 1,358	Yep, lots of options too... Look for the California Compliant stocks as well... __________________ Marlin Specialist Calico Specialist A gun should be a tool in the hands of a deadly weapon, not a deadly weapon in the hands of a tool.

February 24, 2018, 10:20 AM	#3
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,160	Brownells sells a wood kit (it's been a while since I looked). Boyds stocks also has some offerings. I've got a walnut set on one of my A2's, but I've forgotten where I got it... "Precision" something er other. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

February 24, 2018, 10:26 AM	#4
turkeestalker Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2015 Location: Cottleville, Missouri Posts: 1,115	Windham offers AR platform rifles with wood furniture that I believe is made by Boyds. The one I purchased in .308 is gorgeous to me, and the bonus is my sons both throw up a little in their mouths when I get it out at the range! __________________ Vegetarian... primitive word for lousy hunter!

February 24, 2018, 11:43 AM	#6
MagnumWill Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Central Colorado Posts: 1,001	Having trouble putting up a picture on my phone, but all you need to do is Google “AR15 PDW wood” and you can see why wood looks good on anything __________________ Those who hammer their swords into plow shares will plow for those who didn't...

February 24, 2018, 11:12 AM	#5
Chipperman Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2000 Location: Live Free or Die, Baby! Posts: 1,550	Eh, the Antis will just call it an Ak47 then

February 24, 2018, 04:05 PM	#7
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	By the nature of the stock shape and cut-outs, a wood stock would be fragile and prone to splitting.

February 25, 2018, 11:39 AM	#10
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	Best wood stock and forearm and grip I've seen were made by Dave Nolan. A former instructor at TSJC, he got a free floated handguard unit and bored out a piece of walnut to slide over the handguard. Afterward he milled out the center of the handguard for a hand stop. He also bored out a piece of wood to go over the buffer tube and then carved that. Both the forearm and the grip were checkered with 22 LPI checkering. You can reach him at Nolan Customs. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 26, 2018, 10:09 AM	#11
COSteve Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2009 Posts: 1,344	I've had my A2 walnut stock and triangular A1 forearm, along with my custom walnut target pistol grip I made myself on my long range 'Apple Shooter' for almost a decade on my RRA A4. As I remember, for a short time RRA was selling the set for $140. I still have their slim walnut pistol grip. Yes, it adds about 10-11oz of weight but that's a good thing for longer range shooting. Last edited by COSteve; February 26, 2018 at 10:20 AM.

February 26, 2018, 04:19 PM	#13
surveyor Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2007 Posts: 770	The boyds are stocks are a diffrent shape than the lucid stocks. Think like the windham vex series for the boyds set Versus the ones that rock river used to carry. That style is lucid. The butstocks are cut like the shown in post 11. At one time there was a freefloat option using a triangular wood forearm mounted on a armalite freefloat mn tube. There was also a wood cover that went over a round freefloat tube. I prefer the lucid for traditional cut Last edited by surveyor; February 26, 2018 at 04:35 PM.

February 27, 2018, 01:21 PM	#16
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	An AR stock doesn't have to be black or wood. Lots of coloured stocks available. Pink and Yellow, et al. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

February 27, 2018, 01:23 PM	#17
zipspyder Junior member Join Date: June 13, 2017 Posts: 429	My word some of those look incredibly nice with wood on them. Next present to myself!

February 27, 2018, 04:55 PM	#18
berettaprofessor Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2008 Posts: 1,091	I'm guessing the wood makes them heavier. And there's no way I'm going to carry around a heavier rifle because some @)#(*)( is scared of the way they look dressed in plastic and aluminum. And that's all I've got to say about that. Besides, I don't like the looks of wood on them.

February 27, 2018, 04:57 PM	#19
zipspyder Junior member Join Date: June 13, 2017 Posts: 429	Someone needs to start lifting. BTW just checked average prices on some of them...pass.

February 27, 2018, 08:31 PM	#20
turkeestalker Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2015 Location: Cottleville, Missouri Posts: 1,115	My Windham is 8.5 lbs. less the optic, that is a lot to heft all day in the wilds... though I do have a couple of bolt actions as heavy. __________________ Vegetarian... primitive word for lousy hunter!

February 28, 2018, 05:49 PM	#24
turkeestalker Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2015 Location: Cottleville, Missouri Posts: 1,115	Compared to one of my Winchester 94's weighing less than 6 pounds, yes... I think that 8.5 pounds plus the weight of the optic is heavy to lug through the woods all day. That is of course my own opinion and you get to have your own. __________________ Vegetarian... primitive word for lousy hunter!