RokStok

[Q_Sertorius]

Mike @longrangelead will probably be the best resource. I am taking mine wherever I hunt and that included a snowstorm the other week where it was completely covered in snow while hunting and field dressing. I wiped it off when I got home and it seems to be just as good as new. It’s going to get some more winter weather hunts in WI and MT shortly. I am not babying mine, but I would also like to hear if there is any long term care to do in the offseason for these stocks.

I already talked with Mike. With no offense meant to him, I am simply soliciting other experiences before I submit order(s) to him.

I appreciate your response as well. That’s precisely the kind of feedback I am hoping to get in this thread.

 

[Gstew1930]

The way i look at it, If it is a hunting stock then hunt with it. If its art then put it on the wall

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I don’t baby my wood rokstok one bit. It goes where the carbon stock guns go. Yes it has wear marks, some small chips, etc. Makes it look even cooler.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I don’t baby my wood rokstok one bit. It goes where the carbon stock guns go. Yes it has wear marks, some small chips, etc. Makes it look even cooler.

Do you do anything to care for it? Particularly where it gets chips? And is there a performance reason you have both wooden and carbon fiber options in your arsenal?

 

[rbutcher1234]

I’m not mike. But I would just periodically warm up the stock and apply a wax finish to the wood. Your goal should be maintaining the water impermeable layer that came on the stock so the moisture cannot absorb, causing the wood to swell or delaminate anything. My own experience though is that wood stocks are significantly more durable that I gave them credit for. (I grew up in the era of carbon, synthetic, and ar15s)

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Do you do anything to care for it? Particularly where it gets chips? And is there a performance reason you have both wooden and carbon fiber options in your arsenal?

I like the sound, look, and feel of wood stocks because it’s what I used forever. The grip is better on the wood stocks too once they break in.

I wipe it down often but no oil or anything. I have used some epoxy and then wood filler on some large chips (particularly one that was major user error when installing spacers).

They’d all be wood for me but money doesn’t grow on trees. I do also like that the hollow carbon sound of the butt stock can be used to rub and scrape for moose and elk.

 

[Gstew1930]

(I grew up in the era of carbon, synthetic, and ar15s)

Gross lol

 

[HighUintas]

200 year old guns that have wooden stocks and saw harder use than everyone's on this forum are around and still solid and useable today.

There's no long term care needed for wood, especially if it is sealed with a modern sealer and finish. The only thing I wouldn't do is constantly store it in the elements or next to a wood stove.

Other than that, touch up the finish if it's looking worn and it bothers you.

 

[rbutcher1234]

Gross lol

Where’s my mag

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I’ll also add that oiling or waxing would probably be beneficial long term. I have yet to see any moisture issues at all. Keep in mind that most my shooting is in the desert mountains, but the wood stock has been in some nasty weather across the country.

 

[Gstew1930]

Where’s my mag

Lmao call me & we'll meet up

 

[rbutcher1234]

Lmao call me & we'll meet up

Nah, this is obviously way more entertaining!

 

[Q_Sertorius]

200 year old guns that have wooden stocks and saw harder use than everyone's on this forum are around and still solid and useable today.

There's no long term care needed for wood, especially if it is sealed with a modern sealer and finish. The only thing I wouldn't do is constantly store it in the elements or next to a wood stove.

Other than that, touch up the finish if it's looking worn and it bothers you.

Appreciate the answer. I have plenty of experience with old guns with solid wooden stocks. I have a pretty good idea how to care for them. The only rifle I have used that didn't have a wooden stock was my issued M4 and my AR. I just keep wondering whether there's something real I am missing by sticking to my aesthetic, touch, and "feel" preferences.

My questions are more due to my relative lack of experience with composite wooden stocks. And wanting to make sure that I take proper care of a fine piece of craftsmanship.

 

[HighUintas]

My questions are more due to my relative lack of experience with composite wooden stocks. And wanting to make sure that I take proper care of a fine piece of craftsmanship.

Ahhh that's a point I missed and didn't think about. I forgot how the wooden rokstoks are 3 laminated pieces.

I wouldn't know in that case, but I'd guess they're pretty much as durable as solid wood if what Mike uses for glue is stable long term.

 

[longrangelead]

long reply inbound...

 

[Speaks]

Ahhh that's a point I missed and didn't think about. I forgot how the wooden rokstoks are 3 laminated pieces.

I wouldn't know in that case, but I'd guess they're pretty much as durable as solid wood if what Mike uses for glue is stable long term.

I would think they would be long term more durable. Generally speaking glue is more durable than the wood.

 

[Formidilosus]

For all my desire to not spend more money on gear, in honor of being newly single (again), I treated myself to a couple of new Tikkas to replace some of the rifles I am selling (.243 and .22-250, both 1:8" twist). So, I am back to considering which RokStok to get for at least one of them. I'm in love with the wooden RokStoks, but I found myself reluctant to take mine out in sleet and freezing rain this past season. More often than not, if there was any kind of bad weather, I reached for my beloved old .25-06, which doesn't have much original finish left on it anyway after about 75 years of being used. At the end of the season, I just clean it off with some alcohol, rub in another load of oil, let that dry, and then rub on some beeswax.

I'll probably use a factory wooden stock on the .22-250. It's unlikely to get used in anything but spring or summer weather.

I also ordered the vertical grip for the factory stock (only $12 and free shipping). If I like the function of that enough, I can probably endure the aesthetic eyesore enough to make that my "bad weather rifle." But the RokStok has been such a pleasure to shoot, from all positions, that I vastly prefer it over my traditional stocks.

For those of you who have used the wooden RokStok in harsh conditions, do you have any thoughts about its suitability? Any particular requests I should make when I order one? Anything you do to protect it? Would you recommend a carbon fiber stock as a "better" cold/wet weather
alternative? Thank you for any advice you can offer.

Just use them. I do not believe you could find anyone using modern wood stock harsher than I do. I treat them exactly like any other stock- which is to say I don’t give a flip about them.

Edit - to be clear, I am going to keep my existing wooden RokStok. My questions are basically:
1. Am I babying it too much?

Yes. You aren’t going to hurt them.

2. Are there any best practices for keeping it sound in harsh conditions?

Use, wipe it down ever year or two. If it is an oil finish and not a poly, wipe it down with oil once a year or so.

3. Assuming price is not an issue in the long run, and weight is not an issue, are there any real advantages to getting a carbon fiber RokStok rather than a wooden one?

No. Other than price, the wood Rokstocks and Lites are better in every way than carbon fiber.


Oil, not poly-

After being used in SE Alaska for two weeks everyday, including as a paddle in salt water

Snow/ice eval-


After more than 10,000 rounds of being used like a rented mule.

 

[WCT3]

Just use them. I do not believe you could find anyone using modern wood stock harsher than I do. I treat them exactly like any other stock- which is to say I don’t give a flip about them.





Yes. You aren’t going to hurt them.




Use, wipe it down ever year or two. If it is an oil finish and not a poly, wipe it down with oil once a year or so.




No. Other than price, the wood Rokstocks and Lites are better in every way than carbon fiber.


Oil, not poly-

After being used in SE Alaska for two weeks everyday, including as a paddle in salt water

View attachment 982131
View attachment 982143

View attachment 982135

View attachment 982144

View attachment 982145


Snow/ice eval-
View attachment 982148

After more than 10,000 rounds of being used like a rented mule. View attachment 982146

View attachment 982136

God I wish I could justify buying one of these right now. Hunting rifles just look so much better in a wood stock than carbon.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Thank you, Form. I appreciate the forthright response.

I also look forward to Mike's long reply... and I guess he can think about buying that boat or African safari or whatever it is he has always wanted.

 

[Formidilosus]

Poly:

Alaska-



SE Alaska in the pouring rain for over a week-










Winter S2H class:

3x wood RS




2x wood RS









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