what are the preferences for duck hunting guns? synthetic or wood

I have a couple wood stock 12 ga and a 20 ga wood that I use for sporting clays and skeet. I've never been duck hunting and trying to go before the season ends. If I take my wood anything special others do? I've shot sporting clays in pouring down rain so not too worried about water. Just dry it off and then oil it up.

I think long term preference will be to get a synthetic stock. Not feasible to do this year.

My Dad was an avid waterfowl hunter and the only gun he ever used in my lifetime was a 12 gauge Ithaca Model 37 with a Poly-choke. I have that gun today and it is almost like new still because he took care of it. No rust, probably 90% blue is still there, and the wood shows no wear other than normal usage wear and small dings. That shotgun is 63 years old and still runs fine.

Dad always wiped it down with a product called Ruste-Pruf before and after each outing, and he cleaned all his guns after each shoot. If you're not going to hunt but once or twice - with decent care the guns will be fine.

I'm not a water fowler at all and I really hate the look of synthetic stocks. But all shotguns don't have to be beautiful, and if I felt the need for a duck gun or a bad weather gun, I'd get a synthetic stocked semi. As it is, my preference is for nice side-by-side doubles, and if the weather is bad, I use the same technique as my dad - prep the gun beforehand with a anti-moisture product and clean good after use. I still use Ruste-Pruf - old habits die hard.

I prefer a synthetic stock but hunted for a long time with an old wooden stock 870. I wouldn't worry too much about water if you are hunting inland. If you plan on hunting the bays don't bring a nice shotgun regardless of the stock.

Is this a troll

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Is this a troll

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Need laugh cry face. As soon as I saw the title I guessed it would be less than 5 posts before you jumped in.

I definitely prefer wood to synthetic as a rule, but for a gun that's inevitably going to be used as a paddle I think synthetic makes sense

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Is this a troll

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Need laugh cry face. As soon as I saw the title I guessed it would be less than 5 posts before you jumped in.

I definitely prefer wood to synthetic as a rule, but for a gun that's inevitably going to be used as a paddle I think synthetic makes sense

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My sentiments exactly. I'm an O/U guy but my duck gun is a browning A5 synthetic stock

I wouldn't go out and drop the $$$$ on a synthetic stock shotty for one duck hunt.

Now, if you're gonna be going frequently, maybe.

Most of the duck hunting I do is on a river in Montana where the guns get snowed on and frozen and are subject to extreme condensation. In our gang there are equal numbers of wood stock and synthetic stock benellis. The wood stocks have not fared any worse than the synthetics. The wood stocks get scratches, but the rubber inserts and pad on benelli synthetic stocks falls apart. I prefer wood stocks

Wood stocks for hunting wood ducks, synthetic stocks for hunting synthetic ducks.

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Wood stocks for hunting wood ducks, synthetic stocks for hunting synthetic ducks.

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This

I hate synthetic stocks.

For those of you that are interested a guy over on Shotgunworld.com tested 46 gun cleaning, lube and protection products. It is a long read but an interesting one. Take a look if you have time.

Link

TLDR of the post, WD40 Specialist Corrosion Inhibitor and Hornady One Shot were the best at keeping steel from rusting.

The ducks don't care....

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Wood stocks for hunting wood ducks, synthetic stocks for hunting synthetic ducks.

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I really did lol.

I prefer wood, but I have a Benelli Nova for hunting the salt.

I've never found a need for pretty guns. I've got synthetic stocks on everything I own - with the exception of an O/U I picked up from a buddy for sub $200. I might be Alaska's polar opposite.

With bumpy airboat rides and saltwater marshes, the tripping and stumbling, banging and scratching, I don't think twice about it with my synthetic stock. Of course, I do use a neoprene barrel sleeve to protect from scratching the barrel on the wire around our blinds.

It's a personal preference. I don't get that twinge if I scratch black plastic like I might if it was nice wood. Also, the synthetic is normally lighter weight.

Once you get a safe full of pretty ones, you'll find you have no need for ugly ones.

Synthetic for ducks, wood for everything else.

We hunt the salt and I'm spoiled on O/U, so I went with an Ruger All Weather. thing is bulletproof and not attractive at all..... the GWs dont bother me as much anymore

Amen

Yea I get it on shotguns though, especially duck guns.