wood vs synthetic M2000 -- barrel heavy!

[KA]

I am looking seriously at a M2000 for some all-around hunting. Does anybody know if the wood stocked guns are any better balanced than the synthetic?

I "tried out" a synthetic at a dealer today and found it a little too barrel-heavy for my taste. Otherwise it felt good. Has anybody tried out both models? Thanks.

[NateDog]

I never picked up a wood model because I wanted the durability of a synthetic stock for those rainy days of duck hunting. It's easy to balace out a synthetic stock. Read the article below for suggestions. Basically, you add weight to your stock with a recoil reducer or, like I did - spray foam insulation, a piece of pvc pipe, lead weights and duct tape.

http://www.gunhuntermag.com/features/050926Stoeger.htm

If you want more advice on the homemade method, type in recoil in the search key. There are a bunch of suggestions on how to reduce recoil and give your gun a balanced feel.

[ 01-04-2006, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: NateDog ]

[KA]

Thanks, Natedog. I would go with the synthetic stock, but it is a little too long for me and I would need to have it cut down. That is why I was wondering about the wood stock.

[NateDog]

I think it was Tucker301 that cut down a synthetic stock and put a limbsaver slip on pad? Send him a private message and ask him. Maybe he can give you more info. on how to do that. I don't think it would be any easier to cut down a wood stock and modify it. The synthetic is so cheap and thin you could probably use a utility knife (kidding).

[tucker301]

We took the KISS approach.
Purchased a limsaver slip-on pad. It was a small, I think. But check your stock dimensions at the cut-off point to be sure.
Marked the stock. Set it up in a band saw and cut it off. Trim up any rough edges by hand and slip on the pad.

I wouldn't do this with my SBEII, but a 2000 is not an SBEII, regardless of what some people think.

[ 01-05-2006, 06:13 AM: Message edited by: tucker301 ]

[KA]

Thanks, Tucker. I would probably have a gunsmith do it because I have not had a lot of experience working on guns, but that sounds like it would work all right.

Do anybody know how much wieght is needed in the rear to balance out the gun nicely?

I was thinking with a 26" barrel and maybe 4-6 ounces in the rear it would feel pretty good, but then again that's just a guess.

[NateDog]

I have around 10 ounces. With a shortened stock you may need more weight? I would test out various weights, carry your gun around and mount it on your shoulder until you get the right feel. Start out with at least 6 ounces.

[ 01-06-2006, 03:08 PM: Message edited by: NateDog ]

[TMAC]

Originally posted by KA:
I am looking seriously at a M2000 for some all-around hunting. Does anybody know if the wood stocked guns are any better balanced than the synthetic?

I "tried out" a synthetic at a dealer today and found it a little too barrel-heavy for my taste. Otherwise it felt good. Has anybody tried out both models? Thanks.

[TMAC]

I have handled the wood stock models and they feel much heavier than the synthetic, not to mention the wood in a gun this inexpensive is not too pretty.