Synthetic Stocks, Bad or................

I picked this off another forum and I'm trying to track it down to see if there is any truth to it.

"For everyone here, I am just the messenger here and am strictly passing on some information that I thought some people who read this might be interested in.

That said....

A good friend of mine lives in Billings MT, and knows a lot of people and a lot of things going on it Billings. He is involved a lot in civics and athletics locally.

He told me tonight about a study that is being researched in Montana ( either by U of M or Montana State) about ear damage that is occurying with the use of synthetic stocks.

A lot of patients nationwide have evidently been going to their Otolaryngologists ( Ear Nose and Throat Docs) with developed hearing problems on one side, the side they are shooting from.

It is not caused evidently by the lack of ear protection at all. However the pattern was noticed that frequently the common factor was the use of sythetic stocks.

What is happening according to their research and test of stocks being fired in different calibers with tuning forks attached, is as follows:

The cheek is of course against the cheek piece. When the rifle recoils, the vibration is of course absorbed some in the shooters cheek and their jaw bone. This is sending a severe vibration to the cochlea in the ear ( eardrum).

The vibration is higher than the normal parameters that an eardrum should endure. Damage to this is what can cause hearing loss.

I use to work with hearing in surgery in the medical field years ago, so I have a point of reference on this.

The sythetic stocks evidently has no dampening abilities so passes the shock wave ( so to speak) directly to the mandable ( jaw bone), in turn to the ear canal and ear drum. Wood stocks absorb quite a bit of this shock wave that synthetics don't. Laminated stocks because of their construction are even better.

Of course this problems increases with the size of the caliber or the greater the recoil.

This is still in clinical studies, but the anticipated results are being proven in testing.

I have no idea when the study is to end or be over with, and that is all the details I have on it now.

However I thought I would pass it on, as I had heard about it since I thought some readers of this site, might have an interest in it.

If I hear of anything else on it, I will let you know ( like websites etc)."

Like he said I'll let you know what I find out but it does give a person pause.  Lawdog

Rob & all;

I agree that it might very well depend on what stock(s) are beeing looked at in this supposed research.

I've shot a friend's 10/22 in a Butler Creek stock.  That could be a culprit.  The stock is hollow & with every shot I could hear a loud BAWAANNGGG from the firing & the recoil spring.  My 10/22 is in a Hogue stock & no such nasty noises are forthcoming.  My 77/22 is in the factory first edition syn stock (boat oar) and it's quiet also.  My .30-06 in in a McMillan stock, it too is not a noisy stock to my ear.

900F

Whaa! DAN. . . you can feel the "Sproing?"  Or was that "Bawaannggg?"  Damn . . . that is hard to spell CB.  Well . . . since I can't hear out of right ear anyway . . . which goes to prove that some of these guys don't shoot as much as they say.  The word of the day is "HUH?"

All joking aside, I can remember walking off the range, in the Army, with my right ear draining.  And firing a shotgun, at least a few thousand times, put a finishing touch on my hearing.

Interesting research.  I suspect they have a point.  Wood stocks are generally "comfortable."  Maybe there is more to that than aesthetics.  My Butler Creek has enough spaces in it that you could store survival supplies in it . . . or some capsules of Jim Beam!  But many are more solid.  Hey . . . now I can convince the spouse to get a better stock . . . for health reasons!  Women understand THAT kind of logic!  Cool!

Aaah . . . I would sell it Marcus . . . its just a dang Remington . . . no sweat off anyone's back.  Weatherby and Tikka stocks are solid synthetics.  Wonder if they already knew all this stuff?  And . . . 7mm-08 is a "girl's gun."  When you come up to Sitka to hunt, you ain't gonna back me up with THAT popgun!  Sell it to NH_Hunter . . . he doesn't like recoil . . . make a good NH whitetail deer rifle.

The Army started using ear protectors about the time I was getting out.  More than one "old-timer" has had his ears popped by an M1 - those .30-06s make your ears ring after awhile.  Then there were the .45s . . . and grenades . . . and rifle grenade rounds . . . now THOSE hurt your ears!  Ouch!

Hey NH  >>  Check this out :

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=10167856

Wouldn't be a bad lefty to add to a collection, if lefties is what you have to have.  All scoped, "camo"ed and chambered in a damn fine cartridge ta boot.  Priced right, too.  >>  klallen

Ohhh NH     ...     so young     ...     so innocent     ...     so     ...     practical    .  If all you are ever going to base your gun collection on is what's "practical", you're gonna have a pretty darn skimpy group of hunting rifles.  I understand the impossibility of purchase due to lack of funds, but throwing the "practicality" card?  And of all things, at your age?  My GAWWWWWWD!!!  The HORROR !!!!!!!!!!!  It'll take a while for me to recover from this one.  My boy, you are in need of some serious help.

I have to go now and snuggle a bit with my .416 RemMag and remind myself just exactly what the hell I need an elephant gun in central MT for.    >>  klallen

Hey Klallen, you could use that rifle to scare away the kids with wrenches. These are the main reasons why i am unable to get that rifle...

1: My dad will only let me get Rugers

2. I dont have anyplace where i could shoot it past 50 yards

3. My dad will only let me get Rugers

4. Ummmm how bout My dad will only let me get Rugers.

I hope these reasons are good enough! and if they arent, well then........

NH_Hunter

NH . . . Klallen is more interested in scaring away the "wenches" with kids!     

Heard that Ruger is going "belly up."  Must be true.  Everything we see on here is true. 

Was just teas'n ya, NH.  I thought you had mentioned somewhere that you wanted to get into a left handed rifle chambered for a cartridge that would service ya well when you moved out west.  Just thought this $375 Savage might cover your bases nicely.  Maybe not.

By the way, I can't argue with your pappy.  I like Ruger, too.  >>  klallen