Originally Posted by
charlie b
And on top of that, even the cheaper rifles are more accurate than most sporters were 40 years ago. Material production methods have improved the quality and quantity so prices are relatively lower. Combined with precision casting/forging, CNC and more precise quality control and you get better stuff with less man hours invested.
'Plastic' stocks (and guns) are part of that for two reasons. The biggest is ease of production. The second is stability. No longer have to worry about a stock warping or sealing it so it won't absorb moisture and change the POI. Yeah, they are not 'warm and fuzzy', but, they work well. For pistols it is light and durable. No issues with rust, easy to clean, etc.