full stock or half stock

[kybackwoodsman]

i know its all about the time period and more about personbal opinion but im gonna throw my hat in.. personally i prefer a full stock rifle.. nothing wrong with a half stock but in my opinion the full stock provides more balance on the long barreled rifles and just looks so good.  would like to hear others on this subject..

[old salt]

I for one have and shoot both, as for balance, I guess I have shot enough different rifle
that it dose not take but a few seconds for me to find the balance point on just about any rifle
I pick up

[flintboomer]

I never liked the looks of a fullstock until I swapped my 1803 Harpers Ferry for my Kentucky rifle. When they feel right in your hands and shoot as well as that one used to shoot you learn to love them.
For a lot of us we started with what we could get our hands on and moved on from there learning as we went. I have and shoot both halfstocks and fullstocks.

[Wyoming Mike]

I use both but am partial to full stocks.  When I built my Hawken a few years ago, I built a fullstock.  The only halfstocks I have built were a Santa Fe kit and a restock on a Mountain Rifle.  All the rest have been fullstocks.

As far as balance I really can't tell much difference.  The fullstocks have wood all the way out but the halfstocks have a metal underrib.  Barrel shape has a lot more to do with balance than anything else.  Swamped barrels are seen mostly on fullstocks.  Tapered barrels are seen on both styles.  Either one will give a better balanced rifle no matter what the stock is.

[gordy]

        I too "prefer" the  full stocks , but I also enjoy  the looks of the half stocks . All have stright barrels so , compared to swamped barrels they all are front heavy . I happen to do (did) better shooting guns that are heavy in the front . Over the years , I"ve seldom found it prudent or nessasary to shoot game animals on the move , so swing ability (to me) is not a factor in "rifleed guns". When it comes to smoothbores then thats a different situation .  As was said , its what "feels" good that determine s how well you can shoot it . One of my full stocks is a short barreled smoothbore 26" . Its a "barn gun" and really don't represent a strict time period . But is a great brush gun/saddle gun (for me) . Its close in configuration to a gun marketed several years ago I think by (Traditions) called the TAOS or SANTA FE TRAIL  rifle .  Mine is a smooth bore . It throws shot well and is very ac curate out to 50 yards with PRB .
        Back to the original topic , I"d have to say the full stocks with flint locks are my preference .

[texasranger]

mostly just what you are used to and if it is the  right time period. I shoot both and am happy with both, although I like the half stock the best

[Red Badger]

I am easy if it goes boom I'll shoot it.   

But I really want a no stock - as in CANNON!     Just can't afford one!

[Dogshirt]

My first was a full stock Kentucky, and I still have it. But I never cared for the looks of a fullstock rifle. Of the six I have, five are halfstocks,
and all future will probably be halfstocks.

[Hawken50]

  As long as it loads from the front i likes em.Partial to full stock though,even on the Hawken style.