ranger140892

Synthetic stocks can warp. Especially the black, oily, plastic ones that most firearms manufacturers use. Those stocks don't adhere well to bedding material also. Getting a good mechanical lock with the bedding is a good way to keep the bedding from shooting loose. I mechanically lock bedding in all rifles I bed, regardless of stock material
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Most folks like just enough clearance between barrel and stock to slide a dollor bill or index card in. That's not much clearance. Depending on barrel weight and stock material, just laying it on a rifle rest can make the stock bend enough to touch the barrel. I always use 1/8" to 3/16" gap in the barrel channel. Builders of competition rifles and sniper rifles aren't worried much about looks andusuallygo with a gap big enough to slide a penny around the barrel channel.

stubblejumper

Some synthetic stocks can indeed move slightly when exposed to heat,such as when they are left in the sun on a hot day.They are however quite stable in the temperatures that most of us encounter while hunting big game.The stocks effected are the injection moulded plastic stocks that are common on factory rifles.However the higher quality synthetic stocks like mcmillan,h-s precision and rimrock,are extremely stable under all conditions of temperature and humidity that you would ever hunt under,much more stable than any wood or laminate for that matter.