I can say the Rem finish was tough as all get out. It was so hard it resisted some dents. I hate plastic too.
When a kid with a new Daisy Red Ryder I put insect spray on and my hands melted fingerprints into the plastic. then I bought a 700 with plastic. The stock was spaghetti so I inlayed a 3/8" stainless aircraft hydraulic tube in the forearm. Early plastics really sucked.
