Many older rifles and shotguns frequently exhibit broken or cracked recoil pads and butt plates. According to rifleshooter.com, a practical solution involves replacing an old plastic recoil plate with a new rubber recoil pad, a procedure recently elaborated upon in the context of a side-by-side shotgun. This upgrade is presented as a relatively straightforward modification that substantially improves the firearm's ergonomics and recoil absorption. The story was first reported by rifleshooter.com.
Successful execution of this modification benefits from a specialized fixture designed for mounting onto a belt grinder. For the project detailed, a replacement rubber recoil pad, specifically a Pachmayr unit, was sourced via Brownells. The original component was an old plastic pad, previously secured to the stock with two screws; the replacement pad featured corresponding screw holes for direct attachment. The process begins by fastening the new rubber pad to the shotgun stock using the provided screws.
Once attached, the stock and new pad are firmly secured in a rubber-jawed vise. A crucial next step involves using a marking knife to meticulously trace the exact outline of the stock onto the new pad. To enhance this traced line's visibility for grinding, chalk is filed over the pad and rubbed, allowing dust to settle into the outline, creating a clear "white line." The pad is then mounted onto the grinding fixture. This fixture features a front piece secured by a screw, allowing adjustment of both the fixture's top and the butt plate's angle to precisely match the stock's contours.
With the pad mounted and fixture adjusted, the assembly is positioned on a belt grinder. The grinding operation requires careful execution, aiming precisely to the chalked line. Rifleshooter.com advises splitting this line in two for the most precise fit. The publication also notes that using coarser grit belts during this stage yields cleaner and faster cuts, in contrast to finer belts which tend to melt the rubber pad, complicating the fitting process. While fitting new recoil pads can be challenging initially, like many specialized skills, proficiency improves with practice.
It is critical to heed the warnings from rifleshooter.com: this content is for informational purposes only and any modifications should be performed exclusively by competent gunsmiths. The publication explicitly disclaims responsibility for readers attempting these instructions. Modifying a firearm without a licensed gunsmith may void warranties, render the firearm unsafe, or cause injury or death. Such modifications could lead to improper function, malfunction, or make the firearm inherently unsafe.
