Good Gunsmith Needed

[adam12]

Nothing radical or nasty, just tricky. I want a good, new pad put on a Model #1, an old .375 H & H mag with a red pad turned solid and harder than concrete. Too many guys mention cutting the stock first and I'm out the door.

Many Thanks for any help.

a12

 

[collectormzornes]

I am not great at working on firearms by any means but you should not have to cut the stock at all. First thing is find a pad you want to go with. Remove the old one most likely two phillips head screws and put the new one on in the same screw holes hopefully. Now comes the work part it should be bigger than the butt stock so once it is tightened and touching the stock you should be able to take a pencil and draw a line on the new pad around the stock to get the size you need. Next remove the new pad and take it to a belt sander and remove the excess pad down to the line you marked. Then reinstall the new pad and you are done. To get a nice clean fit you may need to do some hand sanding but that is about the jest of it as far as I know. Hope this helps.

 

[rugerjunkie]

Cutting a stock to mount a new pad is ridiculous.
Tape off the stock and install the new pad. Two layers around the bottom if it makes you feel better. A disc sander , bench mounted not hand held , and a smooth steady hand and you're there. The tape will protect the stock in case there is a little bump against the wheel. End result is a very good fitting pad.

Another trick with pads is a little oil , grease , or vaseline on the screw holes. That will eliminate the rings left in the rubber from the screwdriver.

 

[wunbe]

And use the right screw bit. One that tapers to a thinner than normal 'neck' so that you don't leave dents in the new pad where the fatter tools turns. Such thin neck bits come in some gunsmithing screw driver kits.

Going from a Ruger wafer to a serious recoil pad will add enough LOP to make you -- me that is -- creep the stock and this loses a solid upright cheek weld. With a lively caliber like the 375 H&H, that can spread out groups and diminish the effectiveness of the new recoil pad in controlling fealt recoil. You may need to do the job twice, cutting the stock the next time!

wunbe

 

[22/45 Fan]

Nothing radical or nasty, just tricky. I want a good, new pad put on a Model #1, an old .375 H & H mag with a red pad turned solid and harder than concrete. Too many guys mention cutting the stock first and I'm out the door.

If the replacement pad you want is significantly thicker than the OEM one, the recommendation to cut the stock is probably a good one. If the current length of pull is a good fit for you, a thicker pad will make it longer and possibly awkwardly long.