doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com SxS 'best-ish', made without butt pad or plate?

Hi All,

I picked up a Spanish SxS sidelock 12g, that I am happy with. It is a bit more 'bling-y' than my other firearms [chromed receiver with gold screws and black lever/trigger], but it confused me as it does not have a butt plate or a butt pad.

The rear of the butt has been very carefully contoured [rounded over] and is VERY nicely finished- on a par with the wides. It has a bit of cross hatching for texture, to prevent slippage.

I am reasonably certain that it was made this way.

However, it seems like the lack of any butt pad or butt plate makes this a shotgun that I'd not want to shoot more than 6 pairs of rounds through due to the bare wood hitting my shoulder.

What I would like to know is: How common was it for the nicer end of the shotgun line to have a highly refined/highly finished wooden end to the butt stock- instead of a plate or pad?


Also, am I missing something? Is there some other way to [relatively] comfortably shoot 50-100 rounds through it in an outing?

Thanks for any tips you can provide.

Have you tried shooting 100 rounds with it yet ?
You may be fearing something that will not happen. Give it a go.
Use a padded shoulder shooting jacket.

I shoot up to 180 rounds in a cotton shirt with a wood butt that has steel heel & toe plates.
But that is me.
O.M

A finished wood butt is fairly common on English and European guns. I'm not a big fan but to each his own. I suggest that if a gun is hurting your shoulder you need to use lighter loads. I reject the common notion that every gun and rifle needs a pad.

You'll encounter lined, checkered, and cross-hatched butts. As well as shotguns with wooden butt plates.

It is an elegant way to finish the butt and feels no different than a butt plate. Most of my guns have a hard butt plate and unless you use heavy loads it is not a problem. The biggest problem I have with a checkered wood butt is putting it down in a rack at a sporting clay station without damaging it. Sometimes I put it in the stand with the muzzle down which I am not thrilled with either. A leather slip on type butt pad works also but it covers the beauty of the gun.

The original British empire Martini-Henry Mark I 1871-74 had no butt plate...just cross-hatched wood.

The wood butt is no harder than a plastic/metal/horn buttplate. Go shoot it and if it hurts your shoulder get the gun fitted properly.

A wooden butt nicely done was often equated with top workmanship. It is more difficult to make than simply slapping a buttplate on the end. The wood grain had to be laid out properly to avoid chipping, etc. and it was considered poor form to rest a gun on the ground with the barrel up (still is). Personally, for my true upland guns I prefer the wooden butt and won�t even look at a upland gun with a recoil pad installed. Just a personal preference.

While I like the protection a rubber pad provides, its hard to beat the ease of mounting a shaped wood or butt plate gun quickly. Great for woodcock and other game requiring fast mounting. Im just extra cautious not to rest the butt on the ground.

Ive got numerous best guns, all have a shaped butt.

Could you please explain which buttstock dimensions cause a gun to cause more or less felt recoil to the shoulder? If a fitting could remedy it, there must be certain stock dims that can cause it, if they are not right for you.

SRH

Too much pitch will cause an increase in felt recoil, Stan.

Best,
Ted

I agree excessive pitch will, Ted, but so few guns have that much pitch that I guess I kinda "excused" it as a reason. Too little could, too, I think.

Drop, cast..............both are important but will mostly impact cheek recoil, IMO.

SRH

I had a coupla� used guns come through at around 4� from the wall, when sitting flat on the butt. Shooting either was like a boot to the soul. Both have been corrected and remain in the flock today.
Uggy 12 and a first year model 12, if anyone is keeping score.
Too much drop is a bear, too. Cast going the wrong way doesn�t help, either.

Best,
Ted

Thanks to all for the insight!

I am new to all of this. I did not intend to replace it or cover it up, but was wondering about maybe a skelaton butt plate around it for long term durability. I'll leave it as is.

I won't have time to take it out and shoot it for a while, but will report on how it feels at that time.

From what I have read about proof pressures and this shotgun, I should stick to loads under 9000 psi, as mine was tested at 600bar- if I recall accurately.

Thanks again!

Unfortunately, the notification system isn't notifying me of messages being posted. Hmmm

I have one...it is a Webley and Scott 7 pin sidelock. It has a checkered butt on a very nice piece of Turkish walnut. I am getting ready to take it to South Da. next Monday. I have shot a few rounds of skeet with it and I do not find it uncomfortable to shoot.

tight lines Jim Sears

I like rubber recoil pads for how they protect the butt, not always for recoil reduction. For dove shooting, none is needed and a couple of my dove guns have checkered butts. But, for ducks, in blinds and boats and flooded timber, I like a recoil pad. It protects the butt and helps keep it out of the inevitable 1/2" of water in the bottom of all pit blinds and duck boats. For serious clays work...............recoil pad. For quail ...............doesn't matter. For turkeys ..............no big deal either way.

SRH

Good to see you here, Jim.

I love checkered butts, or, checkered wood. Done right, they are truly beautiful. I have guns with pads, but, they were put there by others. They are useful, but, to me, less aesthetically pleasant.

Best,
Ted

Aesthetics vs function. Pity the man who loves the look of "all wood no pad/plate" butt and needs a rubber recoil pad.

DDA

Well, then you gotta� do what you gotta� do. Need a pad, use a pad.

Best,
Ted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_OMUgTFQhw

I couldn't agree more Ted.