Fit certainly dictates how well any gun will act upon shooting it. I just purchased an AYA XXV. Beautiful little gun with a checkered butt. Unfortunately it is too short so a pad will be added. It slides all over when I shoot it, and it bruises my middle finger as well. I added a leather wrap on pad to get it to my approximate LOP. Now it fits fairly well and I am not smacking my finger anymore. Yes I could keep that wrap on pad, but for a field gun, all it does is add weight and get in the way IMO. I can add a pad and remove wood in the stock to bring the balance back. I can't with one of those leather wrap on pads. IMO if you truly hunt a lot, a good pad is a benefit and not a hindrance.
I also rarely change chokes, but they are good if you are going from farther shots on pheasants to something close up like quail or ruffed grouse. I hunt in excess of 60 days a season, and my field gun is set up with a good pad and tubes. My AYA will be replacing that gun due to I want a lighter field gun due to the amount of walking I do. It will be set up the same when I am done. I have guns I take out once or twice a season that I use leather wrap on pads. For that kind of use it is fine, but for an actual field gun I would get it to fit right. Too many accidents can happen in the field and the last thing I want is the toe of the stock splitting off from a fall.
