Thanks all. Some good ideas here. I especially like the idea of scoring the scribed line with a sharp blade to cut through the surface grain. I've cut other buttstocks this same way and never encountered this problem, but always with dense walnut. Thanks to all.
postoak, I used a Uncle Mike's red rubber rifle pad, which had a black hard base. Looks good on there. The reason I stayed away from the nicer pads like the Decelerators, etc. is that they have a metal insert that prevents grinding away large amounts around the periphery. This pad had no insert, the black base is it's support. By the time I cut the stock down enough to end up with a 12 1/2" pull the base of the butt was pretty small, which required grinding away a lot of pad. Turned out great, though.
Here's the pay-off. This afternoon I took Jackson out to the field with the new gun, and the old Comet r/c trap. I let him get the feel of holding it awhile at shoulder, then let him dry fire a bit to get the feel of the triggers (which aren't great). I then hung some clays on some tree limbs and let him break them from about 15 yards, stationary. Then I loaded up the trap for the real deal. I told him to premount the gun on clay birds until he gets better at mounting, showed him a couple of clays in the air, pushed off the safety and told him to keep his finger out of the trigger guard until he saw the clay. When the first bird left the trap he crunched it about 25 yds. out. I was beside myself! He didn't fully realize what he had done, and though he missed the next several nothing will take away the memory of seeing his first clay bird shot at break with that new gun. I'll never forget it, I know that. After a short session we called it quits for the day. Being old enough to have a grandson has it's benefits!!
Grandpa Stan
