After years of discussions here concerning the alleged importance of perfect shotgun balance, swing effort, or Moment of Inertia (M.O.I), and various tools or methods to measure it, I'm not going to criticize Ed for giving his opinion on the matter. I'll save my criticism for the idiots who vote for anti-gun Democrats.

What hasn't been mentioned is that the primary function of a recoil pad is to absorb or mitigate recoil, and that's something no wood extension is going to provide. Some guys are recoil sensitive, and a pad not only gives them the extra L.O.P. they may need, but also more comfortable shooting. That said, there are pads that are unattractive, not period correct, or simply not well done. Personally, I don't care for any wood extension, other than some of contrasting wood that aren't much thicker than a standard buttplate. I'm not a fan of the idea that wood extensions can be hidden by fake grain painting techniques, because that process is not only quite expensive, but it is also nothing more than a surface application that can be scratched off or otherwise damaged. Even if the wood joint is done perfectly, the joint may still become visible as the two different pieces of wood in the stock and the extension expand and contract due to humidity changes.

I agree with Stan about the fact that any wood extension, especially one made of dense walnut, also adds some weight. So the net difference and effect upon balance is probably going to be negligible for all but the most sensitive shooter. The density of walnut is around .025 lb./cu. inch, and the density of rubber is about a third more. And there is a good chance that a gun with a really short stock is already going to be a tad muzzle heavy. However, I think my shooting would probably be more negatively affected by a too short L.O.P. than by a couple ounces of imbalance.

And if a gun is too short by more than one inch, no combination of pads, spacers, or extensions ever looks good. Better to restock it, sell it, or use a lace-on pad when shooting it.

Voting for anti-gun Democrats is dumber than giving treats to a dog that shits on a Persian Rug