I bought one of these for my Win Mod 71, and it has made a big difference. In addition to reducing felt recoil, the slight increase in LOP and the leather pad surface makes the gun much more comfortable to aim and shoot.

https://www.buffaloarms.com/sl...e-on-type-act2607l-s

Ugly as sin. I‘d rather accept the beating.

BH63

I have seen much worse. And why are American rifle stocks so short? There must be plenty of trees out there, or is it so cold you have to wear three jackets?

HB, in globally warmed England...

A very good and effective product line.
I have the Velcro version in all sizes primarily for shotguns. But recently used one to take up the slack when grandson outgrew the youth stock on his 7mm-08.

As someone noted, these are effective for use in summertime when the gun is stocked for winter wear(as are all my Parker shotguns).

It's your gun so do to it as you please. I fully understand the need for a recoil pad on a model 71, original or not.

Well, at least the leather gives it a kind of old-timey look and the lacing might stop it falling off.

I've just got a slip-on rubber pad over the crescent butt plate on my M86 (with closed foam filling up the crescent inside) and it looks worse.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
Well, at least the leather gives it a kind of old-timey look and the lacing might stop it falling off.

I've just got a slip-on rubber pad over the crescent butt plate on my M86 (with closed foam filling up the crescent inside) and it looks worse.

But it feels so much better. I have the same on a 95 carbine. 30-06 that feels like a .338 with the steel crescent.

quote:

Originally posted by HistoricBore:
I have seen much worse. And why are American rifle stocks so short? There must be plenty of trees out there, or is it so cold you have to wear three jackets?

HB, in globally warmed England...

Since I happen to not be as lucky as you in the height department, I'm glad stocks aren't any longer. Plenty of options to extend the LOP, but to shorten it, only a fine toothed saw will do.

Really tall people, or those with long necks, may not find the lengthening options all that great, Sevastopol, though at least their efforts might be undone if they sell the rifle.

The advantage of being vertically challenged, however, is I never feel tempted to pay for extra leg room on planes

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
Really tall people, or those with long necks, may not find the lengthening options all that great, Sevastopol, though at least their efforts might be undone if they sell the rifle.

The advantage of being vertically challenged, however, is I never feel tempted to pay for extra leg room on planes

:-)

I was going to have a recoil pad installed on mine but have found that the rifle version is heavy enough that recoil is not a problem with the steel butt plate

I have one that I use from time to time, The lace up makes for a good fit, I don't leave it on however as the wood will fade in a very short time and its a little hard to match back up in some cases....Ive also noticed it keeps the stock off a horses butt (or shoulder) and the saddle by the thin thickness or the leather underneath and in front of the leather also, thus you don't get the wear on the wood, that in time can get rather deep..

So, Atkinson, should I take the slip-on pad off my rifle, too, even though it's real dark in my gun safe?

I'm 6'2" and I've never had a problem with the stock length on a Winchester lever gun. My 71 is near perfect, the 1895SRC's are leaning toward short, recoil is stiff but manageable. Even the stock on my 92 Trapper is fine. I'd rather have them a touch short in the summer when I'm not wearing much vs. getting hung up trying to bring the gun up for a shot during hunting season when I'm wearing many more layers.

Sambarman,
That depends on the gun and you..If its a real nice rifle I would take it off, if its just a hunting rifle Id leave it on...just common since prevails..It will change the color of your wood sitting in the gun cabinet or has at my place..Of course at any point it can be refinished to one degree or another..sometimes just wax might fix it, but doubtful..

Thanks Ray, the wood is nothing special and reminds me of a hickory axe handle, if anything.

Yes I would leave it on under those circumstances..Im not ocd about my guns however, I have them to use..NOBODY has ever walked up to me in the bush and said, that pads ugly!! probably wouldn't be a good idea anyway..

On a nice 71 I would recommend that lace on as to installing a recoil pad, Regular pad installation will surely hurt collector value on a original rifle..

Some of my guns have steel curved butts such as Neidner or custom steel butt plates..That lace comes in handy or the larger bores..

wish i had a 71 to agonize over!!