I'm interested in some feedback as to preferences and superiority, weaknesses of the various materials used to make these parts.

To date, I've been using metal for both. The stock I am currently duplicating was originally shod with horm butt plate & cap. In keeping with this aesthetic I'm using black plastic on this particular project. In part to save an ounce or so, lol. I realize this won't fly on a high dollar custom but this is first and foremost a field gun and certainly not an ACGG project.

Looking for some real world feedback on pro's & cons of various butt plate materials.

Please note that I personally don't like recoil pads on anything less than a Magnum.

Thanks.

There are several sources of semi-shaped horn butt plates and most are less than $40.00. I have some but haven't started to work them yet however, I can't imagine its harder to do than plastic. Why not stick to the original?

FWIW, I am also fond of the thin red rubber pads. Close behind that is the Neider checkered butt plate or a smooth color case hardened one.

A friend of mine used to make combs and other trinkets from buffalo and cow horn and he made a nice press to form the horn slabs into whatever shape he needed.

If you soak horn in hot water you can then press and form it to just about any shape or contour you want. A slightly curved buttplate should be easy as hell to do.

Take a buttplate that is the shape you want and and make a mold of its contour with acra glass and use that as a press to form the horn. I think you could also use two pieces of wood, cut on a band saw to your contour, as a press. Just put the soaked and softened horn between the two pieces and stick the whole thing in your vise over night.

Horn is very easy material to work with and it can be finished up really nice.

Other than that...I would go with one of Beisen’s steel plates. He has the best ones around and you can get them in several different styles and in German Silver, brass or steel with grip caps to match.

i always likes a thin piece of an exotic wood (ebony for example) checkered. other than that I like skeleton butplates/caps