Are you concerned about the change in the LOP with a pad added to an uncut stock? I would be!

Just go out and buy a slip on pad. Walmart sells them for ten bucks. They don't look all that bad and they come off.

I have two of those slip ons in my shooting bag and they go on and off at the range. In fact the so called pad on the old #1's is not all that soft and I used the Pachmeyer slipon on my 30-06 this week.

Mho,

Heat some water to boiling and insert the pad for a short time, take it out and bend it to match the curvature. Drill and grind to fit. They don't have the steel plate in them anymore.

Johnny, if the butt of the rifle is curved, I doubt you could install a decelerator without cutting the stock (and then fitting the pad, as you suggest). Or am I wrong??
- mike

Thanks so far, but the problem seems to be that there is a routed cut at the top of the heel of the stock to enable the butt plate to wrap over the top of the butt. If I was to heat and bend a standard pad, it would still leave an unfilled, unsightly gap at the top of the stock at the butt. This is the reason that I am looking for something designed to fit this rifle. I don't want to cut the stock as that will effectively ruin its resale value. Another option might be to replace the butt-stock with one made for the Ruger # 1. This would entail either modifying the action lever (which I don't want to do) or the new butt-stock. If you recall, the #3 has a straight stock, while the #1 has a pistol grip stock. The problem is that this is without a doubt my favorite rifle, but with the heavy 45-70 loads I tend to use, shooting it can get "interesting" from prone, or off a bench. If I am being too much of a damned pest, let me know and I will drop the thread.

I don't know how much this is going to help, but the pachmayr decellerator is the one I'd go with.

www.pachmayr.com

Just find a gun shop who deals in them. A proper size will have to be picked, then the gunsmith will mout it and sand it to size for your rifle.

Can anyone help me to locate a source for a recoil pad for a Ruger #3 rifle? All I have been able to find is a cheap POS designed to lengthen the pull of a Mini-14. I want a real pad that is going to properly fit the curved butt of the rifle. A quality mass produced pad is preferable, but custom is not out of the question. Can anyone help me?

Tweedsdad

Were it my rifle I think I'd put a pachmayr on in the manor customstox described then I'd get a piece of wood that closely matches the stock and cut and fit a small piece to fit in that channel. Once fit I'd take one or two small screws and screw it in place to fill that gap. You can recess them and plug it with a bit of dowel if you like. This way you've got a good pad and the slot filled but you can easily take it all off and replace it with the original plate and not loose any resale value.

JMHO

John

You're up against a logistical nightmare that I don't believe will work to your satisfaction.

I agree that the "routed cut" at the top of the stock will make clean installation of a curved recoil pad just about impossible. If I owned your rifle, I'd cut the stock and install a pad in the conventional manner, or else I'd leave it as-is.

AD

I understand your reluctance to alter the original stock, for resale and other purposes.

Would it be possible to get a cheap stock that suits the rifle 'as is', and fit the pad to that? When (if?) it comes to selling the rifle, put the original stock back on, and give the buyer the modified stock as a bonus!

My 2c

Tweesdad,
Forgot about the little "tit" on top. The london guns pad has one of those or a shape similar. Another option is to get a take off stock and use it for the pad. I am not sure I would worry about the resale versus modifications on a number 3, doubt if it would hurt it.

Actually, I am trying to do just that. I was able to lay my hands on a decent quantity of Sorbothane, and am in the process of trying to layer it onto the butt of the stock. The sheet is about 3/8" thick, so I am able to follow the contour reasonably well. Building it up with a commercial grade of contact cement. When the cement dries, it holds the shape I need. All I have to figure out now is how to make it look good, attach this thing to the butt, and have it removable. I think this is becoming more of a "make work" situation than actual need. The reality is that I am not in a position of really NEEDING the pad, it's more like I WANT the pad. What the hell, it's keeping me off the streets and out of the bars. I am not sure if that is a good thing either.

if you want to install a number one stock it is very easy. remove the old stock and put on the new one. nothing has to be altered unless there is minor fitting to the action. the locking mechanism in a number three is at the front of the lever, not onthe trigger guard as in the number one. i'v heard these renditions called number twos.

I don't think there are any specifically made to fit the No. 3. I just discovered that there's a Limbsaver that supposedly fits the No. 1. I bought one, and it almost fits! There's about 1/8" of it sticking out past the toe, but I guess I can live with that. I'm going out to the range this morning to see how much it tames the recoil of my fierce No. 1 in .45/70!

For some strange reason Pachmayr pads aren't listed for the Ruger No. 1. However, their pad for the featherweight wood-stocked M 70 WIN. looks like it would come close. I contacted them about availability of a pad for the No.1, and their reply was "we don't make one for the No.1, but, gee, that sounds like a good idea"!!!

The first thing you need to do is figure out what it is going to take to make the stock "fit" you. If you dont want to alter the stock then one option is a specially made spacer from wood or a composite ( ) that will fit the cut in the top and match a pad on the end. But that may make it too long.

If you want to add a pad AND make it fit then cutting it down may be the only option and getting a spare buttstock to keep the original may be what you want.