Recoil pad question

[Redman]

Helping a friend restore a shotgun for a friend of his. I noticed the recoil pad that was once red rubber is now a solid red chunck of what used to resemble soft rubber. Anyway I told him we need to do something about that. I know that you could purchase "grind to fit" recoil pads. I had one on hand but couldn't find if it was one of those. Here is a picture of it. I have had it for years might give it a shot anyway but thought I would check here incase one of you has seen one of these before.

 

[OntarioHunter]

That is a Japanese imitation of the old Pachmayer "White Line" recoil pad. You can still buy the real thing and I would advise it. That Jap junk will just rot away once it's exposed to daylight. My dad's 1930s Model 11 has an original Pachmayer pad that's also done for. If I could get that gun away from my brother I would replace the recoil pad. A gunsmith friend who was retiring gave me the jig tool for grinding the pads to fit but I still haven't used it.

 

[Redman]

That is a Japanese imitation of the old Pachmayer "White Line" recoil pad. You can still buy the real thing and I would advise it. That Jap junk will just rot away once it's exposed to daylight. My dad's 1930s Model 11 has an original Pachmayer pad that's also done for. If I could get that gun away from my brother I would replace the recoil pad. A gunsmith friend who was retiring gave me the jig tool for grinding the pads to fit but I still haven't used it.

So is this Jap pad grindable?

 

[OntarioHunter]

So is this Jap pad grindable?

You can try. Might crumble when you grind it. That World Famous outfit just sold cheap junk mostly. A cut rate importer. If you're "restoring" a shotgun, why not go with original equipment? The Pachmayer pads aren't real expensive.

 

[Redman]

You can try. Might crumble when you grind it. That World Famous outfit just sold cheap junk mostly. A cut rate importer. If you're "restoring" a shotgun, why not go with original equipment? The Pachmayer pads aren't real expensive.

It is a old H&R single shot 12ga. So I already have more time in it than the gun is worth.

 

[OntarioHunter]

It is a old H&R single shot 12ga. So I already have more time in it than the gun is worth.

Give it a go. Who knows what pad H&R put on that gun originally. Pachmayer "White Line" was top of the line in those days and, as you know, H&R was pretty much bottom of the line. Actually, as I recall weren't those single shots originally hard butt plate? Maybe that recoil pad was an add-on anyway. If your Jap pad is big enough, may as well see if it works. Good luck!

 

[Redman]

Give it a go. Who knows what pad H&R put on that gun originally. Pachmayer "White Line" was top of the line in those days and, as you know, H&R was pretty much bottom of the line. Actually, as I recall weren't those single shots originally hard butt plate? Maybe that recoil pad was an add-on anyway. If your Jap pad is big enough, may as well see if it works. Good luck!

Original recoil pad reddish orange rubber now hard as a rock with H&R molded into it.