Butt Pad install

[EdwardE]

So, it's been a little while since I completed finishing the 870 wood furniture. The only thing that was left was the installation of the butt pad. I must have gone through 20 or more pads at the local sporting goods store, keeping my fingers crossed that I would find one that fit just right. No dice. I was going to have to make one to fit just right. I have never fitted a butt pad before so, this was a new experience. Nothing wrong with that.
I decided to go with a Pachmayr. I liked the style of this pad and with it being slightly thinner, it lessened the LOP to 13".


Looking at the butt end of the stock, it had at least 2 different pads on it during it's lifetime. Fortunately, the smaller pair of holes lined up with the new recoil pad.


The install instructions were pretty easy to follow and I like the fact that there are no visible screw holes on the pad once the screws are installed. Makes for a nice, clean appearance.


Once the pad was screwed on, I got to see how much pad material I was going to have to have to remove. Quite a bit as you can see. I used Rem Oil on the screwdriver to keep from damaging the pad.


I took the pad back off and layed out masking tape to mark the stock's profile. I should have done this when I first installed the pad; would have saved me from having to take off and reinstall the pad. Lesson learned.


With the profile now marked, it was off to the garage and to the belt sander. I have one of those Lowes el-cheapo Ryobi 4" bench top models. Pachmayr instructed using 80 grit for the material removal. This is where I strayed from the instructions and went with 120 grit. 80 removes a lot of material fast and leaves deeper marks to try and smooth out. The pad was $25.00 and I did not wish to go too far, too fast and have it end up trashed. 120 worked fast enough and left a very smooth finish.


During the grinding process, I was most concerned with getting the tail of the pad to be correct. I think they look best following the angle of the stock; squared off, they just don't look right. I watched some Youtube videos where the pros use some sort of jig to do this. I'm no pro nor am I willing to spend the cash on such a device. I just eyeballed it. After a little clean up with some Armor-All, the pad is installed and the stock is ready for use.




All in all, this process wasn't that difficult at all. Take time, measure twice, go easy on the sanding and it all went well.

[xridgelinerx]

Very pretty furniture. Nice job!

[oriyen]

excellent work !!!!

[Synchronizor]

That looks great, a world of improvement over the way the stock looked when you got it.


Have you taken it shooting yet?

[Vitaly]

Nice job!

[EdwardE]

Thanks, all.
As far as the cost of doing this goes, let's see..
$40.00 for the wood (stock and foregrip)
$25.00 for the pad
$12.00 for the bearing plate and stock bolt (ebay)
$15.00 for re-finishing supplies

A grand total of $90.00. Looking at ebay, it's fairly common to see 870 furniture for $60.00 or more. So, while looking at it from a price-only point of view, I could have easily just bought a wood set in good condition and have been done with it for cheaper. That wasn't the entire goal, however. I definitely had a good learning experience, the process itself was very enjoyable and the satisfaction of getting some old and worn furniture back to useful service.

Sync, I haven't gotten a chance to fire it with the "new" furniture so no recoil report yet. I do have a few boxes of Federal slugs ready and waiting for the acid test.