Rem. Mtn Rifle recoil pad question

[RLFarmer]

Hi all.  I was wanting to replace the recoil pad on my daughters 700 LSS mountain rifle.  I removed the screws but the pad is still stuck to the stock.  Does Remington also glue these pads on?  Thanks.

[gunnut69]

They are usually stuck on by the stock finish as it's applied after the pad is applied.  It might be good to carefully score the finish where the stock and pad meet..  Then a nice tap will usually pop the pad off.  Strike the black spacer and not the stock or the rubber part of the pad.  Failure to score the finish can cause chipping of the finish..When you get the pad off and after the new one is fitted be sure to seal the endgrain of the butt stock with poly as it the place they really like to suck up moisture.

[RLFarmer]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  I didn't figure that they glued and screwed them on,  but I did not think about them being finished after pad installation.  Thanks again.

[smk]

I tried VERY hard to get the pad off of a Remington LSS mountain rifle and I don't think it is just the finish holding them on in addition to the two screws. If it is, it is unlike any finish I have ever encountered. I scored the finish the whole way around, beat on it with a hammer, lightly pried it in a vise and still couldn't get it off. Yes, I did damage the plastic base part of the pad somewhat during all this. I gave up and just left it on.

[gunnut69]

Sorry for all the trouble.  While the pad was not glued on by the factory, it is possible that someone along the way glued it on.  To remove glued on pads you will need to replace the pad as it won't survive the removal process. First tape the butt stock finish with masking tape to prevent little scratches.  Using a chisel and hammer remove the pad by cutting the plastic base of the pad.  Lay the stock on the side, on some old rags on the bench, put the chisel edge against the center of this layer of plastic. Don't try splitting it away from the wood as the wood will crush and the damage will show in the junction of the new pad and the stock. When the old pad ismostly gone scrape away as much as possible, avoiding damage to the edge of the butt. Lightly sand the butt of the stock, a belt sander is best, to level the mounting area for the new pad.  The new pad is then mounted as usual.  This is just another of the joys of mounting recoil pads.. Be sure to coat the end grain of the stock, if it is not already..  Good luck.

[orchemo]

Gunnut69 -  Thanks for the advice. I m also getting ready to replace recoil pads on a pair of Rem. mountain rifles. Have a 30-06 and 260 Rem and both recoid pads might was well be solid plastic. The 06 is a real thumper with the light weight and no cushion.

Was thinking Pachmayer. The lower end of the pad is narrower than the typical Rem sock, because of this contour, any pads to avoid. I realize I will be grinding/sanding. I just do not want to sand away and find nothing on the inside of the pad.

Thanks
Eric

[gunnut69]

I like the Pachmeyers but a lot of the guys here prefer the Limbsaver pads. The Pachmayers have a steel reinforcement on the decelerator pads. If you start with too large a pad you'll grind into this and the pad will be ruined. Use the smallest size that will allow the pad's contours to be ground to extend the lines of the stock. Not a huge problem but you have to know that it's there..

[orchemo]

Appreciate the input. While I have a Limbsaver on another rifle, it seems for a mountain rifle, that a big and heavy limbsaver does not make sense.

Eric

[gunnut69]

Pachmeyer pads come in many styles, thicknesses, and colors. I preder the leather grained finish in the English round faced style, in either brown or black(depends on weapon involved..  A little hint..when installing a pad use (silicone)lube to save the exterior finish at the screw hole slit. Hold the sharp tip of the screws on a grinder at an angle such that the threads are ground away on one side of the tip. The remaining portions of thread act as would a tap, cutting rather than swaging the threads into the wood. This makes installation easier and every bit as effective..

[orchemo]

Someone with more experience than I ?

I have place a couple recoil pads in the past and while they have been good fits, they have not been great.

Am getting ready to order some Pachmyer recoil pads for my 2 mountain rifles and am wondering if  the recoil pad installation fixtures offered at Midway and other is worth while?

see link:http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=658338.

Or if patience and care achieves the same results.

Thanks
Eric

[gunnut69]

I've used two varieties of jigs and both worked. One uses a fixture to which the pad is mounted. The jig has a base designed to slide around on the plate of your sander. It requires a pad be fitted to the stock and the toe angle set on the jig before moving the pad to the jig. The jig is then reset to flat after the toe area is ground. The other also requires the pad be fitted to the butt then applied to the jig which also had already been adjusted to the toe angle. This version hangs from a stand of the grinder. Both have faults. The pads have to be fitted and a line drawn around the stock and used as a grind too guide.. The second hanging jig leaves stuff hanging on my belt sander.. in the way!!  The jigs work but take too much time. I mount the pad to the stock(has to be done no matter what) then scribe a line around the stock's butt end. Then BEFORE removing I grind the toe area until close to the stock but not to the line. This sets the toe angle on the pad.. I then remove the pad and grind up to the line.. by hand. Start with a 60/80 grit belt and switch to a 200/220 at the end. I finish with a light pass to smooth the edges, sanding the length of the pad not across. Use the finer grit to remove the material under the line.. Freezing the pad can help you keep the material steady for a better finish, especially with the softer rubber(sorbothane) pads. Always use a belt or disk sander as an orbital can round off the the end that attaches to the stock. There's a string here that I wrote to help with the process, even a few tricks. To answer your question, while the jigs work, it's something that can easily be done by hand..  Good luck!

[orchemo]

Thanks for sharing your information.

Mcuh appreciated.

Eric

[orchemo]

Gunnut69 - Thanks for the advice. Installed the first Pachmyer pad over the last couple days and it looks great.

One more rifle to go.

Your tips and advice were very helpful. Again, thank you for taking your time to repsond and advise.

Eric

[gunnut69]

Thanks for the post.. I too love the Mtn Rifles but the weight was taken from the out side of the stock, short forearm, thinned forearm/butt stocks etc. The narrow butts can accentuate the recoil pain. A good pad can go a long way to alleviate the pain.. Good luck!!