Agree 100% with Mike.

Some time ago I built a gentleman a 98 Mauser in 9.3x62 that he wanted fitted with a skeleton butt plate and flat top checkering inside it. The finished rifle weighed about 7-1/2lbs all up and it was correctly fitted my client (fitted me pretty well too for that matter). Even in just a thin cotton shirt, when I zeroed the three rear sight leaves, all in one sitting (one full packet of Norma 286 grain Onyx) there were no real problems at all. I ended up with just a slight red patch right where the toe sat in my shoulder, thats all. I am a little fuller (fatter

) there than my client.

So, as Mike says, if the stock fits and you hold it right, you should have no problems with a steel butt plate on a 308 hunting rifle.

My two cents worth...

Best
ALEX