Quote:

---

I understand your desire to try and replicate an original sporter but your project will never create a true original. For practical use I personally would go with a recoil pad, a Silvers or a red Pachmayr Old English if wanting a little bit of period correctness.
I have an original Oberndorf Type A Mauser in 404 which was fitted with a ventilated pad (in Africa I presume) but I have since fitted a red Pachmayr pad to it. Much more shootable than a plastic/horn/steel butt plate. Went off them in a big way when shooting the SMLE 303 battle rifle with a brass butt plate as an army cadet at High School.

Your Mauser logo plastic plate will fit the bill though. Please post some photos of your project.

---

Absolutely no question, nothing would compare to an original. But no reason a rifle built to the same specs and style could not be a reasonable substitute. I have had the pleasure of handling and shooting a couple pre War Rigbys. They are my dream rifle. I doubt I will ever spend the required money for one and if I do I don’t know if I would want to bring it into the woods. I would instead prefer to use the money on hunting.
As for recoil pads I personally cannot own a rubber recoil padded rifle. Before my Mauser addiction set in I was a diehard Pre 64 Winchester fan. I’ve had over a dozen in various calibers. I have not found the steel buttplate to be anything but a pleasure on a rifle, quick to shoulder no chance of hanging up on clothing like a rubber pad. Recoil is very subjective and it doesn’t seem to bother me at all. I do not have recoil pads on my shotguns either. I’m not sure when the rubber recoil pad became standard issue for rifles but the Pre War era seemed to do just fine without them. I cringe everytime I see a Vintage Winchester or Mauser that has had the original stock sawn on to install a rubber pad or the receiver drilled for a scope.
Really like the steel Mauser logo buttplate haven’t seen many of those.

Post Extras