Decaying Rubber Buttpads

[The Kurgan]

Not really an exciting thread, but I have noticed that several of my older rifles, while in generally excellent condition, seem to all suffer from dried-out buttpads, or sticky crumbly buttpads. Thinking ahead with my newer rifles, especially those with the soft rubber buttpads, how can I preserve the rubber? What is your experience?

The old plastic materials seem to hold up much better.

 

[Hitzy]

I've saved a few old hard dried out ones with a silicon lube used for waterproofing boots. Last one was an 80's Parker Hale.

 

[SuperCub]

Not really an exciting thread, but I have noticed that several of my older rifles, while in generally excellent condition, seem to all suffer from dried-out buttpads, or sticky crumbly buttpads. Thinking ahead with my newer rifles, especially those with the soft rubber buttpads, how can I preserve the rubber? What is your experience?

The old plastic materials seem to hold up much better.

I load my guns into the safe muzzle down to keep the pads from squishing flat over time. Most of my pads are Decelerators and quite soft. Not sure if this makes a huge difference over time or not but I have seen some old guns with flattened out pads.

OTOH .... I just used a very old NOS pad that was probably 50 or 60yrs old. It came with my grandfather's kit after he died. It was new in the original pkg and after going on an old 300H&H looked like it was brand new and current stock. Time did nothing to that pad all those years.

Here's the pkg it came in. Note the price of $1.39. Any guesses on how old it is?

 

[The Kurgan]

Clearly, quality materials were used. The soft rubber used today doesn't seem to hold up.

I think the ravages of moisture, UV, and time are the main culprits, along with cleaning solvents and oils.

 

[Gatehouse]

I load my guns into the safe muzzle down to keep the pads from squishing flat over time. Most of my pads are Decelerators and quite soft. Not sure if this makes a huge difference over time or not but I have seen some old guns with flattened out pads.

OTOH .... I just used a very old NOS pad that was probably 50 or 60yrs old. It came with my grandfather's kit after he died. It was new in the original pkg and after going on an old 300H&H looked like it was brand new and current stock. Time did nothing to that pad all those years.

Here's the pkg it came in. Note the price of $1.39. Any guesses on how old it is?

Your fudd skills have reached Jedi master here.

 

[stickhunter]

I load my guns into the safe muzzle down to keep the pads from squishing flat over time. Most of my pads are Decelerators and quite soft. Not sure if this makes a huge difference over time or not but I have seen some old guns with flattened out pads.

I do this as well after a couple of my Remington R3 pads started going soft and sticky. Muzzle down won't necessarily keep the pad from going bad, but it'll at least save you from picking out carpet fibres from your pad.

 

[SuperCub]

I do this as well after a couple of my Remington R3 pads started going soft and sticky. Muzzle down won't necessarily keep the pad from going bad, but it'll at least save you from picking out carpet fibres from your pad.

Yup .... Those pads were hideous. I don't think there is anything that could be done to save them.

 

[SuperCub]

Your fudd skills have reached Jedi master here.