Curved recoil pad

[Longwalker]

I'd like to add recoil pads to a couple of nice old vintage shotguns. A Merkel O/U and a German SxS guild gun. I am NOT interested in cutting the butt, I just want to add 1" of length. I do not want to put on an ugly and awkward slip-on pad. To retain the original condition of the guns I'd like to be able to replace the original curved, hard plastic butt plates. So that leaves me with a question. Does anyone market a recoil pad that can be bent by heating or other method to properly match the curve of a factory butt plate? I have had a thin ( < 1/2" ) Pachmayr rifle pad fitted to a nice old Brno 22F rife a few years ago. Work was done by Ralf Martini. It was a perfect job, and the original butt plate could be re-installed if I wish. That's what I want, but with a thicker, 1" pad. The Pachmayr 1" ones I know about ( Old English, Decellerator, Sporting clays etc.) have a steel insert, so won't do the trick. And the Kick Eeze and Limbsaver seem too gummy to respond well to heating and bending. Your thoughts??

 

[oldstarfire]

May not be pretty enough, but a curved spacer of wood or whatever first, then a thinner recoil pad might be an answer?

 

[ninepointer]

I’ve had success with a 1” Pachmayr Old English, a pot of boiling water and thick rubber gloves. I need to add length to all my shotguns, so I prefer not to rob any length through cutting.

 

[guntech]

The plain old vented 325 Packmayer pads will bend to a curve...

 

[Longwalker]

Thanks for the suggestions! I thought the Pachmayr pads were not suitable. Worth a try.

 

[kamlooky]

I'd bet the TW flippy flawppy pads would work in this scenario.
Probably look pretty gooder if one was to spend some time fitting it.
Maybe glue it to a thin piece of wood that could use the existing holes?

 

[Riflesmith]

I bend my .8 old english all the time. I have never had the guts to try a 1" pad for fear of it cracking. I glue them on so I don't want to get to the point of putting on the epoxy and then having the bugger crack at the last minute. I also heat them up a bit with a heat gun to help the bend. Good luck

 

[guntech]

I have used 100 light bulb really close to the bottom side of the pad to heat it very hot to ease the bending...

 

[Neilm]

It. is only the decelerators that have the steel insert.

 

[bearhunter]

Thanks for the suggestions! I thought the Pachmayr pads were not suitable. Worth a try.

Put it into hot water, not boiling hot, to make it more pliable.

 

[TheIHGuy]

I've made leather stock covers with integral 1/2"-1" recoil pads in them for rifles with crescent cut stocks before, and I'm sure that they're available on the market too. Might be something to look into if you cant find a pad to fit or don't want to take apart the rifle.

 

[double gun]

It. is only the decelerators that have the steel insert.

And there are some decelerators floating around without the insert. A custom ordered feature some of the composite stock companies request. I believe corlane had some. Just not sure how well they would take and hold a bend being hollow.