Jungle Carbine Butt Pad

[Galt]

Is there a definitive description of the purpose of the rubber pad on the No5?
I was always under the impression it served to increase LOP for lighter uniforms and to prevent slipping when the rifle was shouldered.
Others say it was to dampen recoil, which obviously it fails to do.

Is there a definite documented answer? I hear and read both explanations all the time.

 

[Jon.]

I heard one rumour the rubber was there so it wouldn't scratch the hell out of the airplane or vehicle floors. I don't know what it was for personally, I just know I hated mine. What a pain in the shoulder to shoot.

 

[lone ranger]

This is the same info I found as well. I actually hate it,....time for a rubber recoil pad. Man that thing is hard on the shoulder. LOL

 

[Galt]

I haven't heard that before... sounds like it's going to remain a point of speculation..lol

 

[can14]

Save the Malaysia rubber plantations?

 

[points]

As useless as it was, it was supposed to be a recoil pad. Not so much. The story about it used to save the floor of the aircraft is ridiculous.

 

[zuke]

I have one here and still have no No5 for it to fit

 

[ipscgraz]

Just after I joined this forum I made a comment about the British War office having a sense of humour, re the recoil pad on the #5. I was told then that the purpose of the rubber butt pad was to reduce the chance of the buttstock being broken as it was hollowed out more than the robust #4 stock.

At any rate, I didn't like shooting my #5...The recoil was acceptable, the muzzle blast was expected, but the pad never felt as comfortable as a #4.

 

[Galt]

Just after I joined this forum I made a comment about the British War office having a sense of humour, re the recoil pad on the #5. I was told then that the purpose of the rubber butt pad was to reduce the chance of the buttstock being broken as it was hollowed out more than the robust #4 stock.

At any rate, I didn't like shooting my #5...The recoil was acceptable, the muzzle blast was expected, but the pad never felt as comfortable as a #4.

All I have now is my No5 . Lover shooting it, I consider it my 60 yr old "scout style" rifle.

 

[tokguy]

Jungle carbine is the UK pronunciation of M/N M44.
A perfectly efficient way to turn gunpowder into noise / recoil with marginal accuracy.
'###y as hell' looking though, most bad-*ss looking bolt action ever made IMO

 

[TheTooner]

As useless as it was, it was supposed to be a recoil pad. Not so much. The story about it used to save the floor of the aircraft is ridiculous.

The No.5 rifle was designed to meet a requirement for a 'shortened, lightened" version of the No.4 for airborne troops. They gave it a rubber recoil pad in case it ended up getting used in post-war tropical campaigns and getting nick-named the "Jungle Carbine" when sold surplus and imported to the U.S.

 

[Mike Webb]

The whole "recoil pad" idea was negated by the fact that the pad was much smaller in area then the butt stock. Simple physics, smaller area equals greater felt recoil. Don't know who figured that one out?

 

[Ganderite]

I didn't think any milsurp could kick any harder than a #5. Then I tried the M44. When I handload for them, I drop about 5 gr of powder.

 

[grelmar]

I didn't think any milsurp could kick any harder than a #5. Then I tried the M44. When I handload for them, I drop about 5 gr of powder.

You should try the M38... Without the extra pound or so of steel in the bayonet, physics is an even harsher mistress.

As for the No 5...

The rubber did have some effect in recoil reduction when these were first issued, 60+ years ago. Unfortunately, it's natural rubber, which hardens over time. The rubber was much softer when these were first issued, and did mitigate recoil somewhat.

60 years on, and these rubber pads have hardened (as natural rubber will do), and their usefulness = none. This is one of those surpluses I keep in a padded gun sock - so when I take it out of the sock to shoot it, I flip the sock nonchalantly over my shoulder "to keep it out of the dirt" - and protect my shoulder at the same time.

 

[Silfield]

I was led to believe that the rubber butt pad was an aid to faster/more accurate shouldering of the rifle when needed and as a way of getting a better shoulder weld/grip when things got a bit wet. There is a mention on a Chuck Hawkes write up that eludes to that as well.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/jungle_carbine.htm

 

[Ganderite]

I have a FR8; only an inch longer than the #5 or M44. I can shoot it all day with just a T shirt, no pain, no problem.

 

[sail32]

Rubber tends to harden over the years.

Look at how old the carbines are.

 

[grelmar]

I have a FR8; only an inch longer than the #5 or M44. I can shoot it all day with just a T shirt, no pain, no problem.

The FR8 tips the scales at 8lbs 2oz. The No. 5 at 7lb 1oz. The extra lb in the gun makes more of a difference in felt recoil than barrel length.

The M44 comes in at just over 9lbs, but has one of the most cruel buttplate shapes devised by man. The M38 is 7.5lbs, with all the same wonderful shoulder ergonomics of the Mosin family of rifle. It can wear you down fast.

 

[green]

I have shot original LE carbines and sporterised No1 and 4 rifles weighing the same as the No5 and find they kick less.
IMHO the cone shaped flash hider accentuates the recoil along with the small butt area.

 

[Jon.]

As useless as it was, it was supposed to be a recoil pad. Not so much. The story about it used to save the floor of the aircraft is ridiculous.

Yes that's why I said rumour and I was told that once. I didn't create it. But the discussion was why rubber and here we are.