Replacing rubber butt pad with something else

[Motocrash]

I'm not too thrilled about cutting up the original, I think just replacing the big, thick rubber pad with a curved plastic one should do the trick. That way, if I ever sold it, I could put the pad back on. I think with a thin plastic plate it should make the stock a better fit for us. I thought about buying a new stock and having it customized, still might. Just a shame that Henry doesn't make (or have a recommendation for) an alternative. I can't imagine that everyone who buys one of these needs (or wants) the big thick rubber pad. I don't even have one this thick on my 18.5" 12 ga Mossberg.

[greywolf224]

Absolutely agree that the rubber butt plate is way overkill for 357 caliber rifle. The only rifle I have a rubber plate on is my old marlin 444.
With that said I was wondering if it’s possible to replace my steel big boy stock (H012) with the stock from my brass big boy classic (H006) Which has the brass butt plate. I tend to like the brass accents on the blue steel

[markiver54]

Other than a LOP issue, I don't understand what the issue is with the rubber butt plate. If it is an asthetic thing, then of course, to each their own. I certainly don't mind it on mine.
Why not just buy the "Big Boy Classic"? (H006M). Sure, it costs a little more, but, just sayn'

[Vaquero]

I've never understood why they find it necessary for the pad on pistol calibers
And put steel on the freakin rifle calibers.
Of All the rifles I own, the 30-06 would be the one I would want one on.
After a dozen or so rds. at the range I'm ready to try something else.
My Rossi 357 and 45 colt rifles have steel butt plates, and the Marlin Cowboy 45 colt also has the steel one.
Hell, Even Henry puts the steel plates on the BBB's.
Things to make ya say hum.

RP

[markiver54]

I've never understood why they find it necessary for the pad on pistol calibers
And put steel on the freakin rifle calibers.
Of All the rifles I own, the 30-06 would be the one I would want one on.
After a dozen or so rds. at the range I'm ready to try something else.
My Rossi 357 and 45 colt rifles have steel butt plates, and the Marlin Cowboy 45 colt also has the steel one.
Hell, Even Henry puts the steel plates on the BBB's.
Things to make ya say hum.

RP

I'm just sayn', if it's there, it certainly isn't hurting anything; that's all.

[Vaquero]

I agree Mark, but just don't get it.
The only other rifle that I own that came factory with a padded butt is the Marlin 444P.
For those not familiar it's a 18.5" ported barreled 444.
Not sure why they decided to do that, as the full length barreled ones don't have one.
But it does cushion those stout loads for sure.
My only BBS is a 41 mag. model, Marlin even made some 41 mags in their 1894 model with a steel plate.
It doesn't bother Me, in the least, like the OP, just don't know the reasoning.

RP

[markiver54]

Maybe Henry figured it would help with sales for those who might appreciate having it, yet for those who don't need it, no biggie. Possibly a wider market appeal...dunno.

[leverjc]

I have put about 100 rounds through my Uberti 94 in 30-30 and have started to appreciate how a curved steel buttplate enhances off hand shooting. One of my summer projects is going to be fitting a steel curved buttplate on a BBS in 357. I am going to refinish the stock on this rifle anyway because I think it would look better with an oil finish than the one that came with it so I will not have to worry about scratching the stock when fitting it. The rifle comes to my shoulder in the same spot every time so I can put the sights on target quicker than I would with rifles with a flat buttstock. I am thinking that putting a curved buttplate on a handy little rifle would make it handle even better.

[greywolf224]

I don’t have a brass plated butt stock to measure or compare to. But are the overall length of both the rubber butt stock and curved brass plated stocks the same?

[markiver54]

I don’t have a brass plated butt stock to measure or compare to. But are the overall length of both the rubber butt stock and curved brass plated stocks the same?

The LOP on both are the same at 14". However, the rubber butt pad is thicker, so your LOP will change some if it is removed.