Calling to order, meeting of Win 71 nuts

[big bear]

I am restocking a Winchester 71 that I acquired. The original stock ws shattered by the postal service. It had an old recoil pad on it. I have acquired a replica red rubber pad and a steel buttplate(found it after I got the pad). Dilemma...which should I put on the stock. The rifle will not be original so that doesn't enter the picture. I like the steel butttplates on my other winchesters, but that rubber pad might be awfully nice as I get even older and get around to shooting all those 250gr Barnes bullets I have squirreled away. So what do you gentleman say??? I'm deciding in the morning as I need to order the stock cause my friend hose doing the work wants to get at it this winter. I'll be interested in your thoughts. Thanks!

[Leverluver]

I tried a few of those "red rubber" pads and they were no better than the steel buttplate. I'd either go steel or go to a pad that would really absorb some recoil.

[71fan]

Tough decision. If you are going to shoot it a lot you'd sure appreciate a pad, but I'd with a decelerator pad instead of the Winchester red. If you want it to look "right" then definitely the steel.

I just listed a M71 on Gunbroker that I had a decelerator pad installed on, but the original steel can still be replaced. Looke here for details:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =153138712

It is a very attractive solution, in my opinion, and a pleasure to shoot.

[Gun Smith]

I would put the metal plate on. Then I would get an inexpensive rubber slip on pad to use when I take it to the range. The pad can be then used on any of your other rifles too, but you still keep the original look of your guns when it's off.

[RKrodle]

I would put the metal plate on. Then I would get an inexpensive rubber slip on pad to use when I take it to the range. The pad can be then used on any of your other rifles too, but you still keep the original look of your guns when it's off.

That make some nice leather ones also.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... ISO-8859-1

[mod71alaska]

I am restocking a Winchester 71 that I acquired....The rifle will not be original so that doesn't enter the picture....that rubber pad might be awfully nice as I get even older and get around to shooting all those 250gr Barnes bullets I have squirreled away. So what do you gentleman say?....

Don, since you're not concerned with originality put a good recoil pad on and enjoy those heavy bear loads! Then Magna-port that 71!!!.

My Browning 71 carbine-top; Browning 71 rifle-bottom:


The Browning 71 carbine with the recoil pad is Magna-ported and my close-in "Bad Bear" 71.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

I'd go for the nice black decelerator pad as well.

[salvo]

My vote is for steel, my two 71's never seemed to kick so hard that I thought a pad was required.
But recoil is subjective, if a pad makes shooting it more enjoyable, go for it!

[big bear]

Thanks guys, I think I'm going steel and get a slip on if I need it. Might have a recoil pad for sale. With regard to recoil, only problem I've ever had was when I challenged my youngest, a big lad,( he played safety a few years before he got serious about physics ) to a shooting match, me with my beater 71 and him with his 94 in 44mag. Problem was, it was July, we had been clearing brush all morning, and I was only wearing a sweaty t-shirt. Of course I beat him, but you should have seen the bruises on my shoulder, and man did it start to really smart ever time I fired a round off. Not being macho, just ol' guy dumb!

[big bear]

I am restocking a Winchester 71 that I acquired....The rifle will not be original so that doesn't enter the picture....that rubber pad might be awfully nice as I get even older and get around to shooting all those 250gr Barnes bullets I have squirreled away. So what do you gentleman say?....

Don, since you're not concerned with originality put a good recoil pad on and enjoy those heavy bear loads! Then Magna-port that 71!!!.

My Browning 71 carbine-top; Browning 71 rifle-bottom:


The Browning 71 carbine with the recoil pad is Magna-ported and my close-in "Bad Bear" 71.

Those sure look nice! But I'm trying to restain myself $ wise. The carbine sure is sweet though, now look what you have started!

[Pathfinder09]

I have a Winchester 71 and a Browning High Grade 71 Carbine both guns have the original metal butt plates but I added a slip on Limbsaver to both. They work well and do not alter the rifles. I say go with the original metal plate then get a slip on or leather butt pad. The ones out of Cabelas look pretty nice actually and relatively inexpensive. $35.

Just my .02







I love 71's