Traditions Hawken Uncomfortable

[Habs]

I've got a Traditions Hawken that a really like, but the bottom of the butt plate is kinda sharp and digs into my shoulder when I fire it. I think it was designed for a smaller shoulder. What is the best remedy, a but pad?

Thanks, everyone.

 

[Dave K]

Try shooting it just off of the actual shoulder. My old squirrel rifles are made with sharp "C" butt plates and that is how I have to shoot them.

 

[Habs]

Thanks, I will try this. Why were rifles made in this way in the first place? It seems that a gracefull "C" butt plate is a lot of craftsmanship to make a less functional rifle.

 

[gordy]

You must remember tha early hand cannon were tucked under the arm,some on top of the shoulder some had no buttstock and were aimed like a bow from the cheek some from the chest,and where else I'm not certain.Once it became standard to hold the the butt against the shoulder "area" the idea was to follow the general round contour to spread the felt recoil onto the mucle rather than aginst bone.Also most shooting was done from a standing "offhand 'position with open sights, This is one reason the drop at the comb and heel of the stock was much greater than on modern weapons that use scoped sights.I've noticed that some reproductions use much less drop,some are a comprimise so that scopes will work on them.The cresent butt was designed to be father out on the arm for best results. :imo: :front:

 

[triplefg]

Ditto the above posts. I tried one out last weekend, and found it fit me quite well. Try to put the butt on the "meat" part of your shoulder rather than the bone or your outer pec muscle.

 

[Sully]

Hold the butt of the rifle on your arm just above the bicep.Have your elbow parallel to the ground. This is very comfortable for me, plus it seems to soak up recoil from stout loads.

 

[Habs]

OK, I will try this when I go to the range tomorrow. I hope it works with a heavy jacket.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Swampman]

Most people shoot loads that are too heavy and unnecessary. Try 60 grains of 3F behind a PRB.

 

[gmww]

All the above posts are great. When I'm at the range developing a load, I use one of these. You can purchase them at most sporting good stores that sell guns.

Recoil pad.

 

[RedFeather]

Saw an "old timer's" comment on the curved buttplate that went like this. Before WWI, everyone used to shoot off the upper arm (as in the above post). When the US got into the war, they trained men on the service rifles which have flatt butts and are snugged into the shoulder. So the correct way to mount a sharply curved rifle was pretty much lost. For me, the Lyman Great Plains rifle has about the sharpest toe of all and I definetly cannot mount it to the shoulder.

RedFeather

 

[Habs]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I've gone shooting several times since my original post and I've not experienced any pain or bruising. Shooting off the upper arm seems to be just as stable as snugging the rifle to the shoulder. Group sizes from 100 yards tends to be 4 inches and smaller, when I use fresh powder.

Thanks again, everyone