[dbr65]

There have been a number of discussions here about the dreaded red rubber butt pad that Kimber put on more than a few of its later Model 82s. I recently bought an 82 B/C model from Vertfish, and it had one of those red rubber thingies. It was in perfect condition; however, as I keep my rifles in a safe with a carpeted floor, I was concerned about how they might merge. So what to do?

It occurred to me that a fellow RFCer who has done a number of stocks for me -- ekmarlin-424 -- would be a good guy to talk with about it. I sent him some pics of the stock and asked whether he might be able to replace the red rubber thingie with a nice Macassar Ebony butt plate without compromising the LOP more than maybe 1/8". Evan said not a problem and he could even do a nice checkering job on it. So off the stock went to Evan. I got it back late yesterday and I am VERY pleased with it.

Below are some before and after pics.

Doug

Before:

After:

 

[PWNolan]

That turned out great Doug!!!

I have my 82G in that Kimber SSV stock and it looks like part of the (black) pad started melting at one point. I thought it might've happened while in the hot moving truck when I came to Texas a few years ago. But then I remembered I had it at the range since moving here and even found a pic where I could see the butt pad was still good. It was in the hot trunk of my car on the way home from the range. So could've happened then? Anyway, my plan is to have my brother replace the pad. But in meantime I think I'm going to make a simple butt plate on one of my 3D printers. It won't be as nice as what Evan did for you but at least it'll look better than having a pad with the edges that look melted

 

[HUSHKABOOM]

Did Evan have to destroy the original red pad to remove it? He does nice work!

 

[Arky73]

Very nice!

 

[dbr65]

Did Evan have to destroy the original red pad to remove it? He does nice work!

Yes, he did, HUSH. It was both screwed and glued on the stock. He was somehow able to remove it without marring the finish in any way.

Doug

 

[skywag]

That turned out great Doug!!!

I have my 82G in that Kimber SSV stock and it looks like part of the (black) pad started melting at one point. I thought it might've happened while in the hot moving truck when I came to Texas a few years ago. But then I remembered I had it at the range since moving here and even found a pic where I could see the butt pad was still good. It was in the hot trunk of my car on the way home from the range. So could've happened then? Anyway, my plan is to have my brother replace the pad. But in meantime I think I'm going to make a simple butt plate on one of my 3D printers. It won't be as nice as what Evan did for you but at least it'll look better than having a pad with the edges that look melted

I'd like to see a picture of your 82G in the new stock!

 

[PWNolan]

I'd like to see a picture of your 82G in the new stock!

I'd rather not derail Doug's thread too much. So to keep it kind of on topic. Here's the pics I was referring to previously when I shot the rifle after I moved and the butt pad was fine

Here's the thread I pulled them from...

Range time with the 82G SSV

I moved last summer and I'm no longer shooting in the smallbore league at my former club. So I decided it was time to put my 82G back into the fancy clothes. :) I've only shot the 82G SSV one time a few years ago so I took some time last week and headed to the range. The groups and USBR...

www.rimfirecentral.com

 

[VertFish]

I have decided to officially approve your upgrade. I never had a problem owning a rubber pad gun until I saw my first one start to blend carpet fibers into its heel. Since then, I have flipped all of them on their muzzle and talk nice about them when they are in earshot. I think what you did has enhanced the beauty and functionality of the rifle. I will keep that option open for future replacements. Nice vision Doug.

 

[Smkinva]

I’ve got an old K22 Classic Yonkers with the red butt pad. Mine still seems fine. How long does it take for decrepitude to set in? Should I worry about it?

 

[VertFish]

I am not able to discern the when, why and hows of pad decomposition. Store it muzzle down and hope for the best.

 

[SageRat22]

It's interesting that these decomposing Kimber pads are all occurring approximately at the same time while other pads made by the manufacturer, Pachmayr, many being older, are just fine. Vert's right, keep 'em barrel down.

 

[HUSHKABOOM]

My old K22 Hunter with red pad sat on the pad in the gun safe for many years with no problems. That said, I have flipped it barrel down after Vert and Sage advised us to do that.

 

[Camster]

It's interesting that these decomposing Kimber pads are all occurring approximately at the same time while other pads made by the manufacturer, Pachmayr, many being older, are just fine. Vert's right, keep 'em barrel down.

I had one on a Cooper stocked 1710 that went bad.

 

[68-Firebird]

I wonder if it is the cleaning materials that eat the pads. Lots of chemicals don't play well with rubber. All these horror stories have me considering horizontal wall racks.

 

[Mackman77]

Very nice upgrade! I don’t know Doug, but he does fantastic work!

 

[HUSHKABOOM]

Work is done by member ekmarlin-424 rifle belongs to Doug dbr65.

 

[webfoot56]

I wonder if it is the cleaning materials that eat the pads. Lots of chemicals don't play well with rubber. All these horror stories have me considering horizontal wall racks.

That is how I have my Kimbers stored that have pads on them.

 

[ek-marlin-424]

Thanks for sharing the pics, Doug! I'm gonna put pics in the stockmaking forum of how it was made.

I tried to figure out how to remove the pad without compromising the pad or the stock, but the pad had to go either way and my priority wasn't damaging the stock itself, so... it got the short end of the stick and the stock came out fine. Turns out they are both glued and screwed on. Good times!