Lengthening LOP with Leather Pad

[Brett Rohrscheib]

With some very useful advice from Dean Romig, I was able to obtain my first Parker. It's a VH 16, 1 frame, straight stock with beavertail forend.
Shot sporting clays yesterday. As expected, the LOP is an inch or so shorter than I like. As the butt stock has some nice checkering, I'd rather not ruin it with an attached pad. So thinking of the lace up leather type.
Any recommendations for a custom lace up pad? Or any other ideas to extend the LOP without altering the stock?

Brett

[Dean Romig]

I completely agree Brett - don't mess up that original checkered butt.

A lace-on or Velcro secured leather pad should work nicely and you can insert foam cutouts for the desired LOP.

Nice gun! I'm glad you got it.

Dean

[Joe Graziano]

Galco makes a very nice leather pad with a Velcro fastener. The advantage over lace-up style is that I can move it easily from gun to gun, and remove when I place in the cabinet.

[allen newell]

Sweet 16 Brett! Congrats but be careful. Parker guns are addictive.

[Frank Childrey]

I have used leather slip-on, Velcro closed recoil pads on my Parkers for years. A couple of different sizes work well for various guns; the pads add just enough length of pull; the pads protect the gun's butt; and, they can be switched for gun to gun. However, I always remove the pad at the end of the day.

[Brian Dudley]

Yeah, do not leave them on the gun when not shooting. Not good for the wood finish long term. Galzan sells some attractive looking leather “slip-on” style pads. The most important thing os getting one that is properly sized for the butt on your gun.

[Rick Losey]

as said fit is important - measure carefully - I have both makers and both work very well

Galco if you find one, they often out of stock, but the look and finish is top shelf

https://www.galcogunleather.com/recoil-pad_8_12_1244.html



Gallazan's is a real close second - well made but I think the look is a little less crisp on a nice gun

https://www.csmcspecials.com/Gamekeeper_Slip_On_Recoil_Pad_p/slip.htm

here are pics - the Galco first

[Brett Rohrscheib]

Thank you, gentlemen, that is exactly what I was looking for.
Now as far as measuring the size, how should I consider the additional padding Dean mentioned? If I want to add an inch of padding inside the leather, should I go up one size as the butt will be an inch short of the end of the pad?

Brett

[Rick Losey]

the size is the height and width of the butt


so cut your padding, I think I would use thick felt and then measure that as the new butt's end - size to that

remember - the leather boot is already padded - i'd have to check but I think they are about a half inch - so you will not be adding that much

you may find the boot to be enough extra

[Jeff Higgins]

Hi Brett, I prefer the Velcro type over the lace-up just for the ease of taking off and on. The small and med sizes have always worked best for me because over time they stretch and you don't want them flopping around. Also old mouse pads work great for getting some extra LOP. Just cut one to fit inside and add what you need.

[Eric Grims]

I have the velcro type and it works well however it is so very stiff and squeaky it tends to bug me. I also had a leather lace up pad to raise the cone on a 20 gauge VH with a 3" DAH that I need to use. It too is very stiff and rough to wrap tight. Any suggestions to really soften them?
Thanks

[Dean Romig]

Mink oil, neatsfoot oil, Lexol conditioner or any other good leather treatment, and work it in and flex it and work it and eventually it will get softer.





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[Kevin McCormack]

I violently agree with what every poster said. The funky thin leather lace-up pads went the way of TR's grizzly bear hunting boots he used to wear with jodphurs and the L.L. Bean lace-up 28-inch Maine Hunting Shoe. Both bizarrely out of vogue, and besides you can't find laces that length for them any more anyway. Galco / Velcro is the way to go and I use them on all my short-stocked guns for length. Make sure the pad fits snugly on the butt; the way I test mine is to put the pad on the stock tightly with the muzzle down, then grab the pad and lift the gun off the ground a few inches and shake it. If the pad slides or otherwise shifts, its either too large for the butt (they are sized) or the Velcro is not secured tightly enough. Great looking gun, by the way!