Crescent Butt Plates

rballi

I was in a gun shop today at noon and was looking at a couple of centerfire lever action rifles. The guy pulled two off the shelf and one of them had a crescent butt plate, I told him I didn't want to see it because I've shot them before and the sharp edges of the crescent butt plate really dig in to me. I'm not talking curved like a 10/22, but a sharp crescent shape. He told me it digs because I'm shooting it wrong. Supposedly, the crescent butt plate was designed to be shot from the arm and not the shoulder. I'm not sure if he was talking about shooting from your armpit area or above your bicep. I can see shooting a 22 from the arm, but not a centerfire.

Your thoughts?

101AIRBORNE

HORSE HOCKEY!

flatdog

rballi,

You have the right idea 'bout the cresecnt shape. They are notorious for diggin' into soft tissue. The fact that lots of them are also metal doesn't help either. I like them for the looks. Found out that if I can get the sharp toe to slip into the space between my arm and chest wall, it negates that painfull dig.
Sure would like to know how long that rifle has been sitting on his self taking up space. Make him an offer,and see what he does. Sounds like he wants to unload it on someone bad.
But don't forget to check out the bore,action, ammo availability etc.
You might get a nice buy. Good Luck.
flatdog .

" Love is what goes on between a man and a .45 pistol that won't jam."

v35

It's an old rifle that depending on condition may be a collectible.
Personally, crescent buttplates are attractive on western guns. Since they always locate themselves elevationwise in the same place on the shoulder they're quick to line up with the target. Mine are in 32-20 and 38-40 and I like them very much but they're light kickers. I can believe that if the bottom tang is bearing on the chest instead of above the armpit, a 30-30 or heavier can bite you but I don't understand some gunwriters'complaints about hurting the shoulder more than straight shotgun style buttplates.