Sportsman 12 Auto value and Recoil Pad

[Virginian]

I have yet to see a single supposedly pre-fit recoil pad that was an exact fit on a wood stocked Remington, other than the laminated wood models. The Sportsman models were basically a plainer 1100 or Wingmaster, and yes the butt is curved and that doesn't help either. Factory guns fitted with recoil pads had the butt squared up first. Of course I haven't seen a pad that was an exact fit on those either. It was Remington's first attempt to get a gun on the shelves for less money, and they are a great deal for buyers because there wasn't a smidgen's worth of difference finish wise between them and the 1100s/Wingmasters. Not so great for sellers because most people only see a cheaper gun. They preceded the Express, and people are familiar with them, and they are a different ball game. They usually run $50 to $75 below a similar age/condition Model 1100.

[Wulfman]

.
Have you even shot it yet?
How do you know you NEED a recoil pad?

If you start whacking off the buttstock and installing a recoil pad, it will definitely lessen the value.......whatever it is.
Most auto shotguns don't need a recoil pad because the mechanism "naturally" reduces the recoil as it is functioning (ejecting the spent shell when fired).
If I was contemplating such a thing, I would get a slip-on recoil pad and try that before butchering the buttstock. They add a little length to the stock, but most of us can deal with that.
I actually have two slip-on recoil pads that I've used on some of my firearms at various times. I have a Winchester Model 12 shotgun on which the previous owner had installed a recoil pad........and, after he passed away and I bought it from his widow, the stock is now shorter than what I would like.......so, that's one of the guns I use the slip-on pad for.......to get a little extra length of pull. I also have a Remington Model 722 rifle (in .244 Rem) which had the same thing done to it. This is one of the reasons why I caution people about altering their firearms.......the firearms will probably outlive the owners, and the next owner may not appreciate the alterations......and, again, it lowers the value.

Den

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[Virginian]

A bit late now but you might have done better to pick up a stock with a recoil pad off ebay. I think if you get a good pad, professionally well installed, you won't kill the value a bit.

[oneoldsap]

Make it right for you and shoot the daylights out of it ! Does it actually have a skeet barrel on it ? I've never seen a Sportsman with a skeet barrel on it !

[oneoldsap]

I guess it would be if you have a Skeet choke tube ! I was thinking of a straight Skeet barrel , with no choke tubes .