[John Rogers]

The first of the "real" guns I bought was a home gunsmithed original Rolling Block with a 32 inch heavy Badger Barrel built about 15 years ago and sat for probably 10 or so. The builder had bad joints and had installed a recoil pad on a beartiful piece of American Walnut. The builder was about 6'8" and unfortunately for me when I finally got the loads worked out using a LeadSled and started to shoot off hand I found I could not reach the trigger! So I took the pad and about another inch off the stock and cast in nearly a pound of lead to balance the gun. My mentor also told me to use a straight cut butt on the 45-70 guns as it would affect me less and it seems to be true. I have a Sharps that is curved quite a lot (like a Winchester 74) and it does make my shoulder sore after 50 rounds or so.

Before anyone chimes in on to never use a LeadSled, I use high density foam behind the stock to absorb the shock and it takes ME out any load development equation.