Cast-Off Butt Plate Article

[t.caster]

The latest Muzzleloader Magazine has an article by Jim Parker on how to build cast-off in the stock. I've been doing cast-off for many years.... but NOT that way! I have always kept the centerline of the buttplate perpendicular to the top barrel flat to avoid canting the barrel when shooting. He says Wallace Guzzler taught him to keep the trigger guard and bottom of the buttstock on the same centerline with the barrel and only offset the top tang of the b-plate. This puts it at an angle when viewing from the rear. Since the buttstock architecture follows the b-plate everything would be skewed by up to 4.3 degrees. I do c-o the same on top and bottom of stock and put a very slight sideway bend in the rear tang of the guard so it follows the offset centerline.

He also likes 1/4"-3/8" offset and I usually do 3/16"-1/4" max, but that is another discussion, and just personal preference.

Just curious how others have been doing it?

Tom C

[TommyG]

Interesting.  I would imagine there is many ways to skin this cat.  I've always done them as you have, keeping the BP perpendicular to the top and bottom centerlines.  Though I inlet the BP on a slight angle to keep the C/O centerline straight on the top return.  I also usually go for a 3/16" - 1/4" cast and usually start the cast at the end of the tang.

[smallpatch]

Tom, I’ve always started mine at the front of the comb. No problem with trigger guard. Always try to keep top and bottom of butt offset the same.
⅜” seems like a lot. 3/16” to ¼”.

[t.caster]

I forgot to mention that.
Early on I'd did a rifle with 3/8" cast-off (beautiful 50 cal. Dickert rifle) and it slapped me silly trying to shoot it! Figured that was too much from then on.

[smylee grouch]

In the past I did as Dane does, start at the front of th comb and vary the cast some what depending on the width of the butt plate.

[smart dog]

Hi Tom,
I do it the way you do keeping the butt plate perpendicular and I start the cast off as far back as I can but still blend it into the stock so it does not look weird.  However, after reading your post, I looked at an original English fowler that I own that has cast off.  It was done exactly as Jim and Wallace describe.  The butt plate is canted slightly so the bottom is straight but the top angles away from the shooter.  Most of my originals have no cast off but I looked at another that does and sure enough it is done as Wallace described.  That sure makes lining up long trigger guards much easier when adding cast off.

dave

[Pukka Bundook]

Tom and Dave,

I have also had originals that threw the toe out more than the heel and these were Very comfortable to use.  I have done the odd one that way myself, and have read that it was done, but can't think where unless it was Hawker.

[Mattox Forge]

While this is technically "cast on" on this original English fowler by William Smith (serial number 25). It has the entire butt casting at the end of the wrist as shown in "Recreating the American Longrifle " on page 16. I haven't measured it precisely, but the toe of the stock might have a little different cast than the top.











Interestingly enough, this gun has a stocking mistake on it.



The false breech was set in on the wrong line.

Mike

[Pukka Bundook]

Mike,
I wonder if the stock was bent later in life to suit a southpaw, and the bend took the tang and standing breech with it?
In other words, bend started too soon rather than late wrist area.

[Waksupi]

My Chambers fowler developed over an inch and a half of off cast, just from the difference in ambient humidity from east to west. I was just glad it went the right way! A supplier has absolutely no control over what a piece of wood will do as it's environment changes. A live tree in my area will have a lower moisture content, than sawn lumber in the east. I have a couple planks that have aged for several years, that would have put some weird stresses to a rifle, according to how they have bowed and bent in the aging process.

[Scota4570]

Leaving toe in on the butplate would be a matter of personal preference.  It may feel good, cause a cant, take out the tenancy to cant, it is hard to say.  IT may cause the toe to jab your shoulder pocket, depending on how you hold the rifle.  I am in the middle of figuring out how to fit a shotguns stock to myself. Little changes make big differences on a shotgun.  Since the rear sight is used on a rifle I think that it may be less important on a rifle.  Having the trigger guard and tang bent the same makes it easier for me to make things less confusing for layout.