Well, the truth is, I cannot get up where the scope should be with a length of pull at 14 or 14+ inches. Just ain't gonna happen. So I end up shortening all my guns to a 13 or 13 1/2 inch pull lengh. I really lucked out this week. With great intimidation (I'm not very good at woodworking!) I pick up the new 7-08 and thought, 'Oh, I've got to cut this down'. Now the last gun I shortened was my Marlin 35 rem. by the time I got it to a clean, square, cut with no feathering on the wood, it was TOO short. So that was on my list to add a thick recoil pad to, and the 7-08 to shorten. I looked at the Handi and if I cut an inch off, it would be into the cheek piece rise and wouldn't look good. Maybe I could just put one of the plastic butt plates on it instead. Well, in the process of trying to lengthen the Marlin (stay with me now, this all comes together) with a thick pad, I ordered a 'pre fit Marlin Pachmayr'. It came in and of course it didn't fit. I thought it would be too large as I had cut the stock down, but it was too narrow for my stock. So having both rifles together I got out the calipers. Surprise, surprise, the 1" thick pad off the Ultra fit with just a little extra length on the bottom that I can trim off. So I took the plastic butt plate off the Marlin and tried that on the Ultra. It fit 'almost'. It is just the smallest amount narrower than the Ultra stock but so close, I used it anyway. Marlin made longer, Handi made shorter. Yes, someday I will cut 1/2" off the Ultra and put a nice 'grind to fit' 1/2" thick rifle pad on it, but for now, this suits my purpose just fine! 44 Man
