p89cajun,
1400 is a nice gun, thank you for giving it some TLC. *smile*
Forgive me, since I do not know your experience, I am going to more than you asked for, not so much, also for any one else reading this thread, that might need to know for future assistance to them. *smile*
-How is the LOP (length of pull) for you?
If the gun fits you with the recoil pad, by all means put it back on.
If too long, I would suggest not putting it back on.
I. Factory LOP should be around 14.5".
Measured from trigger, to center of butt.
a. Nu-Line out of Harvester, Missouri has Winchester parts.
A member here "simmonsguns" most like has some parts as well.
The white spacer I would put back, it looks good, plus it does play a part with the recoil pad set up.
Other colors are most likely available, in "blank form" as well.
Spacers and recoil pads, should be done by a qualified gun smith, with proper tools.
Basically these are attached, the gun masked off, and a belt sander is used.
So if the LOP is shortened, the spacer and pad, are blended into the gun.
Other methods are used, still this is the gist of it.
II. If that red pad is hard, and not supple as it once was, then I suggest a Pachmayer Recoil pad, The Decelerator is the best in my opinion.
Pach in this series offers some different configurations.
The 1400 is the softest shooting semi-auto, so one great pad for the 1400 is the Thin one.
It looks great, and Pach does some things nobody else does with recoil pads, so even the thin one, works to lessen felt recoil.
Other configurations in the Decel series too.
If the gun is stock, I would check to see if Nu-Line, Simmons, or Pachmayer has a "pre-fit" for the 1400 (they used too), still these might have to "blended in" so I would do the recoil pad, before actual staining, for instance.
IF not, then for sure get the recoil pad, spacer, and whatever else first, then fit them, after getting LOP for you, these blended in, then refinish the gun.
Nu-Line should have a factory Win black plastic butt plate as well.
