Stories like these make me soooo glad I found a 1970 Wingmaster for my HD shotgun about 10 years ago. Paid about $200 for it IIRC, including having the barrel shortened to 18", and I refinished the age-corroded receiver and barrel last year. I had it out for some exercise this weekend and it's as smooth as can be. Not a single plastic part on it, although the recoil pad is something synthetic (and hard as a rock).
For now I wouldn't change the pad just for sentimental reasons, maybe I would change my mind after about 50 rounds. One thing I would like to try sometime is a magazine extension, right now it only holds four 2-3/4 inch shells.
