ARC Xylo Chassis Buttpad problem ETA: Look at yours!

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axarob44

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Minuteman
Mar 14, 2017
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Warren, Ohio
#1
Anyone else having a problem with their ARC Xylo chassis buttpad splitting and chunking. I'm on my second set with both my chassis. I replaced them both last month and both have a split in the rubber again. I'm putting them in a dragbag case to the range and back. Shooting from a bench and back in the safe. Very far from any hard use.

I can't keep shelling out $38 every month for new buttpads. Probably not a whole lot of other options for replacement either. I wanted to see if anyone else is having an issue. I honestly can't see that I'm doing something wrong here, none of my other stocks with rubber buttpads have any chunks after far more rigorous use.

I bought the first chassis in August and the second one in October so not even a lot of use. They are too soft. So far just range to bench to safe use.
 
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#2
I can't be the only one with chunking and cracking butt pads on this chassis. My new butt pads are both split and one has a big chunk out of the side. These things are to narrow to be this soft.
If you have a Xylo chassis take a look at the buttpad to see if any of yours are spit, chunked or cracked. I'm not trying to start problems but can't see why mine are getting chewed up. Safe to range, that's it. Shooting off a bench is all so far. I bought the new ones in December so I've maybe shot the one rifle 3-4 times the other once. Take a look. Thanks

ETA: the one that has the shiny spot is superglue to try to prevent it from chunking off after it was split
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#3
Hard to say what's causing that. I beat the bejeezus out of two Xylo's over the course of two years, and never saw anything like that.
 
#4
I thought I saw in an earlier thread when they first came out people were bitching about them being to narrow and HARD so maybe they went with a softer compound. I'll see if I can find it again. I don't know, I'm at a loss. I can't baby them anymore than I already am and there is no other option out there.
 
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#5
No problems with mine other than I dont like how narrow it is. I wonder if you could just fit an aftermarket pad to it somehow?
 
#6
Mine was splitting back when I first got it (on the initial pre-order). I bought a Pachmayr 1/4" pad and belt sanded it down to fit the backing plate. Drilled new screw holes in it. It's not pretty but it works.
 
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#7
I was able to talk to ARC today. They are sending out two new pads. I hope it was a bad batch or something like that. Is it possible to sand another standard butt pad down that far to fit on that narrow plate? Isn't there some type of internal "frame" that is molded over with the rubber if you grind it down that far that will be exposed? I really have no clue on how to do it and make it look presentable.

The ARC rep I talked to said they have heard about it happening but It was few and far between. So, if anyone else has had any problems let them know. Maybe they will make a better one.
 
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#9
axarob44 said:
I was able to talk to ARC today. They are sending out two new pads. I hope it was a bad batch or something like that. Is it possible to sand another standard butt pad down that far to fit on that narrow plate? Isn't there some type of internal "frame" that is molded over with the rubber if you grind it down that far that will be exposed? I really have no clue on how to do it and make it look presentable.

The ARC rep I talked to said they have heard about it happening but It was few and far between. So, if anyone else has had any problems let them know. Maybe they will make a better one.
Click to expand...
Definitely cut through the outer ring of the internal steel frame. It looks okay. Not great, but it works.

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#11
There's the back end of the chassis, a gap, then an aluminum plate, then the pad. I believe the original setup has 2 screws holding the pad to the aluminum plate (memory here, I could be wrong). I just pulled the original assembly apart and mimicked that geometry with the new pad and re-used the aluminum plate which I believe has 3 screws to align/hold it in place (you can rotate the the pad for fitment).
 
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#12
I wanted to update this post because the new buttpads have both split again. The long action rifle is pretty heavy. It's a 1.25" straight for 28" Kreiger. I set the rifle on the the buttpad a little off center and the rubber ripped under the weight of the rifle. I saw it happen before my eyes. I had to replace it but glued the old one for when this splits again.

Here's the thing. My other Xylo has an M7 Mausingfield short action with a Bartlien Heavy Palma at 28" it's pretty light. The pad split under the rifles weight.

I'm not doing anything different than I have with any other stock. I have and have had numerous Manners stocks of multiple varieties. MDT, AI AICS, and many other stocks of various manufacturers and I have never split or chipped of damaged any kind of buttpad attached to any of theses stock.

I can't be the only one dealing with this problems. When I spoke with ARC about the buttpad they did say there were a few that had this problem. Every single one I've got from ARC have split or cracked. Yes one rifle is pretty heavy but the light one split also.

I can't be the only one having this issue. If you have a Xylo chassis go look at your buttpad and actually inpect to see if you have any splits or cracks. I have not treated any of my rifles any different, actually I've been kind of "gentle" with these Xylo mounted rifles after this started to happen. I don't really know what to do at this point. If it is me, then what is it? I'm not using any new or unusual type of chemical. I used a little Moly kote 111 on the screw heads so they don't rip the rubber on install. I use the same stuff when I put on my manners stock buttpad with no problems for years. That's it. No other chemicals, plus it's not like they're ripping around the holes either.

The reason for the rifle pictures is to show that these rifles mounted in the Xylo chassis aren't something way out from the usual here. The 7PRC is on the heavy end but not that far out there. The pads are too soft and too narrow to support the weight of the rifle. How do you store your rifles in the safe. How about at the range? All on the buttpad.
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Picture 4 New install split repair in side of pad
 
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#13
Plus it's not like there's any other option out there. I bought the chassis and mounted my barreled action. I have gone through at least 2 other pads on each rifle. The last set ARC paid for and I sent the ripped ones back.
ETA: Please look at your chassis buttpad and inspect it to see what kind of condition yours are in!
ETA: I took one of the split pads and tried to get it to split and THE PAD WON'T SPLIT. I’m at a loss here. I have no idea what is causing the problem. I tried to get it to split and can’t replicate it. So I have no idea whats going

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#14
Interesting thread! I bought a used Xylo, and the only thing really 'wrong' with it was that the recoil pad was chunked out at the top and bottom. I didn't really think anything about it; figured the previous owner had just been hard on it somehow, and ordered a new one. Guess now I'll be keeping an eye on the new one to see how it holds up :unsure:
 
#15
The sorbothane rubber can't be compressed for long time. It CAN take being compressed as shown in the picture. I squeezed the pad with those pliers and couldn't get it to split. If you set a heavy rifle in the safe resting on the buttpad for any length of time it will split. It can't take being compressed for any length of time.

I have two xylo chassis rifles. One is pretty heavy with a straight 28 inch 1.25 inch dia. The other one is lighter. Both have done the same thing.
I set the lighter one down one night with the sling caught under the buttpad. The cobra buckle was under the buttpad. The next morning I went to put it away and the buttpad was split where it was sitting on the cobra buckle.

if you read about a sorbothane one of the problems with it can't take long-term compression. I think another problem is the fact that the Xylo chassis buttpade is so narrow. There's not enough material (sorbothane) to support the compressed rubber like a normal wide shaped buttpad can. It splits because it can't withstand the constant compression. That's my theory and I'm sticking with it. I can't deal with equipment that I can't use and have to baby.

I can't see ARC actually changing it, and I can't afford to keep buying new ones. Since it seems I'm the only one having this happen how am I supposed to take this up to ARC?

I have a feeling I'm not the only one. Most people probably don't concern them selves with the buttpad and have not actually looked it over to see if it's split.

I will be getting rid of booth the chassis. To bad because I really like the chassis. I have been a big fan of ARC since the beginning

Nobody makes aftermarket parts for the Xylo and ARC seems to not care, so I'm off the ARC bandwagon. Such a disappointment.
 
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#17
axarob44 said:
The sorbothane rubber can't be compressed for long time. It CAN take being compressed as shown in the picture. I squeezed the pad with those pliers and couldn't get it to split. If you set a heavy rifle in the safe resting on the buttpad for any length of time it will split. It can't take being compressed for any length of time.

I have two xylo chassis rifles. One is pretty heavy with a straight 28 inch 1.25 inch dia. The other one is lighter. Both have done the same thing.
I set the lighter one down one night with the sling caught under the buttpad. The cobra buckle was under the buttpad. The next morning I went to put it away and the buttpad was split where it was sitting on the cobra buckle.

if you read about a sorbothane one of the problems with it can't take long-term compression. I think another problem is the fact that the Xylo chassis buttpade is so narrow. There's not enough material (sorbothane) to support the compressed rubber like a normal wide shaped buttpad can. It splits because it can't withstand the constant compression. That's my theory and I'm sticking with it. I can't deal with equipment that I can't use and have to baby.

I can't see ARC actually changing it, and I can't afford to keep buying new ones. Since it seems I'm the only one having this happen how am I supposed to take this up to ARC?

I have a feeling I'm not the only one. Most people probably don't concern them selves with the buttpad and have not actually looked it over to see if it's split.

I will be getting rid of booth the chassis. To bad because I really like the chassis. I have been a big fan of ARC since the beginning

Nobody makes aftermarket parts for the Xylo and ARC seems to not care, so I'm off the ARC bandwagon. Such a disappointment.
Click to expand...
Don’t know about Pachmayr but I’ve used kick-eez pads for decades; custom ground for shotguns and more recently replaced the OG pads on both JAE and Vision chassis. As far as I know, there is no metal in a kick-eez pad’s backer. I believe it’s just a nylon type product and any smith should be able to grind to fit if you want to keep the ARC chassis.
 
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#18
I'm not spending anymore money on something that should not be a problem. For the price of the chassis I shouldn't have to concern myself with such a stupid problem. Acknowledge the problem and fix it. So, since I'm the only one having a problem it's not an issue with ARC.
i'm done with ARC. They don't give a crap
 
#19
axarob44 said:
I'm not spending anymore money on something that should not be a problem. For the price of the chassis I shouldn't have to concern myself with such a stupid problem. Acknowledge the problem and fix it. So, since I'm the only one having a problem it's not an issue with ARC.
i'm done with ARC. They don't give a crap
Click to expand...
Ok...but frankly I think its absolutely stupid for any rifle chassis manf to have a proprietary (and most often shitty) recoil pads when Kick-eez, Pachmayr, LimbSaver, etc would make anything they want if the quantity was right. And if not, then buy grind to fit, fit them, and screw them on the chassis. It just baffles me why chassis manf would do otherwise.
 
#21
I have never had a problem with ANY of my other chassis or stocks buttpads.I'm not doing anything different or unusual with the Xylo. I don't have the the tools to fit a buttpad and I shouldn't have to anyway.
 
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#24
Mine has never had problems. Purchased in 2021 or so, right when they came out. Just a thought, you could use a krg bravo chassis butt pad if you have one of those laying around like everyone else seems to. I've considered doing this in the past, but I decided not to, the square shape of the xylo pad grew on me. It would require one drill and tapped hole in the xylo butt plate. maybe 10 mins of work. I hated the xylo cheek rest so I swapped it for a KRG overmolded, ive found a lot of their stuff lends itself to modification for other guns. Their butt pad would probably look a little goofy but it'd work. I'm looking at mine now.
Any buttpad that connects to a spacer system would probably work with at least 1 additional drilled/tapped hole and the appropriate length screws. Just an idea. Good luck.
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