They were shot usually placed with the butt against a bag of hay but there were other systems for absorbing the massive recoil. The padding on the butt is just part of taking the push out of the gun. If they weren't padded correctly they'd rip up the boat and the owner. There were lots of punt gunners killed or badly injured when their guns broke loose.


Destry

Out there at the crossroads molding the devil's bullets. - Tom Waits