I am of a mind to just put a proper buttplate on the piece and keep it as is. I am in FL and the rifle is back home in TN, but will see if the stock is such the M2 buttplate can be returned, or were there M2s that didn't use the normal M2 buttplate? Also, will the M2 stock hold up under .30-06 recoil, and does anybody make an 1 1/4" Whelen sling? To my mind that is the perfected sporting rifle sling.