Ted, I agree with you about the Western Arms guns being plenty strong enough. Like the Nitro Specials, almost all of the ammunition that has been fired through them is modern smokeless powder stuff... anything that would fit in the chamber, and sometimes even ammo that was too long for the chamber. Nor have I ever seen a Nitro with a broken firing pin. I'm sure it has happened, but it happens to the best guns too.
I still have not found a decent buttstock for my 16 ga. Nitro Special project gun except for the one on Ebay that is almost as expensive as your entire gun was. I did buy one at a gun show that was marked 16 ga. Lefever Nitro Special, but I believe it is for a 16 ga. A grade. Still looking, but I will probably end up buying a semi-inletted stock or making one from a blank. That's when I'll find a good original take-off stock. I do like a very nice condition pristine gun as much as anyone, but I own and enjoy many that have plenty of, ahem, patina and handling marks. Some get a facelift, and others just make me wish they could tell me where they've been.
