It is an elegant way to finish the butt and feels no different than a butt plate. Most of my guns have a hard butt plate and unless you use heavy loads it is not a problem. The biggest problem I have with a checkered wood butt is putting it down in a rack at a sporting clay station without damaging it. Sometimes I put it in the stand with the muzzle down which I am not thrilled with either. A leather slip on type butt pad works also but it covers the beauty of the gun.

So many guns, so little time!