Those naked (but fillable) holes wouldn't stress me out half as much as a ventilated recoil pad would.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, why the automatic rush to install a scope on any Savage lever gun? Put an aperture rear sight on it and retain it's wonderful carry-ability, and if venturing into wide open spaces where iron sights are a (somewhat) disadvantage, choose a different tool with a scope on it.
