What Recoil Pad Do You Recommend?

[Snareman]

Hi there!

Ok, here's the scoop.  Some of you may know by reading some of my many posts asking questions that I'm looking into getting a 30-06 Remington.  If I do, I would want to add a recoil pad and am looking for one that will do it's intended job, ie, reduce the thump, and be functional on the gun for hunting especially.

I'd like to get one that will reduce the recoil so it's feels like a .22 magnum.    LOL!  I wish!  You know what I'm lookin' for.... reduce the walloping I'll be getting while sighting it in.(don't want to develop a "flinch")

What brand and/or specific one do you recommend?  I will be keeping it on the rifle while hunting and can get a gunsmith to properly install it if I need to.  Model #'s, etc, welcome.

Your opinions are appreciated.  Thanks,

Snareman

[Old English]

I would look at Limbsaver pads if I was you, they also make the R3 pad used on Remingtons. I have one on my slug gun, another on my 308 and they are great. I have a Pachmayr on my 7mm Rem Mag and that works well also. The Limbsaver are available as a bolt on item for most rifles, check out their website. I think you'll find it's $30 well spent.

[Dave in WV]

Instead of getting a new recoil pad, get a PAST recoil shield to wear while shooting at the bench. You slip the PAST recoil shield over your shoulder. Get the magnum model. When shooting from the bech get your rifle up high enough so you're sitting erecet not hunched over. You have more give with the shot when sitting upright and you take more felt recoil hunched over as your body doesn't give as much. Take along a .22 rifle to shoot while letting your 30-06 cool.

[SuperstitionCoues]

I swear by the PAST and Limbsaver. 

[drdougrx]

Ditto from me.

I've got limbsavers on my 375HH, 45/70, 30-06 and 300win.  They work and are worth the money.

[The Gamemaster]

My advice would be for you to BUY a Lead Sled.

About 4 bags of lead shot should take out all felt recoil.

If your gun kicks that bad - chances are that the stock does not fit you.

A custom fitted stock would be worth more than any recoil pad.

All hunters will tell you that when the big one comes walking down the trail on the first day of hunting season - you will not feel any recoil and will be able to shoot as many times as necessary to harvest that big buck.

Talking yourself into being scared of a rifle, just because you think that it kicks like a mule is a sure fired way to flinch and miss.

By the time I was 14 years old, I hunted with a Model 721 B,  Remington bolt action rifle chambered in 30/06 and I religiously carried a box of shells with me when I hunted whitetails.

The 721 was without a doubt the worst rifle that Remington ever made - because there was no drop in the stock and it did kick like a mule on the shooting bench.  But I shot many a buck with that rifle in Pennsylvania in all kinds of weather and none of them required a second shot.

[Snareman]

I don't know what happened, but I seriously thought I replied to replies already.  Almost sure of it... now it's gone. 

Anyway, the felt recoil in the field doesn't bother me at all.  If one man can handle it, I can probably do it just as easy.  My concern is about developing a flinch from using the gun on the bench.  I'm an accuracy freak and believe I push my hunting rifle's ability to the max without the use of hand loads, modified guns, etc.  Shooting several high powered rounds on the bench has developed flinches in more than just a few shooters I'm sure.  I want to be able to sight in my rifle, get a feel for it, get some practice... all without worrying about bad habits.  If I'm going to be taking a shot on whitetails at 350yds, I want the confidence to know I'll do my job right. 

To paint the picture more clearly, I want to make sure the "thump" I'll receive time after time from firing the gun will not be enough of an impact to affect the psychological aspect of pulling the trigger developing a flinch or jerk of the trigger due to anticipation of the recoil, etc.  I figure the proper pad will reduce the recoil enough to where I won't worry about developing any bad habits that may arise for firing larger caliber weapons.

Thanks for the info.  I'll use the info.

Snareman

(I could swear I already replied to this.  LOL!)

[Zachary]

Actually, the best recoil pad out there is by Answer Products.  Unfortunately, however, this company is apparently out of business.  I think that the next best recoil pad currently on the market is the Sims.

Zachary

[superdown]

+1 for the SVL

[teddy12b]

I put limbsavers on all my big guns and then I put a past pad over my shoulder for the range.  Hunting I only have the limbsaver.  They are worth every penny.

[Chappy]

I have the magnum PAST and use it at the range.  It works great - no pain with any of my hard kicking guns.  However, it is large and thick and can make it difficult to get my eye close enough to some of my scopes to see the whole field of view.  I just put an R3 pad on my model 700 BDL synthetic 308 and it went from a rifle that would beat the snot out of you, to a rifle that I can now comfortably shoot a box of shells without using the PAST pad.

[Mac11700]

Limbsaver for any wood stocked Remington...and the Remington R3 (SVL Limbsaver) pad for any synthetic Remington..

Mac

[SuperstitionCoues]

Limbsaver for any wood stocked Remington...and the Remington R3 (SVL Limbsaver) pad for any synthetic Remington..

Mac

I would extend that to any wood-stocked rifle or shotgun, and defer to you on the synthetic stocks (I don;t have any).  The Limbsavers I have had installed have been a very wise investment over the past few years.