Author Topic: Recoil Pads (Read 966 times)

swecology · « **on:** October 09, 2004, 06:48:13 AM »

Hi everyone.

I could use your input on this. After having back surgery this past summer, I am feeling the need to try and reduce the felt recoil in my centerfire rifles. I thought I would replace the standard factory recoil pads on them. They are a Ruger M77MkII in .25-06, a Win. M70 in
.30-06, and a Marlin 336 in .30-30 Win. Pretty standard stuff, nothing really out of the ordinary. I'm just trying to go the extra mile of not rupturing another disk.

My local gunsmith has suggested that I use a Sims Limbsaver recoil pad instead of the intended Pachmyer Decelerator. It's the first I've heard of the Sims, but it was a really strong recommendation. The cost to me, though, is the same. I don't feel qualified to do it myself as since I want to keep the length of pull on the guns the way they are now, and the stocks will have to be trimmed.

Has anyone had any experience with the Sims, and how well have you liked it?

Matt

longwinters · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2004, 07:03:36 AM »

I have both. Each is excellent. I am not sure why your gunsmith would recommend one over the other. But the Sims is very good.

Long

savageT · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2004, 07:37:08 AM »

Have you considered a PAST strap-on recoil pad? Here's something to consider. This is an excerp I found on-line for someone with similar concerns.

Get yourself a Past strap-on recoil shield, I'd suggest the magplus model. Not only will it absorb the recoil but will fill in the space of the missing muscle. You can use it with the supplied strap or have it built into a mesh vest for all weather use.
I use mine when I bench my 375H&H and it makes a world of differance.

I'd also put more pitch in your stock. That will move the toe of the stock away from your chest and move the recoil higher on your shoulder. If you don't want to cut the stock, you can get pitch spacers from Precision Reloading or Brownells to change the pitch as needed. As long as that stock is resting on you ribcage it's gonna hurt. This is a common modification for women shooters for the oposite reason. Their shoulder bones are smaller but their chests are fuller making the toe dig in to their chest instead of the shoulder pocket.

If you want to stop the bruises change the pitch, no mechanical recoil system will work as well as this modification!

swecology · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2004, 10:54:57 AM »

Savage T,

Thanks for you input.

It isn't the "bruising" of my shoulder that I am worried about.

It's the amount of energy that is being transferred into me, and directed as a torsional force on my spinal column and lumbar region.

If I can reduce the force, I can reduce the amount of twist that will occur in my back when I shoot, and be able to reduce the potential for herniating another disk in my back. This past summer, I had to have part of a disc removed. Believe me, no one wants to go through having this surgery again. Recovery is pure hell.

So, yeah, reducing the amount of mechanical force being transferred is the goal, in the least expensive method (read I really don't want to have to purchase different firearms) available. Your idea of a PAST recoil shield is a great one. I think I want to use it, in combination with a more energy-absorbing recoil pad. It should help greatly, not only in reducing the recoil but also in cutting down on the level of worry and concern I have about starting shooting again. Thanks for the suggestion!

Matt

jhm · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2004, 01:54:34 PM »

Matt: Last week I had open heart surgery and I share your concerns and I shoot alot here on the place and I dont want to loose deer season so I plan on using the mercury recoil reducer in my rifles along with a past magnum pad under my coats, it is easier to install the mercury recoil reducers than it is to install new recail pads on all your rifles.

JIM

glickfield · « **Reply #5 on:** November 08, 2004, 01:30:09 PM »

I have used both the Sims and the KickEez recoil pads on 300 win mags.
I like the KickEez better as it has solid sorbathane to absorb the recoil. I did not particularily care for the Sims as much because it seemed to squirm under the recoil. My gun dealers gunsmith recommends the KickEez over the Sims and the Decelerator.

Thw KickEez stay put and I feel it absorbs the recoil better.

savageT · « **Reply #6 on:** November 08, 2004, 03:15:10 PM »

Quote from: glickfield

I have used both the Sims and the KickEez recoil pads on 300 win mags.
I like the KickEez better as it has solid sorbathane to absorb the recoil. I did not particularily care for the Sims as much because it seemed to squirm under the recoil. My gun dealers gunsmith recommends the KickEez over the Sims and the Decelerator.

Thw KickEez stay put and I feel it absorbs the recoil better.

I thought the KickEez was made by Sims?

?

Jim

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #7 on:** November 08, 2004, 05:38:15 PM »

I have a similar concern, but for a different reason. Back in 2002 I had my right lung collapse for the second time in 2 years. In 2002 they surgically repaired my lung by gluing it to my chest wall. The surgeon that did the surgery told me that after the recovery period I could shoot anything I wanted to, however my local family doctor warned me against shooting any thing that recoils more than a .243 so as to not irritate the bond between the lung and chest wall.

OK so I had two different doctors give me 2 totally different opinions. Figuring the surgeon knew what she was talking about, I bought myself a new Ruger Stainless-Synthetic M77 in .270 Winchester that fall. I set out one day to break in the barrel, and shot 50 rounds in an afternoon (over about 5 hours time). For the next week and a half my chest felt like it was on FIRE, and after a couple days of this I went to my local family doctor. Turns out what I was experiencing was an irritation between the bond of the lung and chest wall. I got a FIRM I TOLD YOU SO, and ultimately found out there was no damage done.

A couple weeks ago I shot a friends .30-06 that he had just installed a Limb Saver on. Granted I only shot it a couple times, but I couldn't believe the difference in the felt force to the shoulder.

On the other hand I have a hunting buddy that swears that his PAST Recoil Shield is the best invention ever.

SD Handgunner

gunnut69 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2004, 07:12:29 PM »

I started helping an older gunsmith in the area many years ago is sighting in rifles before the deer season. Most had jjst had scopes attached and were 30-30's of one flavor or another. He suggested I use a half empty bag of shot to help with the recoil. I thoguht -30/30? they don't kick all that much. They don't but over the course of twenty or so boxes of ammo and a couple dozen rifles it does accumulate.!!! recoil pads don't reduce energy so much as lower the peaks and spread the enery out of a longer time frame. We used a 25 pound shot bag and simply draped it over the shoulder and place the butt on the shot. It acts like adding 25 pounds to the weight of the rifle. A little clumsy but sure helped out. There's a device available called a 'lead sled'. It a steel frame that incorporates a front rest and a verticle butt stop in the rear. Sand bags are used to weight the thing and it's weight is combined with the rifles in the recoil calculation.. Beware of too soft a pad on a hard kicker, they can pinch and really add to the pain.. I use decellerators nearly exclusively but have used all varieties. Some are too soft and some have such large internal cavities they are easy to grind the sides too thin..

300wsm:-) · « **Reply #9 on:** November 09, 2004, 06:51:58 AM »

i haven't used the decelerator or the kickez but i can say that the sims works. i built my girlfriend a m77 mk1 270win she shoots 130gr remington accutips w/ leupold 3x9-40. she is 5'5" and maybe a buck 10 or so and with the sims she shoots a 3/4" group at 100yd with a smile on her face, that gun has no recoil