I just picked up one of the LH 375 Rugers from CDNN. Will take it to the gunsmith next week for a replacement pad. Which do you recommend and why?

Also plan to have it bedded, the trigger set to 3.5 pounds and the rails slicked.

Have I missed anything?

I like Limbsaver pads as they seem to work for me, easy to install and do seem to reduce felt recoil very well (and they come with a painometer on the package to prove it, too ). I've taken Pachmayr pads off of rifles and replaced them with Limbsaver pads, but some guys say they turn soft and "gooey" though I've not had that problem yet.

Karl

+1 Limbsaver. I have them on several rifles and they do seem to reduce felt recoil. They had a bad batch several years ago that turned gummy but they replaced some pads and haven't had a problem since.

Pachmayr.

I have had two limbsavers on kickers, one on my 550 Gibbs. After 2-3 years they get "gooey" as the other writer posted. Then you set them down on something and they stick. You can tell the color of carpet in the three rooms of my house that have it by looking at the limbsaver.

You do not hear about pachmayr producing a "bad batch".

I have Limbsaver pads on several rifles and Pachmayr pads on a couple of my shotguns. The Pacmayrs are probably pushing 30 years, and the Limbsaver have been on up to 15+ years. I've never had a problem with either one. The next pad that I put on will probably be a Limbsaver.

Honestly the 375 Ruger doesn't kick bad enough to worry about. I shoot mine off the bench with 250's at 2900 fps and it is a non issue. I can easily go 40 rounds and not have any soreness. I would save my money for something else.

The only thing I don't like about the gun is the stock is too thin in the wrist. I replaced mine with a Hogue stock with the aluminum bedding. The only bad thing about that stock is an overly wide fore-end. I would definitely shoot it some before spending bucks at the smith. You might be pleasantly surprised.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
After 2-3 years they get "gooey" as the other writer posted. Then you set them down on something and they stick. You can tell the color of carpet in the three rooms of my house that have it by looking at the limbsaver.

yep one on my marlin 45-70 melted into the carpet lining of my gun safe. so I put a pachmayr on it.

If someone calls and wants a pad installed and it is a limbsaver, I send him elswhere, I hate them! I think Obummer holds their patent.

Hogue stock and a Ernie the gunsmith trigger spring, you can do both you self the spend more on shooting!

Go with the Pachmayr, as stated above I have had two Limbsavers melt/become sticky and have replaced one and when I get around to it I will replace the other. One was on my custom Rem 660 and the other is on my T/C ProHunter.

I also had one turn gooey, as did a friend, but I've had no issues with others since then. I had assumed that somehow they must have got a solvent on them, but it seems not.

Subsequent limbsavers have bee nfine and have been in sun and heat etc. with no issues.

Great on a heavy kicker.

I have both of them on several guns, but I prefer Limbsavers.

Been there, done that and have the t shirt . . . or more accurately, the carpet stains. I steer clear of Limbsaver pads after experiencing a number of "melting" pads. Never had a problem with the Pachmayrs and the Decelerator works just a well. I know the Limbsaver folks say that was a old problem long since corrected, but once burnt, twice shy.

Pachmayr Decelerator my choice, the shape, texture and type of rubber superior to Limbsaver. When you mount the rifle to your shoulder the limbsaver is much stickier than the Pachmayr and catches very easy on about any type of clothing. This is not a good thing on any rifle let alone a DG rifle. I even will put a piece of masking tape on top of the Pachmayr to offset this negative that both pads have.

Thanks for responses! Took them all into consideration and just returned from the gunsmith with an order to install the Pachmayr.

Your comments were enlightening & entertaining.

Good hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:
When you mount the rifle to your shoulder the limbsaver is much stickier than the Pachmayr and catches very easy on about any type of clothing.

I found this to be the case with the pre-fit Limbsaver, but not the grind to fit. I'm not sure if others also found them different. The face of the grind to fit pads I have (only 2) are smooth with just the "Limbsaver" logo.

I fitted a Pachmayr Old English Decelerator red pad to my Mauser 404. Grinds to fit nice and smooth and easy to fit without showing the screw slots. Really made a difference to felt recoil from the old original ventilated pad someone had fitted in Africa.
As others have posted no sign of any stickyness and the finish and texture of the pad make for smooth mounting to the shoulder.

Rear view of fitted pad

G'Day Fella's,

CamDog, Pachmayr also make the "XLT" recoil pad! Whilst it is a shotgun pad designed for Trap Shooting, it would have to be the softest 1" thick recoil pad I have been able to track down!

As I have posted on some other forums relating to this same subject. I have more spinal injuries than I have fingers and thumbs and I have fitted these XLT pads to most (I still need to fit a couple more) of my sharp recoiling rifles! I have done this for a good reason, these recoil pads work really well at subduing uncomfortable recoil!!!

Hope that helps

Doh!
Homer

Pachmayr Decelerator on my marlin in 50 Alaskan. Has been there almost 10 years and not sticky yet.

Definitely Pachmayr. The Decelerator is pretty much the gold standard for classy looking pads and it's certainly effective enough at mitigating recoil for any rifle you'll want to fire. As others have said, I don't think the 375 class of cartridges kick hard enough to warrant too much concern over recoil. You can get Decelerators in a variety of colors to make the rifle look nicer.

Those Limbsaver pads are too gooey, generally look like crap on a rifle, and deteriorate way too fast to be practical.

I walked out to the gunroom and tried to pick up my one rifle still with a Limb Saver. I'm getting it restocked, so haven't replaced it. It is stuck to the carpet on the floor in the safe.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I walked out to the gunroom and tried to pick up my one rifle still with a Limb Saver. I'm getting it restocked, so haven't replaced it. It is stuck to the carpet on the floor in the safe.

In that case I suggest you unscrew the action screws and remove the barrelled action and then take that for restocking.

G'Day Fella's,,

FYI and IIRC the later and current Limb Saver pads, no longer have that Sticky Problem!

Also, FYI, the Pachmayr XLT pad that I mentioned above, is a noticeable amount softer, than both the Decelerator and the Limb Saver pads!!!

Hope that helps

Doh!
Homer

I like the Kickeeze. Just print the pre fit templates from the site and see what fits best. Sometimes not the one they list. If it is slightly large, they sand down great with just a wood block and sandpaper. I just sand and check fit without it attached and no worries of messing up the stock. Once done, screw it on.

The Limbsavers are better at reducing felt recoil than the Pachmyers but be prepaird to replace them if they become sticky. This is why I know use the Pachy's

+1 Pachmayr.
We recommend them in every case for new stocks, and install them about 30/1 over the Limbsavers. Of note, Sims Labs has historically been pretty fair with customers that ask, if you call to complain. Several cases I'm aware of where safes got new carpet at their expense. If you have problems, call the manufacturer. Also, seems to be the "bad batch" keeps rearing it's sticky head, as there is no way to determine a pad from the good runs vs bad. Bummer.

-Accurate Innovations Inc.
www.aigunstocks.com

I don't care for the Limbsavers as they will chip of in chunks when used hard and sometime when just pushed up against a rock or whatever.

I personally still like the old hard Silvers pads or steel butt plates. Held properly the just push you around but dont't bruise you, held wrong the "ouch"....

Of the two mentioned I'll take the Old English Pachmayr every time, and they finish prettier also.

Pachmayr Decelerator.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Pachmayr Decelerator.

Limbsaver is good if you want a prefit pad to replace a factory one, especially on Remington, Winchesters, Tikkas, etc

But for custom rifles, grind to fit, and for recoil pads that are going to be used a lot (like using your rifle to balance you and walk with) - get the Pachmyr

I am a little rough on a rifle and we have a lot of rocky terrain and even that horrible Lava rock and just setting the butt down on it takes chunks out of Limsavers and all those recoil pads made of that material..

However, I suspect they work fine for a lot of folks that baby their rifles and make more of an effort than I to take extra good care of them, and that's a good thing for sure.