The wife recently got herself a Ruger .338 for an upcoming elk hunt (and eventual brown bear hunt) from a member here. It's equipped with a muzzlebrake, which should help tame the recoil substantially. Because she's small of stature, the stock needs to be shortened though. Since we're going through that, I'd like to add a better recoil pad at the same time. I'm considering Sims, Pachmayr, and KickEez. Any comments on the pros and cons of these? Any input on which is superior for recoil reduction? I have a Decelerator on my .338, and the wife's other rifle has a KickEez. I like the Pachmayr, and the KickEez seems to work well (though it's very soft and deformed after a couple weeks in the safe), but I wanted additional input from you guys that do more of this.

Thanks,
Troy

I've never been dissatisfied with Decelerators. I'd be willing to bet that the difference in felt recoil between a Decel and a K Ezz would be next to nothing. I don't like the way the K Ezz deforms either.

+1 for the deceleraator.

Von Gruff.

I've used the decellerator pad for years on my 7mag,but I have to admit,I think the Remington R3 pad made by Limbsaver is a little better in less felt recoil.

Troy

Limbsaver make pad that straps on over you shoulder. I have 2 of them, one for me and one for my 10 year old son, who was shy about shooting anything more than rimfire. We put that pad on his shoulder and he went straight out and shot a match with a 7.62x39. He loved every shot he took that day and now he wants to try a 308.These pads are much more effective than any of the pads you put on the butt stock. FS

Thanks for the input guys, especially considering I got this in the wrong forum (I meant it for Gunsmithing).

craigster and Von Gruff, I've been pleased with my Decelerator as well but wanted to see what else is out there now.

Baldhunter, thanks for the info on the R3 pad, I appreciate the comparison to the decel.

Fasteel, we too have one of those shoulder pads, made by Past I believe. We lovingly call it the PussPad and use it pretty regularly off the bench. I've never bothered with it in the field, though if the .338 is still too much after a muzzlebrake and good pad we'll have to reconsider that.

Sims is probably the best for recoil reduction, but I have had several turn into a gooey mess over time. Sims replaced them and blamed it on a bad batch, but they were bought from diff sources at diff times.

I'd go with the KE before the Pac Dec for perceived recoil reduction.

Reloader

I have decelerators on most of my big bores but for bench shooting, sighting and warming up I might recommend a caldwell sled. It really takes the sting out and helps eliminate the flinch. The few shots taken standing off sticks or leaning are more easily withstood.
During hunting of course very little recoil is perceived.
Frank

I guess I'm different, but I have the thickest Kick-Eez on my 45-120 that produces about 458 Lott ballistics. Completely takes the pain away. Totally satisfied.

+1 on the decelerator
++1 on the lead sled for bench work
rc

quote:

Originally posted by Tyler Kemp:
I guess I'm different, but I have the thickest Kick-Eez on my 45-120 that produces about 458 Lott ballistics. Completely takes the pain away. Totally satisfied.

If a kick-eze won't do it. It cannot be done via a pad!

The one not mentioned is the Pachmayr F-990 shotgun pad. They've fallen from favor because of the "California" 70s look but they are the best of the lot for comfort. In my experience, women are far more lenient about what looks acceptable. Maybe always having to switch fashions from season to season has something to do with it

I like the Limbsaver

Simms

The purpose of the recoil pad is to spread the recoil energy over time and area so that the pressure on the skin never reaches the threshold of pain.

My 338 has a large untrimmed Limbsaver.
I use an Eagle cheek rest, ammo carrier, and zippered pouch as a cover for the reveal between the large pad and smaller stock butt.

http://store.btitactical.com/eainshstpa3.html

Untrimmed = more area

338WM 250 gr partitions... kicks like a 243.

All my rifles have Kickeeze pads on em. That said, the single most important point is not the pad on the gun, but, how it sits into your shoulder. Most rifle butts are maybe 1-11/2 inches x 4-5 inches".

Think having someone put a 1x4 into your shoulder joint, and, then depending on how heavy a gun, hitting it with a sledge hammer.

The pads that you put on your shoulder spread the area out, and, keep the gun from getting 'in' to the socket, and, being painful and damaging.

Here is the pad I'm talking about:
http://www.battenfeldtechnolog...oil-Shield-for-Women


http://www.battenfeldtechnolog...-shield-ambidextrous



I'll never shoot a heavy recoiling rifle without one, again, if I can help it.

I don't like recoil much myself. Just wondering why the muzzle break would not be sufficient with just a regular recoil pad? One fellow shot a muzzled breaked 338 Lapua and apparently, it was the muzzle blast that momentarily concussed him. He nearly dropped the rifle! (He fired it without hearing protection!)